GEOG1020A, Summer 2019: Old Ottawa South's Changing Urban Landscape

This assignment, completed for GEOG1020A, examines the urban development of Old Ottawa South in Ottawa, Canada. It traces the neighborhood's transformation over the past 95 years from an agricultural area to a working-class residential district and, eventually, a modern residential, commercial, and entertainment hub. The analysis highlights key changes, including the conversion of the Mayfair into an entertainment center, the architectural significance of buildings like the Aberdeen Pavilion and the Hopewell School, and the preservation of historical structures such as the Precious Blood Convent. The assignment also discusses the impact of transportation improvements and the consistent use of specific architectural elements in renovations and new constructions. The study emphasizes the importance of maintaining the historic structure and sustainable development in the city. References are provided from sources like University of Ottawa Journal of Medicine and Emerald.

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GEOG1020A
The development has been the new motto for every country worldwide, With the increased
number of population, governments have focused to attain a better and healthy lifestyle to
change the existing rural place of time into a modern day architectural arrangement. With time
the old Ottawa south has focused on the development of gardens to universities, from an old city
usually used as a dumping ground has now turned into a high-end housing and green belt area for
a planned streetscaping with a highly desirable residential commercial and entertainment
area.The city has been planned in such a way that the early developed area and the old
neighborhood exist comfortably side by side, freshly renovated laneway and landscaped
property. The city has such a map that the north and south expansion has blocked the expansion,
On the other hand the university has acquired all the available land towards the west, thus the
city has kept relatively free from the from extensive development and with the Zoning Bylaw
1998 in place which further help to maintain the zoning regulations and maintenance which is
further helped by nature.
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For the last 95 years, the city has transformed from an agricultural area to a working-class
residential district. The city has gone through a great transformation in recent years as the
Mayfair turned into a heritage building and is now an entertainment center which turns to be a
great place to catch a film (Ehrmann, Rost and Inauen 29-39). The Aberdeen Pavilion was an
engineering achievement as the entire structure was constructed using long-span steel arches
designing in such a way that minimizes the cost and provides a large column-free space, it also
served as resting and practicing ground for Canadian soldiers during the Boer war. Echo-Bank
house is built using the same stones the helped to build the canal locks. Hopewell School
designed to meet the medical standards, Keeping the place ventilated and well-planned fireplaces
and perfect exhaust system. Even the windows of the building were built using a scientific
formula to keep them under the exact proportion. The precious blood convent has been given a
historic structure, keeping the building to 5 story height with a pale yellow brick used to build it.
The building is covered by adjacent 4 and 2 story wings with large front doors and windows, In
fact, the building has an impressive structure blessed with a touch of simplicity. On the other
hand, the city is surrounded by the Rideau River and canal. Thus by maintaining the water, it acts
as a calming influence for the older and younger generation that runs across the city.
Hopewell Avenue public school and Precious Blood Convent which now serves as the royal
college of physicians and surgeons of Canada and are the top institutional buildings in the area.
South Ottawa also has a glimpse of early history, which is the billing estate museum.
Transportation has also been improved, providing fast traveling options from the east to the west
side of the city through several buses.
2.
A similar use of brick and arch like structure is maintained in every renovation and even new
constructions. Mayfair theatre like every other has the exterior walls with rough red bricks and
the structure of the building takes you in a flashback of history (Liu 47-55). Hopewell Avenue
public school exterior is comparatively simple by using stones for structural unit and foundation

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in 17 Hopewell Avenue. Billings bridge estate functions as a museum with intimate exhibits of
family heirlooms, personal belongings and other possessions such as furniture, tools, paintings,
documents, and photographs.
With the use of stones and natural material, the city has kept its initial image even after
renovations and development that has happened across the town. Precious blood convent on 774
echo drive location has an extensive simplicity to its exterior and is build similar form and
massing the convents build throughout Canada by religious orders in the 19th and 20th century,
which is laid around a central axis with each wing housing serving a different purpose (Ehrmann
et al.). Hence the city maintains its arrangements of streets and lots keeping in mind that the
existing combination is kept intact.
3.
The city has gone through several transformations for a long time. Hopewell Avenue public
school has been built and maintained in an unbeatable manner. As the interior part of the
building is highly specialized the exterior structure is kept simple yet appealing. It was built with
such a ventilated system that re-circulates oxygen-depleted air and that has been maintained with
time. Stones have been used during renovating the building is sections like main doors, Further
to get the projected curved surface aluminum panels have been used. While Precious blood
convent is a great example of a classically proportioned structure bounded with 4 story wings by
three sides and a 2 story wing on the north side of the building with a round arch at the entrance,
which was recently renovated in order to replace that was located in the central side of the
building
With time the certain existing property is also renovated and changed through proper
improvisation turning into world-class entertainment centers and are also included in a heritage

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building (Round-Cunliffe 108-114). The Graham fire station is built in with the elaboration of
Spanish colonial features stone with a red colored rough brick including an open porch, its
relatively low profile relates to the surrounding neighborhood. The fire hall is a good example of
a mature style with a well-established independent architect. The city has maintained his historic
structure and keeping in mind a sustainable development happens across the town.

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References
Liu, Henry. "Evaluation Of A Community-Based Concussion Prevention And Advocacy
Program At The University Of Ottawa". University Of Ottawa Journal Of Medicine, vol 8, no. 1,
2018, pp. 47-55. University Of Ottawa Library
Ehrmann, Thomas et al. "Location Of Decision Rights In Catholic Religious
Orders". Managerial And Decision Economics, vol 34, no. 1, 2012, pp. 29-39. Wiley
Round-Cunliffe, Henriette. "Collection Building Amongst Heritage Amateurs". Collection
Building, vol 36, no. 3, 2017, pp. 108-114. Emerald