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 Mode...

 Below are the pages from a vintage brochure for the Black Forest Village townhouse complex in Bells Corners (Arbeatha Park). The houses were build by Holitzner c. 1973 at Black Forest Lane and Arnold Drive.

The Waterbrooke building that spans between Donald Street and Columbus Avenue at River Road is a great example of "missing middle housing" that is higher density, but at a human scale. The complex, c. 1989, wraps around a lush central courtyard reminiscent of the 1920-era precedents in places like Los Angeles and Europe. What makes the complex so unique is its mix of layouts that include townhouses, 2-storey units and units with their own front door to the street or courtyard. Each unit has some sort of outdoor space including patios, decks and rooftop terraces, plus they all have fireplaces. Some larger residences have a separate den or solarium. The homes are also quite large with the majority between 1,100 and 1,700 square feet. Below are the unit sizes from the marketing material. Clarksmith originally started the project, but it was later taken over and marketed by another company. The original marketing material: The marketing material after the project was taken over f...