In advance of the City of Ottawa's Planning Committee meeting June 26, 2018 where they will review the latest (fourth) version of the proposed design of the Château Laurier addition, LCA sent this letter June 12:
Dear Ms. Hamlin and Councillor Fleury,
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the site control plan application for an addition to the rear of the Chateau Laurier Hotel. While the Lowertown Community Association (LCA) appreciates the changes made in response to the Association’s comments in its letter of March 14, 2018 it does not support the latest proposal. We offer the following observations, among the many that were discussed.
The “bar” building design style seems out of context with the adjacent hotel. While the architect has referenced other “bar” style structures in the vicinity, none of these is an add-on structure to an historic building. Many in the LCA feel that the proposed addition is too dramatic and in conflict with the historic structure. In addition, the so-called “fins” on the north elevation, from floors two to six, seem to add a sense of mass to the proposed structure at seven storeys in height that wasn’t present in the eight-storey February 28 design.
The Association’s concerns about the impact of the proposed addition on the adjacent park remain and that it will detract from its sense of history and beauty. In this sense, the proposal would take away the enjoyment that many in the community are now able to experience.
The LCA recognizes the challenges inherent in designing an addition to the existing hotel and that receiving even limited support for any design option is unlikely. However, we feel that this most recent proposal falls short of what is and must be a degree of design excellence appropriate to such an historic site.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment.
Yours sincerely,
Liz Bernstein
President
Lowertown Community Association
Dear Ms. Hamlin and Councillor Fleury,
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the site control plan application for an addition to the rear of the Chateau Laurier Hotel. While the Lowertown Community Association (LCA) appreciates the changes made in response to the Association’s comments in its letter of March 14, 2018 it does not support the latest proposal. We offer the following observations, among the many that were discussed.
The “bar” building design style seems out of context with the adjacent hotel. While the architect has referenced other “bar” style structures in the vicinity, none of these is an add-on structure to an historic building. Many in the LCA feel that the proposed addition is too dramatic and in conflict with the historic structure. In addition, the so-called “fins” on the north elevation, from floors two to six, seem to add a sense of mass to the proposed structure at seven storeys in height that wasn’t present in the eight-storey February 28 design.
The Association’s concerns about the impact of the proposed addition on the adjacent park remain and that it will detract from its sense of history and beauty. In this sense, the proposal would take away the enjoyment that many in the community are now able to experience.
The LCA recognizes the challenges inherent in designing an addition to the existing hotel and that receiving even limited support for any design option is unlikely. However, we feel that this most recent proposal falls short of what is and must be a degree of design excellence appropriate to such an historic site.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment.
Yours sincerely,
Liz Bernstein
President
Lowertown Community Association
Image by architectsAlliance.
Read previous letters here:
| chateau_laurier_addition_march_2017.pdf |
| site_control_application_chateau_laurier_3-21-17.pdf |
RSS Feed