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Originally Posted by citydwlr
I agree. We are quickly being surpassed. And for the capital of Canada, it's sad that we're so far behind. There really isn't much emphasis placed on Design and Architecture. That said, in recent years it has been improving, it's just not improving quick enough.
One thing that really bugs me is that we don't have anything by Frank Gehry in Ottawa - no art or architecture whatsoever. The guy isn't getting any younger, and he's arguably Canada's most prolific/sought-after architect (or art-chitect, I suppose is more accurate). Toronto keeps pulling in more projects from his studio, and whatever your opinion is regarding his work, it brings in a lot of interest. I can't tell you how many news outlets, blogs, and magazines have talked about his latest projects. It's not only exposure for the architect and his work, but also for the city. When was the last time a building in Ottawa was featured in one of those publications?
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Former prime ministers like Laurier and Mackenzie King dreamed of Ottawa becoming a marvelous, modern capital (and then hired Gréber to do the opposite). I wish our governments and developers had their same hopes to see this city as a marvelous place, with incredible buildings features in architectural magazines, encouraging archi-tourism to see those buildings, and not the typical tourist fare.
I'll be honest, I'm not too surprised there isn't much emphasis on architecture and design - not to put Ottawa down, as I love it and moved back here from Montreal and Toronto - but aren't we the city that fun forgot, and the city in Canada with the least arts funding? The fact that buildings are mediocre (or worse) is heartbreaking. While this may be overly optimistic and perhaps naïve, it's for that reason that I'm switching programs and hoping to get into architecture: to somehow contribute buildings this city needs desperately.
We have several prolific architects that we should have buildings from here. Hell! We fawn over Canadian works of art and collect them all, but we don't have architecture and public spaces designed by famous Canadian architects? I find some of Gehry's work to be a bit too much/ busy, like the condo towers he's proposed for Toronto (I know, heresy!), but I love the office building he did on West 19th Street:
Actually, a shout-out to the building across from this one in New York, 100 11th Avenue:
This one is really nice as well; and one that receives little attention, just behind this building is one by Shigeru Ban.
Personally, I love Shigeru Ban's stuff more than Gehry's and would love to see some of his stuff in Ottawa. If you don't know who he is, definitely check him out as his designs and materials are fascinating. Here is my favourite of his, the GC Osaka building:
(Geez, there's just so many buildings, I want to post them all. We should make a thread where we can share buildings we like and would love to see in Ottawa).
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It would have made a nice addition to the Dow's Lake area, adding a much needed attraction for tourists, especially around the time of the Tulip Festival. Alternatively, if noise was an issue, the Experimental Farm would have sufficed. 
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