Ottawa communism memorial location criticized by architect group

A national organization representing thousands of Canadian architects is adding its voice to those criticizing the plannedlocation of a national communism victims memorial.

The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada said Thursday they want thesite of the National Memorial to Victims of Communismmoved from its planned spot next to the Supreme Court of Canada to the Garden of the Provinces and Territories, a little further west down Wellington Street.

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RAIC vice-president Allan Teramura told CBC Ottawa All in a Day host Alan Neal on Thursday the current sitehad been designated for a major federal building to fit in with the nearby Supreme Court and Justice Building.

To put a commemoration on this empty spot, one-third of what's intended to be a '(judiciary)triad'means that forever, we won't be able to complete this composition, which is supposed to a complementary, companion piece to the parliamentary triad the Centre Block, East Block and West Block," he said.

"It's a matter of forming this composition which is intended as part of the overallparliamentary precinct it's part of the story that unfolds as you go down Wellington Street."

Teramura said there also aren't a lot of spots where buildings can go up in the parliamentary precinct and this would mean the loss of a potential expansion location, while having it at the garden would mean a visible, prominent alternative.

Torontos Shirley Blumberg, who was a member of the jury that picked the design, said in December that she didnt like the design or location.

Ottawa architect Barry Padolsky also said last year that the location should be used for something different.

The federal government has donated the land between the Supreme Court and Library and Archives Canada for the monument.

Listen to Teramuras full interview in the audio player and vote in our poll question about the monument.