Kitchener ON / 2022
OPHELIA ON QUEEN.
Preserving the two historic houses along Queen Street was paramount in the development's planning process. Their prominent location at the front portion of the property played a significant role in determining the placement of the simple block of apartments at the rear.
A third house on the north end of the property, which was not deemed of heritage significance, was demolished, securing a ‘window’ for the building’s main entrance, a pivotal moment where the building engages with the streetscape.
The apartment building, painted in black, with reflective glazing on most of its front façade serves a deliberate purpose: to ensure the structure recedes into the background, acting as a subdued backdrop to the historic houses.
As a concession to accommodate an increase in density, a mural was painted at the base of the building, where a band of diagonal strips serve as a contemporary framework and the imprint of the historic houses pays homage to their significance and heritage.
