trailblazers chefs de file - CSLA

A NEW AGE GARDEN
THE TEAHOUSE
A GLIMPSE OF THE GROUND
The Ottawa Botanic Garden Society’s motto
is, “Dare to dream”, and the dream includes
many experiences, like those that follow.
The Canuck Garden: While talented
Canadian landscape architects and designers
are creating innovative landscapes around
the world, a Canadian style here at home
does not currently exist…or does it? The
Canuck Garden, the central feature of the
Embassy Gardens, might host a design
36 LANDSCAPES PAYSAGES
competition to articulate the “Canadian
Garden”, enunciating a style that might
one day be as recognizable as Japanese,
French, English or Californian gardens. The
fi rst Canadian themed garden, constructed
for the 150-year celebration of Canada in
2017, would encourage the provinces and
territories to showcase “their” gardens.
The Root Cellar: An underground
experience exposing the secrets of what
goes on beneath our feet. Imagine a
THE SILO
cave-like environment with simulated tree
roots hanging like stalactites in a luminous
glow. Here, the life forms in the soil could
be examined: feel the creepy and crawly
friends of the soil and study their role. The
world of soil science and the mechanisms
plants use to anchor themselves are rarely
exhibited, yet essential elements for life.
The Silo: This signature “agricultural
architecture” is a 30-metre-high sculpture
positioned on high ground. Imagine an
open steel frame structure with panel
coverings or vegetative walls. From the
top, the Silo provides a dramatic panoramic
view, including Canada’s parliament
buildings. Inside, the silo demonstrates
the vascular system in plants with pipes
carrying fl uids from the ground to the top.
The plumbing could be used as a cooling
unit for the Learning Centre. Acting as
a giant fl ower, the silo will react to the
sun’s position with tracking photo voltaic
panels. Digital panels and LED lights
will emit images and night illumination
linked to special days, (a maple leaf on
July 1st-Canada Day, for instance), and on
special occasions, projections (like fl owers)
will sprout from the silo.
Canadensis - The International Garden of
Canada, will be international in appeal,
but will adhere to the specifi c heritage
values of Canada’s Central Experimental
Farm, which itself is a rare example of
a functioning farm in the centre of a
capital city. The Business Plan is (thus
far) a proposal for presentation. But in
2017, it will be 150 years since the Fathers
of Confederation, in 1867, made their
dream of Canada come true, despite
overwhelming odds. It would be most
fi tting to commemorate the anniversary
with Canadensis, an international
garden refl ecting the aspirations and
achievements of all who have created the
Canada of today.
dkg@glenngroup.ca
ILLUSTRATOR RYAN JAMES
snakebarkmaple@gmail.com
www.ottawagarden.ca