As part of our efforts to highlight places constructed during the Modern period of architecture in the National Capital Region we have added to notable places in April 2026.

Embassy of Japan in Canada

The Embassy of Japan in Canada, located at 255 Sussex Drive in Ottawa, is a dignified, understated modern complex whose warm brown brick façade, large rectilinear windows, and horizontal massing create a refined and orderly diplomatic presence. Its composition is a disciplined geometry of primary triangular forms, accented by dark metal detailing, that quietly complements nearby institutional neighbours along Sussex Drive. The site historically included an auditorium and public wing alongside the larger chancellery, supporting cultural programming and public engagement while mediating between the secure interior and the public realm. Mature trees, modest garden elements, and pedestrian-friendly features soften the embassy’s formal perimeter, with black metal gates and carefully tended plantings balancing security and accessibility and reinforcing an overall sense of harmony and simplicity.

40 Boteler

At 40 Boteler Street, The Sussex is a refined 12-storey concrete-and-masonry condominium completed in 1978, whose rectilinear massing and steady vertical repetition reflect late-1970s modernist residential design. Large windows and projecting balconies establish a consistent façade rhythm while opening views toward the Ottawa and Gatineau Rivers, and its position at the northern edge of the ByWard Market places it within an established corridor of embassies and cultural destinations. The landscaped setting is modest and urban, softening the pedestrian edge without competing with the building’s disciplined geometry and material presence. At ground level, a generous entry canopy and recessed doorway lead to carved wood doors and a notably intact lobby finished with brown brick, granite flooring, and wood-slat ceilings—details that underline the quality of construction and the building’s carefully maintained original character.