Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Modern Gothic Revival -- Canadian Parliament in Ottawa


In 1857, Queen Victoria selected Ottawa as the new Capital of the Province of Canada. The East, Centre and West Blocks of the Parliament buildings were constructed before Confederation in 1967. In 1916 a fire destroyed much of the building. Even as World War I was being fought, the Parliament buildings had to be replaced. After John Pearson and Jean Omer Marchand designed the new Gothic Revival building, it was finished in 1922.

The Peace Tower was completed in 1927. This structure is decked with strange gargoyles, one of which is seen below. Its clock was a gift from the United Kingdom and the carillons, based on centuries-old instruments from the Netherlands and Belgium, has 53 bells and weighs 54 tons.

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