I'm spending a few days on Parliament Hill, with photos I've taken at various points during spring and summer.
There has been a great deal of work going on here in the last number of years, and it will be continuing well into the next decade. Restoration work must be done, and it will take awhile. Most of the emphasis in recent years has been on the West Block, which will from what I've heard include a temporary House of Commons while the Centre Block is worked on. Here the back side of the building is slowly emerging from beneath the scaffolding, with sandblasting having had done remarkable work on the stone.
The windows that are normally in place have yet to be reset, but that'll come.
Beyond the West Block, on the highest point of Parliament Hill, I took this shot of the two westernmost blocks on the Hill, the Confederation Building and the Justice Building. From here they look like a single building, but it's a pair. The two buildings date back to the 1920s and 1930s, and share the general Gothic style of the other buildings on the Hill.
I leave off with this arch, set on the East Block, which could use some sandblasting.
Great series, and I love that third photo!
ReplyDeleteI really is a beautiful building and it looks good so clean!
ReplyDeleteit looks really great !
ReplyDeletesaluti from the Italian view..
Ottawa must be a very beautiful city.
ReplyDeleteTomás.
Kudos to those workers restoring the place!
ReplyDeleteThe sandblasting does wonders for those beautiful old buildings.
ReplyDeleteRestoration for these beautiful old buildings is necessary but so time consuming!!
ReplyDeleteLooks like a castle!
ReplyDelete@Linda: thank you!
ReplyDelete@Ciel: cleaning them up works wonders.
@Massimo: thank you.
@Tomas: it is, in many ways.
@Revrunner: they are craftspeople.
@Jan: it really cleans up the effect of polution.
@Kate: very time consuming.
@Norma: they really do.
If only the copper would stay copper! Love the photo of the arch - great leading lines.
ReplyDeletereally pretty structure - even with all the work involved.
ReplyDeleteThese shots are great William.
ReplyDeleteWhen I look at buildings like this I can't help but think Legos. The kid in me, I guess.
ReplyDeletethere's a lot of work involved! beautiful building!
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful stone work on that building. It's very impressive and I love that arch in the last photo.
ReplyDeleteNot easy work and they are doing a nice job.
ReplyDelete@Carla: yes, it doesn't stay that way for long.
ReplyDelete@Tex: and the work was needed.
@Luis: thank you.
@Birdman: I can see that.
@Tanya: keeping up heritage structures like this requires commitment.
@Sharon: I can never get enough of arches.
@Judy: it's certainly not easy work.
I'm glad that they have decided to keep fixing things up and haven't cutback the budget for it!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures.
ReplyDeleteThat first pic looks like a golden castle! Lovely!
ReplyDeleteSandblasting or not, that is a magnificent arch.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to see this old beauty getting some TLC. The Parliament Bldg. in Victoria needs some serious work; its spires need reinforcement and virtually all systems need upgrading. So far I've not heard of any serious plans to undertake the work, regrettably.
ReplyDeleteIt is always a good feeling to see these old buildings being restored to their original splendor. Great photos William.
ReplyDelete@RedPat: particularly surprising given the loathing the current federal government seems to feel towards the capital.
ReplyDelete@Shelly: thank you!
@Cheryl: the architectural style has always appealed to me.
@Mari: it's an arch that I've taken shots from before.
@Kay: the provincial government there needs a kick in the rear. Buildings like this must be taken care of properly.
@Denise: thank you!
The stone is absolutely beautiful. You are quite a photojournalist!
ReplyDeletei am loving that arch way ... wow, gorgeous!! ( ;
ReplyDeleteWhen I come across extensive restorations like that, I know I should appreciate that our history is being preserved, but sometimes I selfishly think they just did it to spoil my photo.
ReplyDeleteWilliam, I love this complex and really appreciate your eye for it.
ReplyDeleteI also appreciate that you follow my blog. Your comments always make me happy, and sometimes that make my day!
As for why the updates are irregular: I have been working on a project and did not post for 3 weeks. Pure sloth and neglect! Today I made up for lost time and will try to be more diligent in the future. Thanks so much.
Lovely buildings! The church with the bricked up windows has quite a mysterious air to it!
ReplyDeleteOld and historic buildings are among my favorite photo subjects as well, William. The kast photo taken thru the arches was my favorite here.
ReplyDelete@Greensboro: thank you!
ReplyDelete@Beth: the arches always draw me in.
@Jack: I'll be thinking that a lot if scaffolding obscures the Centre Block!
@Merry: ah, so that's it. I've had a couple of blogs in my list that don't update, so I was wondering if it was something amiss.
@Meradeth: I wish I could get into those, but they're not part of the public tour of the Hill.
@Beatrice: thank you!
And I thought my house projects were big !
ReplyDeleteNow that West Block is done, I have to get inside.
DeleteI'm glad all this restoration is being done! It's pricey but worth it.
ReplyDeleteVery much so, but it'll be years more before it's all done.
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