Skyline: Part 1

This is the first in a 2-part series on the Skyline neighbourhood. Located between Baseline and Medowlands, just east of Merivale in Nepean, the neighbourhood was almost exclusively built by Minto, and is characterized by a hilly terrain. In this instalment of the series, I focus in on the houses that were built in the area that have a decidedly Mid-Century Modern style.

The Mid-Century Modern style was put on display in Skyline in a bold way when the 1965 Canadian Home of the Year was constructed by Minto. It appears to be the only one of its kind to be built in Skyline, but there are other plans that Minto built in the area that seem to take inspiration from this house.

Below are excepts from the July 1965 Canadian Homes Magazine in the Ottawa Citizen that highlights the Canadian Home of the Year:

The Ottawa Citizen. July 31, 1965

The Ottawa Citizen. August 20, 1965

The Ottawa Journal. September 18, 1965

The following plans built by Minto in Skyline have a Mid-Century Modern style that appear to have been inspired by the 1965 Home of the Year.

The Huron plan has a similar "penthouse" living level on the second floor with balcony like the 1965 Home of the Year, but in this case the house is built into a hillside and the back of the second floor is at ground level.

The Ottawa Citizen. December 31, 1966

The Devon won a Canadian Housing Design Council award. The split-level design is designed for land that slopes up at the back.

The Ottawa Citizen. October 25, 1966

The Ottawa Citizen. January 14, 1967

The Ottawa Citizen. September 10, 1968

The Fairmont is another Canadian Housing Design Council award-winning plan that was built in Skyline. The decorative privacy wall in front is similar to the one at the 1965 Home of the Year. This design was built on lots that slope down at the back.

The Ottawa Citizen. December 17, 1966

The Ottawa Citizen. July 27, 1968

The Ottawa Citizen. August 23, 1968

The CA model is a side-split plan that from the outside has a resemblance to the Brady Bunch house.

Stay tuned for Part 2, where I will look at the more traditionally-inspired plans in Skyline and how these also have a modern twist.

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Campeau in Alta Vista

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