A PROPOSAL FOR A FOUR
SEASONS PAVILION AND GARDEN
J. K. WALKER with B. D. WALKER and L. A. WALKER
88 Starwood Rd., Nepean, ON, Canada, K2G 1Z5
613-224-3570
SUMMARY
The NCC has withdrawn the contract with the developer for the Daly site and tenders for new proposals may be announced soon. The proposed Chateau Gardens is a scenic multipurpose four season's pavilion designed to satisfy several important needs for amateur groups and for tourists in the core of the nation’s capital. The facility contains space for inexpensive performances for festivals and for musicals and for local and visiting amateur groups, a tourism center and a rooftop greenhouse. The Great Hall is to be the focus of the pavilion and is envisioned to host musicals and amateur performances including bands, dance groups, theatre and choirs, particularly for festivals. A second multipurpose hall will accommodate smaller groups and dance ensembles for festivals and for local functions. As the site is located at the principal focal corner of the ceremonial Confederation Boulevard, the pavilion is to have a tourism information center on the lower Sussex level. The centre will provide information about the national capital, the provinces and territories and the national parks. Space for related commercial shops and a cafe would also be on this level. A major attraction of the pavilion is the rooftop greenhouse featuring massive floral gardens complemented with an upscale restaurant. The front of the pavilion will also have a garden and fountain as well as a Floral Park on the north landing. The pavilion is to provide for underground parking and a bay for tour buses. The Chateau Gardens is in the heart of the tourist area of the nation’s capital and provides a distinctive focus for their interests.
The gardens, performance halls and tourism center are not for profit; therefore it is appropriate that the pavilion be funded primarily by government sources. However, some revenue from festivals and charitable groups who use the halls and some from the commercial and parking facilities should be adequate to cover operating expenses. The capital funding could come from the Federal government’s Heritage Department, the Ontario Citizenship, Culture and Recreation Ministry and the new city of Ottawa as part of the proposed (March, 2000) Infrastructure III program. This approximately represents the interests of the different levels of government sponsored activities for the pavilion. Additional funding could be sought out from private sponsors for specific features of the pavilion such as for the gardens and the fountain.
The proposal generated a great deal of interest among the NCC staff and they're advisory committee and the Ottawa Citizen's editors. Such a facility would find wide use by musical companies and by local amateur performers and those groups wishing to visit Ottawa and by tourists. A coordinated program with the NAC and the Ottawa Little Theater for festivals and other events could significantly enhance the cultural/entertainment capability of the Nation's capital. The economic benefits would also be significantly increased, as tourist would be staying another day or so if there were good entertainment most of the evenings. We suggest the City of Ottawa, RMOC and Heritage Canada (NAC and the NCC) jointly explore the feasibility of developing such a facility for the Daly site using the Infrastructure III program and possibly corporate support for most of the financing.
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this proposal is to present a facility that has a number of attractive but uneconomic features for the local community and for visitors to the national capital region. These attractions are community and national in nature and might not be considered by a commercial developer. The tenants would consist of mainly non-profit groups and hence would require some financial support. Since the proposal is based on significant government support the proponents have not prepared a full proposal for development. However, they would be pleased to conduct further studies such as the utilization of the proposed pavilion or any other aspects of the ideas presented herein. Most of the pavilion will generate sufficient revenue to justify its operation except for the gardens. Because the pavilion will be: 1) mainly used in conjunction with national and regional festivals and other inexpensive concerts; 2) a tourism information facility for promoting government regions; and 3) a public gardens, which could be maintained by the very capable NCC gardeners, it is best that the pavilion be developed by the NCC and the NAC in cooperation with other local governments. Volunteers could be used for stagehands and ushers for performances and for helping the NCC maintain the gardens to control expenses. Modest fees for floral shows and voluntary contributions by patrons visiting the gardens could defray some of their costs.
VISION AND FUNCTIONALITY
The proposal is for a four seasons pavilion and rooftop floral garden and restaurant which will provide a significant improvement to the core of the nation’s capital by providing inexpensive halls for festivals and conventions and for year round popular entertainment. The facility addresses several needs determined by the study team. Numerous festivals (>20) are now held in Ottawa throughout the year such as the Winterlude, Tulip, Francophone, Dance, Canada Day, Unisong, Fringe, Bluesfest, Jazz, Rock, Folk, Urban, Taste and Buskers, Chamber Music, Film and Video, Fall Rhapsody and Christmas lights but facilities for enjoying most of them are limited. Some concerts and choral works are presented in uncomfortable churches while some bands have had to perform in unsightly tents or amphitheaters during inclement conditions. There is also no significant inexpensive core facility for large groups of dancers. Furthermore, there is no appropriate facility for national competitions for bands and choirs. Such a competition for secondary, college, university and community bands and choirs would be a good milieu to bring the impressionable youth and others to the nation’s capital. In addition the tourism office on Metcalfe is not in the central tourist area nor is it in a striking building. While the NCC and Friends of the Farm do a splendid job of providing several floral parks, there are no gardens in the region that might be enjoyed from the late fall to early spring.
The proposed four seasons gardens, Great Hall, multipurpose hall, restaurants and travel information center would provide the focus for festivals, local activities and for tourists. The proposed Chateau Gardens pavilion could provide the center for all of these different functions much like the Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, but on a year round basis and also provide some additional space for conventions, particularly for the Chateau Laurier. It is also a good complement to the Byward market and the gardens are a handy respite from the busy commercial areas. In keeping with the sandstone shades of the nearby buildings the pavilion could be finished in pink granite and trimmed with white granite and the glass rooftop for the gardens tinted green. The sidewalk surrounding the pavilion would be an extension of the Confederation Boulevard streetscape now along Major’s Hill Park. However, a red granite sidewalk interspersed with white granite but lined with similar oak trees and pedestrian scale lighting and seating would produce a striking promenade.
The Daly site is a unique location and should be used for a facility that would enhance the cultural, social and tourist attractions of the nation’s capital. Frequently during festivals or special events large numbers of visitors and tourists wander the core of the city looking for some casual entertainment or a place to relax. The Chateau Gardens will have a large entertainment floor on the northern end of the Sussex level with nightly entertainment. Government and commercial tourist and visitor information facilities would be at the southern end of the pavilion. Underground links to the Chateau Laurier and Rideau Centre are also at this level. The MacKenzie level is to have a Great Hall for concerts, bands and other inexpensive shows that are the mainstay of festivals and for touring groups (see east, south and west elevations).
The surrounding gardens and particularly the rooftop floral gardens will provide for a year round space of enchanting colour.
The Sussex level will be the social and functional focus or meeting place of the pavilion. The large multipurpose space on the north end of the pavilion is to serve several functions. Different dance clubs in the region could use this space during the week. Such groups as the square and round dancers, ballroom, western and line dancers and Scottish and other ethnic and indigenous ensembles could perform in full dress for casual and special shows. For example, the Canadian Square and Round Dance Association have several clubs in the region and hosted their biannual convention in Ottawa during the summer of 1998. This convention brought over 4000 dancers to the capital’s core area. The hall would also have tables surrounding the dance floor for the less active and for those visitors who are inclined to be simply spectators. The objective is to provide inexpensive facilities for local dancers and inexpensive entertainment for spectators and for tourists. This hall could be used for a children’s play area or gym during the daytime and could also provide space for conventions when required. The adjacent cafe, with some tables in the hall and also outdoors, would provide appropriate refreshments for the different groups and for tourists visiting the information centers and travel agencies or while waiting for tour buses.
The front (Rideau) area of this level is intended to provide an extensive tourist information center with high tech facilities for browsing and viewing of local, regional, provincial and territorial attractions. Information on the National and Provincial Parks and the National Heritage River Systems would also be available. Commercial travel agencies would be located here for those interested in making arrangements for tours or trips. The level will be connected to the Chateau Laurier by a tunnel, to the Rideau Centre by ramp and tunnel, and to the other levels by stairs and an elevator. A dropped ceiling in the front and light pipes along the western side will bring natural light to this level to help brighten the far side of the rooms. Both this level and the foyer above would be festooned with potted and hanging floral arrangements.
The Rideau front will have a foyer and broad floral garden with steps connecting to Sussex Street. At the Sussex-Rideau corner there will be an ornate fountain with an undulating water display but separated from the stairs and gardens with a small space to provide a floor where Buskers and other small groups could perform. This garden and fountain will be on the southern side of the pavilion and could be protected from the prevailing winds with coniferous trees and shrubs so that it could be enjoyed much of the year.
The MacKenzie level will have a Great Hall that can accommodate 1000 or more for musicals, concerts, bands and other shows that are the mainstay of festivals and touring groups and for local and visiting bands and choral groups (see MacKenzie level plan). The stage for the hall will be relatively large to accommodate full concert bands and large choirs. Two dressing rooms for the performers to dress and assemble and a hall linking to the wings of the stage and washrooms are to be located on the northern side of the pavilion. The rear half of the hall will have a collapsible seating platform, which will provide for better viewing of the stage when in place. This multipurpose hall could also be used for conventions, noon hour performances, travel movies, children’s shows and a second hall for large groups of dancers. The hall itself is to be tuned to provide excellent acoustics. The foyer for the hall will have several floral arrangements and a view through large windows of the Conference Centre and the Rideau Centre. Stairs in the foyer lead to the Sussex level below, and also the restaurant and gardens above. The lower windows on the east and west sides are to be dressed with hanging boxes of flowers to enhance the pavilion and bring attention to the rooftop gardens.
The four seasons gardens are the crown of the pavilion and are to have numerous massive floral displays interlaced with paths and benches. These gardens could be used for seasonal flower shows, such as the fall chrysanthemum, the Christmas (poinsettia etc.), the spring tulip and the summer annuals and perennials. They could also be used on occasion for related environmental/educational shows. The gardens should be as large as possible in order to provide an open and large array of colour that would engulf the stroller. The gardens will have a glass roof with dormers and turrets that fit in with the buildings along Confederation Boulevard. The dormers will have window boxes to complement the gardens and the streetscape. These and sliding windows on all sides can be opened during seasonable times and closed during other periods to help control the climate of the gardens. Benches at both the north and south ends of the gardens will provide spectacular views of the Chateau Laurier and Major’s Hill park to the northwest, the Byward market to the northeast and the Conference Center and Rideau canal to the south. The glass for the rooftop and restaurant greenhouses is to be of the superglass type for efficient climate control and for comfort. The gardens are connected to the other levels below by stairs and an elevator.
A garden restaurant at the northern end of the pavilion is to be connected to the MacKenzie level via a landing, elevator and stairs and to the rooftop gardens by stairs (see Rooftop Gardens & Restaurant plan). The greenhouse for the garden-restaurant is to have dormers similar to those for the rooftop garden. Large sliding windows surround the restaurant, which can be opened during seasonable weather to permit a clear view of Major’s Hill Park to the northwest and the Byward market to the northeast. The outer tables for the restaurant are to be interspersed with floral arrangements for the enjoyment of the patrons and those on the north landing and the MacKenzie and Sussex streets.
The NCC set back and height restrictions significantly limit the available area for the gardens and the size of the Great Hall. The main pavilion at the Keukenhof gardens in the Netherlands is approximately 6000 m2 and more than four times the size of the proposed Chateau Gardens. Larger halls would provide for greater capacity and hence more accommodating facilities for the needs of festivals and other major attractions. More spacious rooftop gardens would provide a more enchanting floral vista. An alternative to the proposal would be to extend the northern and southern limits of the MacKenzie level so that the Great Hall and the area for the gardens could be nearly doubled. Also an alternative sliding glass roof for the pavilion would provide a splendid open garden in the summer with striking views of the surrounding architecture, canal and parks. This unique roof would consist of several thin concentric arches or shells on each end that move inwards towards the center on rails which are located on trusses on both sides of the roof. Each arch locks with the preceding one as it moves inwards to form a seal and, when they are all in place, would form a solid glass roof for use during inclement periods.
The Chateau Gardens is to be completed with a three and a half level garage for over 300 parking spaces beneath the pavilion with an elevator and stairs to all levels. Bicycle stands are to be on the Sussex Street level and in a monitored area in the garage. Security for monitoring all levels and the building climate control facilities and rooms will also be located in the underground facilities. Local tour buses would load and unload in the garage. The exit from the garage might be shared with that for the Connaught Building to minimize the space for roadways and provide for additional space for the hall on the Sussex level. A second exit could be via a tunnel under the Rideau St. to exit on Colonel By near the Conference Center.
DEVELOPMENT TEAM
The development team has considerable academic experience in the planning and related environmental and geophysical fields as well as having traveled extensively throughout North America, Europe and Japan viewing numerous city centers, estates and gardens.
John K. Walker BSc (Sask.), MSc (Sask.), PhD ( AB.) retired as a research scientist from Natural Resources Canada and is presently a geospace weather consultant (18 papers and 23 reports).
Burl D. Walker BES (Architecture) (Man.), MPL (Queens) is with the Future Group in Toronto.
Lyle A. Walker BES (Waterloo), MSc (Planning) (UBC) is with the Capital Regional District in Victoria.
Updated April 2, 1999. Thanks for
dropping by.
