Columbia

Located minutes from downtown Ottawa, the Columbia is a 20-story residential tower with contemporary design that plays on contrasts between opacity and transparency, black and white, volumes and planes.

Location: Gatineau, QC
Type: Residential, Architecture
Storeys: 19
Surface area: 231,895 ft² / 21,544 m²
Status: Completes (2021)

The tower is set back from Columbia Farm, a Georgian-style heritage building and testament to the founding period of the town of Hull. Despite the difference in scale, the intention is to establish a dialogue with the existing building.

An arcade made of traditional stone masonry marks the entrance of the new building. The use of a dark brick on the first floors recalls the colours of the 1835 building, and by using a lighter brick on the upper floors, the tower’s silhouette disappears among the clouds.

An urban chalet crowns the building, offering residents a swimming pool, spa and gym, in addition to panoramic views of Ottawa.