Toon Dreessen, OAA, FRAIC, is president of Architects DCA, an Ottawa-based architecture observe. He is a past president of the Ontario Association of Architects.

When we develop physical infrastructure, we anticipate that it is going to last for a long time, even generations. With the federal authorities poised to commit billions of dollars in transit, bridges, roadways and cycling networks, it is a lot more critical than at any time that we get it ideal.

That means extra than just producing it practical. The a few traditional beliefs of architecture implement right here too: It will have to functionality, it should be resilient and it ought to be gorgeous.

We sometimes feel to fail to remember about that very last part.

So considerably of our constructed environment is boring, if not downright unsightly. Take into account the humble retaining wall. Its modular structure makes for speedy development – but wide expanses of similar precast hexagonal units make for a monotonous see. And when the exact wall technique is used across a town, and throughout a province, it results in an unintentional, nondescript feeling of id.

Highway sound barriers are shades of grey, established in galvanized steel frames. They provide