Article content

It’s been called everything from an overgrown storage container to an homage to Soviet-style brutalism (thank you, Monte Solberg.) Whatever your preference, there’s no disputing the fifth and apparently final rendition of a proposed addition to the iconic Château Laurier Hotel has all the architectural charm of a mid-‘50s steam heating plant and about as many fans as a concrete recycling facility.

A visitor to this city from almost any other country in the world would stand aghast at the prospect of civic leaders even contemplating approving a monstrosity of this magnitude to deface a national historic gem like the Château Laurier in the heart of the nation’s capital and at the foot of a world heritage site, the Rideau Canal. Come to think of it, just about everybody in this town shares that viewpoint.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or GIBBONS: Council must show some courage on Château file Back to video

And yet here we are, barely 48 hours from what might be one last chance to reverse a stupid and grossly mishandled council decision from last year and stop a perilous slide into architectural mediocrity. This assumes the more timorous and risk-averse members of council can screw up sufficient courage to admit a mistake, accept the legal risk of changing their mind, and thereby avoid making an even bigger mistake by letting the approval stand.