Building Styles

Ottawa

The macchicolated tower, tall gabled wall dormers, fractables, corbelled projecting upper floors, battlementing, and steep metal-clad Mansard roof of the Château Laurier in Ottawa make it one of Ontario's most easily recognizable Château style buildings. Small turrets, pepper pot roofs and scalloping make it more picturesque than the nearby Château style government buildings (below).

During the first decades of the twentieth century, the Canadian Pacific Railway built many railway hotels in this style. The lavish design and opulence were thought to be the style that expressed Canadian nationalism.

Toronto

In many ways the stables at Castle Loma are as impressive as the castle itself. Built out of brick, like many of the secondary buildings in Blois, Ussé, and other château towns, these stables have many medieval features reproduced in fine detail. The central portal has an impressive surround with affronted lions perched on battlemented turrets, a roundel, and dentils.

On either side of the portal are brick towers complete with macchicolations, decorative loop holes - once used for shooting arrows - merlons - used for the same purpose - and pepper pot roofs.

The deeply sloped roof is made of red slate and has small dormers. The overall effect is quite spectacular.

Ancaster

This beautiful older Château style residence has all the charm that some of the newer versions are looking for. It is understated and unadorned, but with a steep roof and dormers, multiple chimneys, asymmetrical layout, tower and French doors. The front entrance has a small portico with a round-headed arch and an iron balcony.

The colour scheme is subtly pleasing.

Hamilton

St. Joseph's Convent in Hamilton was designed by Marani architects and built out of local limestone by Pigott Construction. Although it looks much older, it was actually constructed in 1950.

The lanterned cupola and square tower have a medieval feel to them while the large front gable end is very reminiscent of Loire Château style, particularly Angers. Roundels are found on both the gable and the tower. The steeply pitched metal-clad roof has small dormers. There is a discrete Classical main door surround and recessed arched window surrounds, but otherwise the façade is without ornament.

The building has been renovated and modernized, and is still used as a convent.

Ottawa

The Supreme Court of Canada building in Ottawa illustrates the Château style toned down for use on a government building. This, and similar local buildings, were the result of a search for an architecture that expressed a national identity. The Parliament Buildings, completed in the Gothic Revival style, had similar stone exterior finishes and deeply sloping roofs, but the government officials were keen to create a new style that reflected less the British heritage and more the influence of French-Canadian buildings.