Exterior portrait of the restored Observatory House in Ottawa by Juxta Architects, highlighting the green façade and orange brick detailing that reflect its heritage design.

Observatory House | Exterior Restoration

LOCATIONOttawa, Ontario
COMPLETED2023
PROJECT TYPEHeritage, Institutional
CLIENTBGIS / Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Located at the Experimental Farm campus in Ottawa, Observatory House is an recognized heritage building in urgent need of exterior restoration. Wood components — from windows and dormers to columns, fascias, and soffits — showed advanced deterioration, rot, and the effects of incompatible past repairs. Juxta Architects was tasked with preserving what could be saved, restoring what was damaged, and addressing the root causes of decay to secure the building’s long-term integrity.

Every element was carefully assessed and treated: windows and doors were removed and restored off-site, columns received custom Dutchman repairs or full base replacements where necessary, and large areas of paneling and trim were stripped to bare wood before being treated with linseed-oil preservative and a heritage-appropriate paint system. The result is a fully renewed exterior that not only restores the building’s historic character but, combined with new maintenance practices, ensures its preservation for the future.

Exterior portrait of the restored Observatory House in Ottawa by Juxta Architects, highlighting the green façade and orange brick detailing that reflect its heritage design.
Wide exterior view of Observatory House on the Experimental Farm campus, showing heritage brickwork and green-painted woodwork after full restoration.
Architectural detail of column and soffit restoration at Observatory House, Ottawa, demonstrating Dutchman repair techniques by Juxta Architects.
Exterior portrait of the restored Observatory House in Ottawa by Juxta Architects, highlighting the green façade and orange brick detailing that reflect its heritage design.
Close-up of restored wood window and trim at Observatory House showing Juxta Architects’ craftsmanship in preserving original materials and profiles.
Architectural detail of column and soffit restoration at Observatory House, Ottawa, demonstrating Dutchman repair techniques by Juxta Architects.
Detailed shot of heritage window and fascia at Observatory House, illustrating Juxta Architects’ careful conservation of deteriorated wood components.
Close-up of restored dormer and eaves of Observatory House in Ottawa by Juxta Architects, emphasizing precision woodwork and period-correct detailing.