1.4 Parliamentary Precinct

(The Vision and accompanying policies of this chapter are adapted, in part, from the document entitled "The Parliamentary Precinct Area - Urban Design Guidelines and Demonstration Plan for Long Range Development", National Capital Commission, Public Works Canada (du Toit, Allsopp, Hillier).)

Conceptual Image: Parliamentary Precinct

1.4.1 Vision

Image

In the future, the Parliamentary Precinct will continue to emerge as the Area of Federal Presence for the nation's capital, with Parliament Hill as its symbolic focus. Future development will reinforce the expansive and diverse landscape of the precinct area, with its dramatic topography, overlooking the Ottawa River. This natural setting will be enclosed and defined by the regular pattern of city streets and buildings on its periphery, accentuating the distinctive, free-standing buildings on the plateau of the hill.

Movement

Confederation Boulevard will serve as the primary means of address to the Parliamentary Precinct, with Wellington Street evolving as the premiere avenue of the capital. A distinctive pedestrian promenade will develop on the north side of Wellington Street, while the south frontage will infill and redevelop to form a defined edge of buildings which are sensitive to existing heritage buildings on the street.

Pedestrian Links

Pedestrian crossings of Wellington Street will serve to link the Precinct with the street-related pedestrian network of the Core, and Sparks and Bank Streets. A number of at-grade pedestrian links will establish through, and between buildings along Wellington Street to Sparks Street.

Access to the River

Over the years, pedestrian access from the Grand Esplanade along Wellington Street to the Ottawa River will improve with the provision of a formal sequence of stairs and a meandering pathway descending from Bank Street to the river's edge, and the development of a major pedestrian corridor to the River between the Judicial Triad and the National Library/Public Archives building.

In each location, a reshaping of the landscape will facilitate pedestrian corridors down the escarpment to the river's edge, and will extend the woodland slopes up to Wellington Street.

Environment

The forested slope of the escarpment and associated valley lands will be conserved and rehabilitated in recognition of their environmental sensitivity and will function as a unique landscaped setting for the parliamentary buildings above. New development will locate away from the escarpment's edge in deference to this valuable resource.

Symbolic Primacy

The symbolic primacy and the visual integrity of the Hill will be preserved and enhanced. Building heights throughout the Central Area will be limited, preserving and enhancing the views of the Parliament Buildings and other national symbols. Similarly, the unexpected views of the Hill from downtown streets will be protected, and the established landscape patterns and architectural themes of the Precinct will be continued and strengthened.

Future development, therefore, shall reinforce the qualitative values of the natural and man-made features of the Parliamentary Precinct, enhancing its role as the symbolic and ceremonial heart of both Ottawa and the nation.

1.4.2 Objectives

Historic Seat of Government

    1. To support the evolution of the Parliamentary Precinct, as designated on Schedule B - Central Area Character Areas and Theme Streets, as the historic seat of government in Canada and as the Area of Federal Presence.

Support Federal Initiatives

    1. To support federal initiatives in the planning and development of the Parliamentary Precinct as an emerging urban form, of which Parliament Hill is the focal point.

1.4.3 Policies

Ceremonial Functions

    1. City Council endorses the continuation of, and improvement to, the ceremonial functions associated with the Parliamentary Precinct. In recognition of this function, City Council supports the Confederation Boulevard concept as the primary means of address to the Parliamentary Precinct.

Confederation Boulevard

    1. City Council, supports the concept of Confederation Boulevard and the designation of Wellington Street as a distinctive street, specifically:
      1. the Grand Esplanade on the north side of Wellington Street to provide a distinctive pedestrian promenade linking national institutions;
      2. a highly consistent pattern of tree planting and street furniture;
      3. infill development of the frontage sites on the south side of Wellington Street, on the city block west of the Langevin Building, between Metcalfe and O'Connor Streets, which is designed to establish a strong street wall and to contain and complete the parliamentary quadrangle while protecting views of the Parliament Buildings; and
      4. a reduction in the number of commuter buses, and the eventual removal of trucks from Wellington Street, as alternative routes become available.

Escarpment

    1. City Council endorses the retention of the historical natural setting of the Parliamentary Precinct through the conservation and rehabilitation of the escarpment, which is designated Major Open Space on Schedule B, in its natural state. Additional buildings on the plateau should be sited away from the natural or constructed escarpment edge.

Primacy of Parliament Hill

    1. City Council recognizes the symbolic primacy and visual integrity of Parliament Hill and supports its preservation and enhancement. In this regard, City Council shall protect the visual integrity and symbolic primacy of the Parliament Buildings and other national symbols, and shall ensure the preservation of the scale of Parliament Square by promoting an appropriate building profile on the south side of Wellington Street.

Heritage Buildings

    1. City Council shall support and promote the conservation of the very significant heritage resources in the Parliamentary Precinct, and in particular shall promote the retention and enhancement of existing heritage buildings on the south side of Wellington Street. New infill buildings should be sensitive to, and compatible with existing heritage buildings.

Pedestrian Movement

    1. City Council supports a number of clearly defined pedestrian crossings of Wellington Street which link the Grand Esplanade on Wellington Street with the street-related pedestrian network of the Core, and the Sparks Street and Bank Street Theme Streets. City Council shall encourage identifiable, at-grade pedestrian links through, and between buildings along Wellington Street to Sparks Street.

Improved Access to River

    1. City Council supports improved pedestrian access from Wellington Street to the Ottawa River which is sensitive to the natural setting of the escarpment. In particular, City Council endorses the plans to improve access to the river by reforming the landscape at the Bank Street Valley and on the west side of the Judicial Precinct.

Links to LeBreton

    1. City Council supports uninterrupted pedestrian links from the Parliamentary Precinct to LeBreton Flats, particularly along the shoreline of the Ottawa River.

View from Downtown Streets

    1. City Council shall protect significant views to the Parliamentary Precinct from public rights-of-way in the Core, including the views along Metcalfe, O'Connor, Kent, Bank, Bay and Lyon Streets and the view across Confederation Square. City council shall protect the views of the Parliament Buildings from two locations at Beechwood Cemetery, as identified in Annex 12 in Volume 1 of this plan. [Amendment 69, November 26, 2008]

Underground Parking

    1. City Council supports the reduction of surface parking by incorporating it underground, provided such development respects the environmental sensitivity of the escarpment, the heritage character, and integrity of Parliament Hill.

Open Landscape

    1. City Council supports the concept of pavilion buildings set in an open landscape, particularly the maintenance of the squares in front of the Centre Block and Supreme Court buildings.
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