Today I am returning to the Doors Open series to finish things off, and we'll get started with this place. This is the embassy for the Czech Republic in downtown Ottawa. It was built in the 1890s as a home, later served as a private club for the Liberal Party of Canada, and became the Czech embassy at the turn of the century. It has been extensively renovated in the last decade.
The embassy feels very comfortable inside, and this was the first year they participated in Doors Open.
I liked the detail work on the ceiling. Embassy staff were on hand here while I was about, and there were plenty of information books on the country, in terms of history, geography, and tourism.
It looks so cute among the large buildings!
ReplyDeleteThe interior is so cosy. Hard to believe it's an embassy!
ReplyDeleteThey are comfortable houses made without need of any kind.
ReplyDeleteTomás.
...and a lot of Bohemian glass, of course!
ReplyDeleteWow! Some serious drinkers in that house :-)
ReplyDeleteLots of lovely Victorian touches still, how about that fabulous red wall, I have one just like it :)
ReplyDeleteA lovely house fromm the outside and the inside aswell.
ReplyDeleteLovely!
ReplyDeleteYou would not believe that these rooms are in this building. The building seems a little more modern as the rooms. But they are both lovely.
ReplyDeleteUnlike most embassies, this one looks livable.
ReplyDeleteA cute little house in the middle of skyscrapers.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful details of the inside, William !
fancy fancy fancy. nice!! ( :
ReplyDeleteIt is always eye catching to see the old next to the new. Beautiful place.
ReplyDeleteI love Victorian! :)
ReplyDeleteReally delightful indeed.
ReplyDeleteVery fitting for the Czech Embassy, kind of recalls the ornate style of old Prague.
ReplyDeleteRich but very dark. There's lots of ornate detail. You've hit the highlights.
ReplyDelete@Linda: it certainly stands out nicely there.
ReplyDelete@Halcyon: some embassies have a very home like feel, others are quite literally in office buildings.
@Tomas: indeed!
@VP: oh, yes!
@Revrunner: with a good taste in glassware. I imagine the embassy regularly has receptions.
@Grace: the deep red and blue of the two rooms really caught my eye.
@Marianne: it left me quite impressed.
@Luis: indeed!
@Orvokki: the renovation work done here was done in the right way.
ReplyDelete@Birdman: it certainly does.
@Karl: there are quite a number of Victorian era homes still in this area- a lot of them have been converted into some office use or another.
@Beth: indeed!
@Janey: I certainly thought so.
@Linda: so do I.
@Blogoratti: definitely!
@Annette: that's a part of the world I would love to see.
@Red: I was particularly pleased with the woodwork shot.
That's been the Czech embassy for a long time. I love this Open Doors program. What a great old building - very classic and elegant!
ReplyDeleteElegant, yes, that is the right word to describe the place.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful home and very cozy looking inside. All that wood gives such a warm feeling.
ReplyDeleteWow home eventually turned into embassy. It looks very cozy and inviting!
ReplyDeleteA beautiful older style home now an embassy. How cool is that. Comfy.
ReplyDeleteMB
It's wonderful to see the interior of these old homes, William!
ReplyDeleteDo I spot Bohemian glasses?? :-) It's a lovely house!
ReplyDeleteI very much like ceilings with decorations like this one.
ReplyDeletehow neat.
ReplyDeleteIt really stands out!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful takes and very plush inside. Nice you could get some nice pictures.
ReplyDelete@Lowell: it really brings out a great part of the community to explore. It's a wonderful concept.
ReplyDelete@Judy: it's very good that the place has been preserved and well kept.
@Sharon: and a lot of wood too. It wouldn't surprise me if the timber came from the J.R. Booth company back in the day.
@Tamago: it's a good use of the place.
@MB: it was quite a pleasure to see inside. I've been past the building many times.
@RedPat: it definitely is.
@Ciel: yes, they look Bohemian!
@Marleen: so do I.
@Tex: very much so!
@Norma: it certainly does.
@Carolann: I was pleased with my shots from here. Something entirely different tomorrow.
Eventually the embassies take over all the grand buildings or if not them then MacDonalds and Starbucks
ReplyDeleteThanks for showing us the detail work. It's exquisite. Though it's not a small building it seems dwarfed by the contemporary structures around it. But it's nonetheless a real standout.
ReplyDeleteJust adore these old buildings.
ReplyDeleteThat's a wonderful old building with nice details, but it's a pity it is surrounded by those much bigger new buildings.
ReplyDeleteThis grand old building seems to be so at odds with the modern structures round it And yet, it holds its beautiful character proudly.
ReplyDeleteThe interior still looks like a London gentlemans William, I do like these 'peeks' behind otherwise closed doors..
ReplyDeleteLoved that molding. What a house!
ReplyDeleteStill beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI like it. It stands out nicely against its more linear modern neighbors.
ReplyDeleteNice little joint, though it looks out of place.
ReplyDeleteI love all the glasses
ReplyDeleteBeautiful old home for an embassy!
ReplyDeleteQuite a grand looking place both as a home and now as an embassy.
ReplyDelete@Mo: better that it's an embassy.
ReplyDelete@Kay: you're welcome.
@Jennifer: I do too.
@Jan: it has strange neighbours.
@Gemma: it does indeed.
@Mari: I agree.
@Randy: definitely.
ReplyDelete@Jack: it does indeed.
@Whisk: yes, but appealing.
@Hilary: so do I.
@EG: it is indeed.
@Beatrice: I agree.