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Ottawa Architecture : Waterloo History Museum

The Region of Waterloo History Museum project: Ottawa Building design by Moriyama & Teshima Architects

Design: Moriyama & Teshima Architects in association with The Walter Fedy Partnership
Location: Doon Heritage Crossroads
Date: 2008-

Crossroads in Time: The New Region of Waterloo History Museum located at Doon Heritage Crossroads

Building images: Moriyama & Teshima Architects

17 Apr 2008

Waterloo History Museum Ottawa

Situating the Region of Waterloo History Museum at Doon Heritage Crossroads has provided many unique and exciting opportunities for the building’s architecture. The existing 1914 living history village interprets a significant crossroads in the region’s history, bridging its pioneer past with its modern present.

The new Region of Waterloo History Museum also sits at an historical crossroads – the site of two transportation routes that were critical to the development of Canada and Waterloo Region: the old Huron Road that was built in the 1830s to bring settlers into the region and beyond; and a rail line that connected Berlin/Kitchener to Galt/Cambridge, providing a link between the two distinct cultures in North Dumfries and Waterloo Townships.

Fragments of both these routes not only exist on the site of the new museum, but literally cross one another at the heart of Doon Heritage Crossroads. This physical crossroads serves as a powerful design metaphor for a museum where – symbolically – the past, present and future will intersect.

The museum architecture, the exhibit design and the landscape at Doon Heritage Crossroads are key elements of this project that will be integrated throughout the design process to reflect the “crossroads” theme. To achieve this, the museum’s design will:

– provide a visitor experience that physically responds to the crossing of Huron Road with the rail line;
– bring together indoor and outdoor elements to create a seamless connection between the museum and the living history village beyond;
– heighten awareness of time passing and seasons changing; and use locally sourced building
– materials inspired by both the past and present in order to reflect the unique sense of place and history the new museum will represent.

This long anticipated new museum will tell the story of a region, express the spirit of a people, and stand as an enduring source of pride for all.

Moriyama & Teshima

Location: Doon Heritage Crossroads, Waterloo History Museum, Ottawa

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