Friday, June 20, 2014

A Garden On High Ground

The C.D. Howe Building is a modern office complex a block south of Parliament Hill, home to government offices. It's named after a Liberal cabinet minister who served continuously under two prime ministers from 1935-1957. The elevators took me up to the roof.


Across the street below, there's another glass building, but there's something else inside it- an old building entirely encased in the new building. I'm not sure if it's accessible, but I'll have to find out. If I'm right, the Currency Museum is in there- one place I haven't been to yet.


The roof of the C.D. Howe Building is something different. Thirty percent of it is green roof technology. Another thirty percent is landscaped with indigenous shrubs, flowers, and grasses. 




It's a nice, serene spot to come up to relax... at least for the government workers. Doors Open is the only weekend the public can get up here.


And it has nice views. The Alexandria Bridge, Gatineau, the Ottawa River, and Parliament Hill can be seen from here. The Parliamentary block on the right is the West Block, undergoing restoration and construction work. The block on the left is one part of Parliament Hill that I haven't shown you yet. It's called the Confederation Building.






40 comments:

  1. I love rooftop gardens. We have many out here in Seattle. MB

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  2. Love the rooftop garden! Too bad you can only see it during Doors Open. I've enjoyed all the old buildings on your Doors Open tour. What a wonderful opportunity to see inside all those lovely old buildings.

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  3. Sometimes I love modern architecture and in this case, I think I would enjoy it very much!

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  4. I like this smart idea with roof gardens.

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  5. Nice gardens and view! And that building in a building is intriguing.

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  6. That is nice they have a terrace so high up. Love to see the views over the city.

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  7. What a fantastic idea to build a little park on the roof. I am so glad you went to all these Doors Open events, this is worth seeing!

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  8. I'm glad the public still has access to these spaces.

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  9. Not only is there a good view of the city but the rooftop is view in it's self.

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  10. What a wonderful garden on top of that building, and the view is great.

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  11. Rooftop and high views are always my favorites as well.

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  12. @Linda: thank you!

    @MB: this one surprised me.

    @Elaine: I really enjoy getting out and checking these out.

    @Ciel: this building really suits me.

    @Gunn: it is a good use of space.

    @Stuart: I will have to find out if I can get inside.

    @bieb: they are pleasant views.

    @Halcyon: I always enjoy attending this.

    @revrunner: if only for a weekend!

    @andy: yes it is.

    @jan: I think so!

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  13. Love the garden...and the view is pretty nice, too!

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  14. I'm afraid of heights...that last shot was far too close to the edge for me!
    Jane x

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  15. Modern architecture at its best, the roof is really beautiful and it is a pity that it is usually closed to the pubic...

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  16. I love finding rooftop gardens. Back in 2000, I worked a short 4 month contract in San Francisco and while there I took a walking tour called "Secret Gardens" and they took us to several roof top gardens that I had no idea existed. It was great to see.

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  17. You have so many interesting and impressive buildings! I would love to see more of the building inside of a building. And I do like all the glass, but the rooftop is fantastic. Such views and what a wondrous place to relax and catch one's breath in the midst of a hectic day!

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  18. Fantastic roof top garden, what a bonus for office workers. Brilliant view from up there.. Enjoyed the inside peek William..

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  19. I'd love to work in a place like this!

    Hope you can get into the old building within the glass building. I'm curious!

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  20. I've seen this in various places. They are fabulous. Mostly, I see them when we are in a hotel. Such a sanctuary!
    (ツ) from Cottage Country Ontario !

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  21. The gardens make the roof a pleasant place to visit plus the plants help clean the air. That;s important near Parliament Hill. Just sayin'! :))

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  22. Beautiful modern architecture. Lovely garden too. I wish more cities would do rooftop gardens.

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  23. Roof-top wonder with a view. Worth the trip UP.

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  24. @Beatrice: I like getting in views from up high.

    @Norma: it was such a nice surprise.

    @Jane and Chris: if I had a problem with heights, I couldn't do any rock climbing.

    @Luis: I think so.

    @VP: I can understand the reasons why, so I'm glad I got the chance to get up there.

    @Sharon: that would have been ideal. There's a whole side to our cities we don't often get a chance to see.

    @Lowell: the breezes up there were lovely.

    @Tanya: that's what really drew me up there!

    @Grace: thank you!

    @Cheryl: it's on my list of things to do.

    @Jennifer: and a pleasant sanctuary!

    @EG: oh, yes, very important!

    @Krisztina: that would be a good thing.

    @Birdman: definitely worth it!

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  25. Lovely and beautiful roof.
    I like also your 2nd shot!

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  26. Very cool composition on top. Great POV.

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  27. Great shots! That building within a building is very interesting!

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  28. I love to see a nice green roof like this one!

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  29. Very nice, but I would be too scared to go up there.

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  30. @Tex: I think so!

    @Karl: thank you.

    @Jose: I wanted a shot like that looking down.

    @Meradeth: I must pay it a visit sometime.

    @RedPat: I wonder how many more are out there that we never know about.

    @Whisk: I can see the heights being a problem.

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  31. What a shame it's only accessible during Doors Open. That's an amazing building within a building, and the rooftop plaza looks amazing, too.

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  32. Eye popping. That's quite a roof.

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  33. what a view looking down ... and as well as from up top

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  34. That green roof is wonderful! And that old building encased in a new building is absolutely fascinating! I hope you can visit it one of these days.

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  35. Very interesting! There must be a great back-story if that old building is inside of this one.

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  36. @Kay: I'll have to come up here next year again too.

    @Mari: it was fun being up there.

    @Daryl: it's a nice perch.

    @Hilda: it turns out that area is under renovation, so for now it's cut off.

    @Pat: I'll keep an eye on the construction process from time to time. Hopefully that place will be part of Doors Open next summer.

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