The former American Embassy, by Cass Gilbert Jr., 1931-32
There has been a fair bit of talk lately about what to do with the former American embassy, directly across the street from Parliament’s Centre Block. It’s a perfect example of what the heritage world calls ‘adaptive re-use’: a sound and architecturally admirable old building, with a rich history, has lost its original function and needs a new one in order to remain viable. Happily, the federal government is actively seeking a use for the building, and there was even some public consultation a few weeks ago in terms of an online survey (along with several days of public access to the interior).
A number of possible functions were suggested in this survey:
- Canada House (a showcase of the whole nation)
- Capital Information Centre (essentially a tourist information office)
- Parliamentary Interpretive Centre
- Indigenous Cultural Centre
- Gallery for artworks of ‘national significance’
In my view, the last two are by far the most worthwhile projects on the list, but only the last would be suitable for this building.
In fact, I think the best use of the building would be precisely that which was planned for it by the Chrétien government: a National Portrait Gallery. Being across the street from Parliament, it’s in the heart of the tourism centre of the city. It is the perfect place for creating – and critiquing – national narratives. And the portraits that would fill it come from the same cultural context and traditions as the Classical building itself.
So what’s wrong with an Indigenous Cultural Centre? Nothing – in fact it’s a great and badly needed idea. But please, please not in this building. Not only is it irrelevant to aboriginal history, but it speaks the architectural language (Classicism) of Western power. It would forever frame the presentation of native culture within the symbols of Western authority, and the contents of the building would be at permanent war with the architecture. It would be a cringe-worthy and insulting choice for an Indigenous Cultural Centre.
Victoria Island, a place steeped in history and cultural meaning for First Nations, has been suggested as an ideal location for an Indigenous Cultural Centre. By all means let’s have such a centre, but let it speak the language of native culture rather than being shoehorned into an alien spatial paradigm.
Peter Coffman
peter.coffman@carleton.ca