A River of Words

Linguistics School and Communication Centre

Eddy St | Gatineau, Canada

I noticed a strong connection with the Ottawa River when examining the site. I wanted my building to invite patrons off the road and on the waterfront. Alexandre Tache Road undulates around our building, and extending its flow can direct people.

When water travels, it erodes the existing. Water creates paths, crevasses and overhangs. The building takes shape from a metaphorical river that passes through the site and the existing building. Along its journey, the river meets two large structures that it erodes to give large overhangs. The building splits towards the Ottawa River and reveals a clearing allowing water access. The metaphorical river creates a separation that allows for a public and a private building. The public building includes spaces for work, classes and events. The private section includes areas for student lodging, an art gallery and a dining hall.

A shell is a vital protective armour, but conversely, maturing, overcoming shyness, forming beliefs and ideas and gaining confidence to express them is often referred to as “coming out of one’s shell”. The erosion leaves the shell of the existing building. People could walk through it to enter a sheltered exterior corridor. Circulation speed varies, it slows in pockets as a river creates eddies. Circulation flows through the existing and gives it new life. I want to create an honest contrast between the existing and the new. Hence, the angled shapes help demonstrate the alterations by breaking out of the original stone wall.

Every building has a story, and by preserving elements, people are reminded of our progress. Like a message in a bottle floating in the water, the building reuses its container to pass a message of confidence towards the future.

Ground