Modern public spaces in Canada: A revaluation

Abstract

Modern post-war built heritage, such as public spaces, gardens and campuses, is hardly considered worthy of conservation in Canada. Yet the history of built form and the projects of this era deserve attention because they reflect a period of profound change. This article focuses on post-war landscape architecture projects in Canada, especially those with surviving traces, to acknowledge them and, hopefully, help prevent their demolition. Two specific cases are used to shed light on the characteristics and the historical and architectural value of modern landscape architecture in the 1960s and 1970s: the University of Victoria campus and the rooftop garden at Hotel Bonaventure Montréal. At a time of growing awareness of the heritage of public spaces, this article seeks to contribute to the knowledge and understanding of projects created during this period, to help establish an idea of Canadian modern landscape architecture and underscore its value.