The Case for Moving the Prime Ministerial Residence

It’s time to think about a new use for 24 Sussex. And concerns about security, media, and international diplomacy make a strong argument in favour of a fresh start at a different address, says ALLAN TERAMURA, president of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada IS CANADA, ALMOST 150 YEARS after Confederation, in need of a purpose-built prime ministerial residence?

Long-delayed repairs to 24 Sussex are finally being looked at seriously, and this is an occasion to think about whether it is still the most suitable building to house this important function. While the house has tremendous historical value and must be restored, it may now be time to think of a more appropriate use for it.

Many changes in the requirements for the prime ministerial residence have happened over the years. Security, for example, is clearly a major challenge. When one approaches the building, the first thing that comes into view is the massive steel fence, then the guard post and vehicle barriers, then the cameras, then the security detail’s cars and trucks, then, finally, jammed behind this intimidating visual cacophony, the house itself. Not the most welcoming presentation. No wonder Margaret Trudeau called it the “crown jewel of Canada’s federal penitentiary system.” The view looking out from inside must be grim.

And it’s very likely that this situation would remain unchanged even if the building were demolished and rebuilt in situ. The challenge is the tension between the very real security requirements of the VIP occupants and the immediate proxim- ity of the house to a public road. On a larger site, these necessary technicalities could be incorporated in a more discreet manner at some distance from the house proper, making the immediate surroundings more domestic and dignified.

Assuming a suitable site is available somewhere nearby and the political will exists to explore alternative solutions, an exciting range of possibilities begins to emerge.

It’s likely that the Canadian government now requires better and larger settings for official dinners and other diplomatic functions than was anticipated in the 1940s. While other, grander spaces exist for ceremonial events in the parliamentary precinct and Rideau Hall, there is something special about being invited to the government leader’s personal home. Expanding the capacity to host official events in a more intimate setting can play an important role in Canada’s international relations; such intangibles are important in politics and diplomacy.

Also, in today’s media environment, the importance of the ability to supply visually arresting settings for photos and videos of meetings with global leaders should not be underestimated. The history of 20th-century Canadian architecture is richly populated with examples of significant houses carefully integrated into their surrounding landscape; for example, the Gordon Smith House in Vancouver by the late architect Arthur Erickson.

A new prime ministerial residence should be a masterful achievement in this tradition. Classic examples blur the boundary between house and garden, creating an integrated experiential whole. Considering the symbolic significance of this building, the landscape architecture could be a poetic interpretation of the very idea of the Canadian northern wilderness. What better setting for a photo opportunity with a visiting world leader? Images like this would be broadcast to the world, thereby forming part of our national identity.

A house built with diplomatic functions in mind would be designed to display art. The curation of the artworks would reflect both the tastes of the residents and the best of Canadian artistic achievement, and just as importantly, the ability to display a wide variety of artifacts would be professionally integrated into the design of the building.

The building could be humble in its material palette while being rich in carefully worked out, beautiful, and practical details. If the leader of the federal government woke up every day in such an environment, perhaps he or she would gain a greater appreciation of the impact of thoughtful building on one’s quality of life. This would be a good thing for all of us.

The building could easily embody state-of-the-art