Heritage committee demands more changes to Chteau annex

The architects behind a controversial addition to Ottawa'sChteauLaurier still don't have it "quite right," but the city's builtheritage subcommittee stopped short of rejecting outright the latest draft Monday.

Members of the subcommittee echoed some of the harsh criticism fromOttawa heritage experts, who said the addition's modernist design isn't compatible with the rest of the historic hotel.

But they decided against rejecting the design, instead demanding changes in exchange for the heritage permit the project needs to move forward.

The subcommittee has asked the architect to:

• Use more Indiana limestone.
• Break up the north face of the additionso the wall facing Major's Hill Park isn't so flat.
• Change the arrangement of doors and windows, design details and geometric proportions of the additionso that they better matchthe original building.

The conditions must be approved by planning committee and city council before staff can start working on the revisions with the architect.

"We want to feel that the addition loves the Chteau as much as we do," saidRideau-RockliffeCoun.TobiNussbaum, the subcommittee's chair.

If the motion passes, Stephen Willis, the manager of planning, infrastructure and economic development will ultimately decide whether the architect has met thecriteria.

City councillors will get to vote on the final design before the site plan is approved.

MimickingChteaua bad idea: architect

The latest design features a rectangular, seven-storey building of glass andvertical limestone slats that match the stone of the original Chteau. The ground floor would be transparent to allow sight linesthrough to the existing hotel.

Heritage advocates told the subcommittee the current design detracts from the romantic style of the original ChteauLaurier and the picturesque nature of the skyline along the Ottawa River from Parliament Hill to Major's Hill Park.

The lead architect on the project argued the opposite. Peter Clewes said his minimalist take allows the Chteau to stand out without distraction.

He said adding more decoration to the building or mimicking the shape of the roof would be a bad idea.

"I'm concerned that it will start to detract from the magnificence of the hotel itself," Clewes said.

The team behind the proposal argued the addition is actually an improvement for the ChteauLaurier. The design calls for windows in the ballroom to be opened onto a new courtyard.

Still, Clewes said he's willing to keep working on the project.

"We're more than prepared to consider and continue to iterate and reiterate different faade studies," he said.

He said lots of the detailed design work will happen during the site plan process, which city councilwill oversee.

Here's what the committee is looking for

7 years ago

Duration 1:04

Rideau-Rockliffe Coun. Tobi Nussbaum says he wants to see an addition built with 'a love of the structure.'