Ottawa Architecture Week: Festival of Design and Imagination is an annual week-long festival that welcomes everyone to explore architecture, urbanism, art and design in Ottawa. It is presented by the Ottawa Regional Society of Architects (ORSA) with the help of local volunteers and businesses.
The theme
Vacanc(IT)Y : Adapting Ottawa for a Complete Community
Welcome to Ottawa Architecture Week 2024, a festival that celebrates Ottawa’s built environment. This year, we will explore the challanges and opportunities presented by vacant spaces within our city through our theme “Vacant City: Adapting Ottawa for a Complete Community”. From abandoned buildings, to unused lots, these empty spaces hold immense potential to be reimagined and repurposed for the benefit of the entire community.
Let’s ask ourselves these questions through different events planned during Ottawa Architecture week:
How can we harness the potential of vacant spaces in Ottawa to foster a sense of community ownership and participation?
What are some successful examples from other cities of adaptive reuse projects that have transformed vacant areas into thriving community hubs?
In what ways can architecture and urban design contribute to addressing social and economic disparities within our city, particularly in areas with high rates of vacancy?
How can we balance the preservation of Ottawa’s cultureal heritage with the need for adaptive urban development in vacant areas?
What role can technology and digital innovation play in revitalizing vacant spaces and enhancing community engagement in the process?
Are there any designed interventions that have been executed to succesfully combat vacancy in Ottawa?
Let’s start the conversation.
About OAW: Festival of Design & Imagination
Ottawa Architecture Week is a public forum that explores the ways in which architecture and urban design affect our daily lives. Throughout the week, we celebrate the role of architecture and the related trades in a way that is fun and engaging. We strive to bridge the gap between the architectural community and the public, in order to facilitate a constructive dialogue on the relationship between the built environment and Ottawa’s people.
Each annual edition is curated around a trending theme relevant to the architectural profession and the Ottawa–Gatineau community as a whole. The program features a variety of public events that include talks, exhibitions, installations, workshops, film screenings, tours, and panel discussions.
Past editions:
OAW 2023 - City of Play: Play in the Capital?
OAW 2022 - Re|claiming normal: connecting post–pandemic
OAW 2020→2021 - Never normal: Lessons from adversity
OAW 2019 - Under water: Weathering the new normal
OAW 2017 - Beyond 150 — “technically beautiful” yet?
OAW 2016 - Next Stop: 150 — Ottawa’s Pedestrian Revolution
OAW 2015 - The City & The Capital
OAW 2014 - Topics on intensification
OAW 2013 - Architecture week
OAW 2012 - Architecture week
OAW 2011 - Gimme shelter
About ORSA
Ottawa Regional Society of Architects is a non-profit volunteer organization that represents the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) within the community. ORSA works to raise the profile of the architectural industry and has given voice to the local architectural profession for over 100 years.
ORSA Membership includes registered members of the OAA, as well as people involved in related industries. ORSA also welcomes members of the general public who have an interest in architecture and want to further their involvement in the architectural community.
ORSA is committed to presenting an informed opinion on issues affecting architecture in the National Capital Region, as well as to increase public awareness of the social importance of architectural design.
For more information, visit the ORSA website.