The federal government is looking at dropping the dilapidated home at 24 Sussex in Ottawa as the prime minister’s official residence and is considering several other sites in the city for a replacement, sources say.
Other than the fact that the PM has resided there since the 50’s, the residence actually has little cultural merit. (I mean, I guess it is a ‘historical’ building, but…)
This is actually a great opportunity to build something that is uniquely Canadian and foreward looking. It’s a chance to make a little bit of Canadian history.
Hire a Canadian architect and build a residence that is self-sustaining and ecologically friendly. Make it a showcase for what Canadian engineers can do. Source everything from Canada, from the foundation to the artwork. Treat it like the Avro Arrow of architecture. I’d wager that the average Canadian would find way more pride in that residence than 24 Sussex.