The Lookout

The LOOKOUT is a project completed between September 1st - December 31st, 2016. 

The aim of the project is to create a pavilion in the "Byword Market", which is a neighbourhood in downtown Ottawa, Canada. 

The project focuses on York St. in the Byward Market – specifically the block between Sussex (to the west) and Byward Market Square (to the east). York is one of two extra-wide east/west streets that run through the Market.

For several decades this excess width on this portion of York St. has been used for surface parking – which runs down the center of the divided roadway.

While parking is key to the continued vitality of the Byward Market, many question whether surface parking is the best use for this portion of York St. – especially given its prominent location and its potential as a connection between the monumental (national) and local cities.

In the spring of 2017 parking on this portion of York St. will be temporarily removed to make way for a project called Inspiration Village. Comprised of some 40 shipping containers, the village is one of several installations scheduled to appear around Ottawa to accommodate programming for Canada’s 150th anniversary celebrations. Inspiration Village will operate between Victoria Day and Labor Day, after which the space is scheduled to revert to parking.

The project asks us to consider the re-design of York St. Challenging us to promote the idea that this block of York St. should not revert to parking when the project comes down.