Discovering Nepean Point

Through our exploration, our team not only discovered our proposed building for Nepean Point but the surrounding environment of how the building will ultimately interact with such a historical site located just north of the National Gallery.

The team was inspired by these shells that would encompass the building. The concept of the shells is to peel and reveal the theatre inside. These shells would encompass these spaces that occupants would desire to discover and meander through. Therefore, the shells hold the circulation of both the building and the site to constitute these rare spatial experiences throughout the entire site. The shells represent a critical part of the site plan. Once an occupant finds themselves meandering through the shells, they will want to wander and ultimately discover themselves facing the magnificent views that are a key characteristic of Nepean Point. Accordingly, the shells create pleasant spaces and circulation that the occupants of the site.

To juxtapose against the shells’ curvature, the building, and black box all house linear elements. This illustrates a duality and conveys the shells are revealing the hidden theater. This linear aspect is present throughout all aspects of the building as one critical aspect of the new proposed theater is a stage that acts as an elevator for the entire building that can be hosted up to the rehearsal room and can be descended to the basement in which it can be loaded with essential items for the production. Consequently, the building architectural strategy is composed of linear elements to dual the shells’ curvature to help indicate occupants the program of each, with the shells being for exploration and circulation and the black box is for the actors and the technicians of the theatre.

Finally, as addressed in the site study of Nepean Point, access to the site and the theatre was a crucial part of this proposal. With the fundamental concept of meandering and finding the overlooked spatial gems throughout the site, almost every key access to the site kept this idea alive. The main entrance to the theatre is through the zig-zag path attached to the National Gallery, in which the occupants find and discover the obscure theatre. However, there is another access to the main entrance through St Patrick Street just south of the site to allow patrons easy access if needed. Ultimately, a bridge is purposed to connect Major Hills Park and Nepean Point. This connects the point back to the historical aspects of the park as well as a wandering path for people to find and access the remarkable views and backdrop of the site.

Thus, the site encompasses a journey for the occupant to discover new spaces and finally bring back life to a previously inaccessible site in Ottawa through the purposed building. All drawings encompassed in this project of this document are co-created by Etienne Bérubé and Fiki Falola.