Jardín Fred and Elizabeth Fountain Garden Court 

The National Gallery of Canada

Ottawa, ON

Perched on a rocky bluff overlooking the Ottawa River, the National Gallery of Canada is a striking glass-and-concrete tribute to the arts. Within its extensive art collection and the building’s blend of modernist and minimalist architecture, the Fred and Elizabeth Fountain Garden Court is a place for contemplation and reflection.

Our redesign replaced the old geometric garden with a naturalized layout that harmonizes with the gallery’s surrounding landscape, paying homage to the nearby escarpment. The new courtyard seamlessly blends outdoor elements with the gallery’s interior through carefully chosen materials, colours, and textures.

We carefully catalogued and identified both native and tropical plants to recreate a native landscape in an indoor setting. To safeguard the gallery’s extensive art collection, all plants underwent rigorous quarantine to eliminate any risk of insects. As the courtyard is constructed on a slab that extends over the art storage area, we carefully calculated the weight of the boulders, using voiding techniques to minimize loads and adjust soil heights.