What Ottawa Has to Teach Us about Great Urbanism

"Ottawa celebrates Canada's cultural mosaic, its urbanism full of delight and engagement. As with most North American cities, its oldest neighbourhoods have the positive lessons for urban design today. This is because much of what makes Ottawa character delightful is illegal in the development bylaws that govern its more auto-centric outskirts. On a recent visit, I was inspired by Centretown, The Gleeb, Sandy Hill, Byward Market, Lower Town, New Edinburgh, Rock Cliff, and of course, Parliament Hill."

Borys trains her camera on inspiring examples of farmers markets, canal urbanism, public art, urban fabric, cottage living, inspiring duplexes and mews units, and cycling infrastructure.

"We talk a lot on PlaceShakers about extracting the DNA of place and allowing it by right. Here in Ottawa, much of that is the vertical mixed use, build-to-lines instead of suburban setbacks, streets that have gone on diets to make room for on-street parking and cyclists, and careful thought to how the buildings meet the street. Civic spaces take up centre stage with gracious architecture and ample urbanism."

Thanks to Scott Doyon