1911 – Third placed design for Lieutenant Governor’s Residence, Ontario, Canada

The results of this competition were put aside after the Provincial Architect, Francis R. Heakes, declared that none of the entries met the financial budgets required. Eventually the proposed site was sold, and a few years later, a residence by the same Provincial Architect erected.

In this design an endeavor has been made to make the buildings comprising the group, simple in plan, domestic in character and at the same time dignified and semi-public in appearance. Taking into account the fact that the buildings are intended to serve as the official home of Ontario’s highest dignitary and in accordance with the accepted custom be opened to the public on state occasions, it seems important that these three considerations should essentially form the key note of the general scheme. The style selected is the Georgian, which is both decidedly appropriate for a building of this purpose, and particularly well adapted to local climatic conditions. This style has all the simplicity and domestic charm that is associated with the homes of England, and is capable of being invested with great dignity by the judicious use of columns and cornice treatment.

Upon examination of the accompanying drawings, it will be observed that special consideration has been given to the garden side of the scheme. As the site lends itself particularly to a formal arrangement with a chateau d’eau effect, the development at this point logically coincides with the natural advantages offered; hence the treatment of the terraces and garden side of the building were regarded as even more important than the front elevation.
Construction, May 1911

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