Y A R A   T A W F I K 

Situated in the heart of east Ottawa, Merging Urbanities aims to strengthen the connection of public spaces, like Montreal Rd. and the semi-public spaces in the community through a series of three merging public plazas of different sizes. How the massing of individual buildings on Montreal Rd. interact with the urban environment was explored.   
 

Plazas are inter-connected forming a unique language & pattern to a new urban neighborhood in Vanier. Plazas start with a small open space which invites pedestrians to the mixed-use nature of Montreal road. Then benches curve along the pedestrian streetscape opening to another plaza for the high-rise condo which leads to a public terrace. The third plaza is situated in the heart of the neighborhood at the end of the pedestrian street forming an oval-shaped amphitheater for larger gatherings.  A diagonal pedestrian path that intersects the orthogonal axis of Dupuis Street is emphasized to engage the community with the other end of the site, connecting three institutional buildings: a new library that is connected to St. Margaret’s Heritage Church,  an art gallery and workshops with the new school that has been relocated.

The project features a wide variety of dwelling types with a total of 824 units, including single-family townhouses, low/mid-rise apartment buildings and even a high-rise condominium. Merging Urbanities offers a walkable streetscape, Dupuis Street, and elevated parks in the center of the community to create privacy for the houses at the back of the site.