During my speaking engagements on Canadian architecture, one of the questions I’m most often asked is, “Do you have a favourite architectural style?” Although I usually attempt to reply that I appreciate virtually
Over the last two weeks, this column has raised the issue of managing Niagara-on-the-Lake’s development and the role of design review guidelines. For those who suggest that guidelines might not be acceptable under
Distinct from zoning bylaws, secondary plans or etc., design guidelines speak specifically to criteria used to ensure any contemplated alteration to the landscape (either built and/or natural) of a particular jurisdiction maintains or
On the morning of Canada Day I visited with some folks in Old Town. They live in what appears to be a modest 1920s bungalow, however, passing the threshold I was gobsmacked by an
This afternoon I parked beside the old Parliament Oak school property and walked the block imagining the development as proposed by the owners, Liberty Sites Ltd., when completed. What would be the impact
The mechanization and consolidation of Canada’s fruit and vegetable industry at the end of the 19th century transformed the farms and canneries of Niagara. Where earlier farms were typically operated by the farm
It’s post-war North America and the housing boom is in full swing. Subdivisions of Victory Houses (minimal traditional) geared to the returning rank-and-file veterans are popping up like mushrooms. For those who are
When identifying the architectural style of a home, the type of roof is often a vital clue. So, let’s consider some of the most common roof styles. We’ll begin with the gable roof,
First as a visitor and then as a resident, I have been driving the roads of Niagara-on-the-Lake for nearly 50 years. From the beginning I was entranced by a town that had not followed
For more than two decades in the mid-20th century, the Ranch bungalow had reigned supreme as the architectural style of choice. The sprawling single-storey design with its inside/outside entertaining transitions was ideally suited
It seemed that each time my father was promoted up the corporate ladder, the new position came with a relocation. In fact, our family lived in four different houses before I reached the
No examination of church architecture in Niagara-on-the-Lake would be complete without including St. Vincent de Paul, which has been identified as “the oldest surviving Catholic church still used for regular worship in the
It’s 1852 in Niagara-on-the-Lake and the second Presbyterian church in town had just opened its doors. Built a mere five-minute walk from St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, it was a very different building. The
At the heart of every community was its church. Whether your community was in a city, town, village or rural, a church was a place of faith, a centre for social interaction and spot for
It is a fact that well-constructed buildings will often outlive the purpose for which they were originally intended. Churches without congregations, factories that cannot support modern production, warehouses with ceilings too low for
During a recent conversation concerning the design details of the new entry stairway being constructed at 240 Centre St., the masonry folks questioned why the brick bond (pattern) specified was not an exact
Thinking of a home renovation, an addition, or a build? Be prepared, because the cost of your project under current market conditions is going to be significantly more than you think. And allow
Several times in the past year I have found myself in the position of having to wave a yellow caution flag in front of clients around a requirement introduced in the town’s new
As many regular readers are aware, for the past few months I’ve been consulting on the restoration of a house built for John Breakenridge in 1823 at the corner of Mississagua and Centre
Architecture is a reflection of the prevailing socio-political-economic attitudes of society. As society changes, so too should architecture if it wishes to have relevance and be supportive of contemporary lifestyles. Bluntly, there are
Prior to 1945, there were no “residential housing developers” as we know them today. Certainly there had been successful builders who would purchase a piece of land, divide it into lots, sell a
It’s the first decade of the 20th Century and you are Dr. David Duggan of St. Davids. You are planning to build a new house and have engaged with an architect to develop the drawings.
Out of the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in France came an architectural style that attempted to combine functionalism liberally sprinkled with ornamental elements borrowed from the Greek, Roman and Renaissance traditions to establish a
As all my regular readers know, I believe the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake requires a comprehensive set of architectural guidelines that is both descriptive and proscriptive, in which a Heritage Conservation Plan (for the entire
A few days ago I was lucky enough to be a participant in a Zoom call with three folks who represent a wealth of personal experience in both historical and current Niagara architecture.
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