Canadian landmarks tell the story of a country whose architectural landscape has more than come into its own within the past several decades. In this post, we’ll explore 10 of the most renowned famous Canadian landmarks that have defined the nation’s status within the architecture industry.
Our list is curated from pieces by Lenmak and Precondo.
1. Art Gallery of Ontario
The modern facility housing the Art Gallery of Ontario in downtown Toronto was designed by one of Canada’s most renowned architects, Frank Gehry. The building’s design showcases many of Gehry’s hallmark designs, including dramatic curves and unconventional shapes. Experts and locals have compared its aesthetic to that of a “crystal ship” that is a work of art in its own right. It stands as an icon alongside Gehry’s extensive catalogue of international projects.
Another architectural gem on the property is The Grange, a manor built in 1817. While it’s easy to miss given how monumental Gehry’s Art Gallery structure is, it doesn’t disappoint. Experts hail it as a beautiful surviving example of the Georgian-styled structures that dotted Upper Canada in the early 1800s. It survived as a private residence for years before being donated and eventually designated a National Historic Site of Canada.
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Architect: Frank Gehry
2. Banff Springs Hotel
The Banff Springs Hotel has graced Alberta’s Rocky Mountain area since 1888. Experts consider it a remarkable example of a Canadian grand railway hotel. It harkens back to a time when railway companies held much of the emerging nation’s wealth and influence.
The building’s design is influenced by French chateau and Victorian styles, both of which were popular at the time of the hotel’s construction.
The Banff Springs Hotel was initially constructed using primarily wood. When the structure was destroyed by fire in 1926, it was reconstructed using the materials you see today. The Banff Springs Hotel has been one of the most famous landmarks in Canada and a popular hotel ever since.
Location: Banff, Alberta
Architect: Walter S. Painter
3. Atwater Market
The Atwater Market building in Montreal is a great example of art deco architecture. It remains one of Canada’s most beloved buildings from the 1930s. With the revitalization of its surrounding neighbourhoods, Atwater Market continues to be an oft-visited landmark housing a four-season market.
The structure is significant historically as well. Following the Great Depression, federal authorities commissioned numerous public markets (including Atwater) to help stimulate the economy. In the 1960s there were plans to convert the market into a recreational facility but residents persisted and it remains a market today.
Location: Montreal, Quebec
Architect: Ludger Lemieux
4. Province House
Province House in historic Charlottetown, PEI dates back to 1844. Given that it was the site of the Canadian Confederation, it comes as no surprise that Province House is recognized as one of the most famous landmarks in Canada.
Province House is an architectural masterpiece. It exemplifies the Roman and Greek Revival styles that influenced the design of government buildings in North America around that time.
Location: Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Architect: Isaac Smith
5. Museum of Anthropology
The University of British Columbia’s Museum of Anthropology was designed by Arthur Erickson. Erickson was once described by American architect Philip Johnson as “the greatest architect in Canada” and his skills demonstrated in the Museum of Anthropology design are a clear example of why.
It is a modern architecture building that draws inspiration from the post-and-beam architectural style common among First Nations people in Western Canada.
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Architect: Arthur Erickson
6. Gooderham Building
The Gooderham Building at the edge of Toronto’s Financial District is one of Canada’s most iconic flatiron buildings. It contains elements of Romanesque and French gothic architecture. The red brick structure stands in stark contrast to the blue-tinted buildings that have sprung up in the Financial District. Gooderham Building, constructed in 1892, is considered one of many masterpieces by David Roberts Jr.
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Architect: David Roberts Jr.
7. Royal Canadian Mint in Winnipeg
The Royal Canadian Mint facility in Winnipeg was commissioned after experts deemed the facility in Ottawa to be outdated. The design represents what was at the time the latest evolution of architect Étienne Gaboury’s philosophy inspired by teepees rising far above the region’s primarily flat prairie land.
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Architect: Étienne Gaboury
8. Montreal Biosphere
The Montreal Biosphere is, no doubt, one of the most famous buildings in Canada. It was designed by Richard Buckminster Fuller. If you’re at all familiar with chemistry, you’ll recognize that it resembles the buckyball shape, which was of course named after Fuller.
The sphere itself wasn’t intended to be permanent; it was just an installation for the 1967 World Fair Exposition. Budget limitations precluded this, however, and the structure was eventually reinforced and left to stand permanently.
The Montreal Biosphere houses an environmental museum that’s architecturally impressive in its own right.
Location: Montreal, Quebec
Architect: Richard Buckminster Fuller
9. Canada Place
Canada Place in Vancouver is one of the most famous buildings in Canada, often drawing comparisons to the Sydney Opera House in terms of both design and iconic nature.
The building was designed by Eberhard Zeidler and features instantly-recognizable skyward sails.
The building houses a convention centre, hotel, and world trade operations.
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Architect: Eberhard Zeidler
10. Parliament Buildings
Last but certainly not least, we have the Parliament Buildings. Collectively, they serve as one of the most famous monuments in Canada, with a design often seen in television and on official correspondence.
The buildings exemplify Gothic Revival architecture in Canada. After a large fire destroyed the Centre Block of the complex in 1916, reconstruction began a few months later. The completed facility boasts the Peace Tower that commemorates Canadians who died in the First World War.
Within the complex, you’ll also find a number of other famous monuments in Canada, including those commemorating Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson, Queen Elizabeth II, and Sir Wilfred Laurier.
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Architect: John A. Pearson and Jean-Omer Marchand
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