by Vanessa Burguete
Put on your walking shoes or ride the free shuttle bus* and explore several architecturally, historically, and functionally interesting buildings at this year’s Doors Open Ottawa event! Over 125 locations across the city will be inviting you to take a sneak-peek into some of Ottawa’s finest spaces, many of which are not normally open to the public.
This year’s event will take place on June 2 and 3 and will showcase some architectural classics as well as some modern designs. Embassies, places of worship, museums, architectural firms, green buildings, artist’s studios, and science labs are open for discovery.
The Enriched Bread Artists (EBA) have participated in Doors Open Ottawa annually for the past eight years and they’re back on the roster.
Perched on the hill above Little Italy on the edge of Hintonburg, the home of EBA has been recognized in the community for its historic significance and design. But it’s what happens inside today that keeps people interested in the space. “We wouldn’t be here if there hadn’t been the bread factory,” says Karen Jordon, vice-president and artist at Enriched Bread Artists.
In 1992, the space was converted into what now houses more than 20 artists’ studios, a place where old-world charm meets edgy and creative appeal. “We’ve inherited a wonderful building. The pillars and solid concrete structure attest to how central and important ‘daily bread’ was at the time,” says Jordon.
During the Doors Open weekend, EBA will be giving the public an opportunity to talk to the artists, see their artwork, and listen to the interesting history of the building itself. The only thing that has changed within the space over the past 20 years Jordan explains, is that “now we cook up ideas rather than bread and are more akin to a creative factory; this ‘feeds back’ into our community by bringing people together, fostering interest in contemporary art, and enriching Ottawa’s cultural scene.”
Once you’ve taken a tour through EBA, be sure not to miss out on some of the 25 new and exciting buildings that are participating in the event, including the Official Residence of the Ambassador of Sweden.
Don’t miss your chance to discover your local heritage on Saturday, June 2, and Sunday, June 3, during the 11th edition of Doors Open Ottawa.
For more information about Doors Open Ottawa, contact the event manager, Siobhan Mitchell, at: 613-580-9674. New building announcements are posted on Twitter @doorsopenottawa and Facebook or visit the website at www.ottawa.ca/doorsopen.
* Free shuttle service will provide access within walking distance to 43 sites in the downtown core: see website for details.