Capital Modern is a TRACE architectures initiative. It was originally conceived, designed and constructed by Chris Warden and continues to be maintained by Chris.  He is a Partner with TRACE architectures Inc in Ottawa, Canada. Chris has an interest in Modern-era architecture and experience with rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of these places. He has a concern with the lack of value that is typically attributed to places from this period in Ottawa’s growth as a city.  Ottawa is a (M)modern city.

This site is meant to fit into the growing attention this period is receiving, especially as their age means valuable lifecycle upgrades are now needed. The site also provides a wide audience with the opportunity to more deeply consider and/or reconsider works from this period.  Retrofit and reuse of this massive stock of buildings is imperative to meeting carbon targets. It is important to give consideration to the following items in relation to this period of Architecture:

• the architectural/design value of a work;
• the local, national & international cultural context that is embodied within the work;
• the relationship with a Place’s physical context;
• adapting to the range of scales, types and quality;
• the physical resource and its embodied energy;
• how works have/have not evolved and adapted over time.

All of these considerations are connected to the larger goal of looking at the potential role Modern Places can play in the future.  This site is intended to provide insight beyond simple categorizations such as whether a Place is “good” or “bad”.  Each Work provides an opportunity for learning, even from what may currently be perceived as mistakes.

Additionally, this site will look at how Modern Works evolve, responding to changing demands and a desire to remain relevant.  The only way Works survive is through change, be it physical,  to a larger context or cultural.  Each change requires due consideration of where a work’s value lies in order to go forward.  Ideally the discussions and documents on this site will contribute to this consideration.

In the future the following pages are planned to be added to the about section:

• role of Modern Works in the region
• Modern Works and Canada’s Centennial
• National Capital region
• site organization