Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Birch Room, French Embassy, Ottawa

Birch Room, French Embassy, Ottawa

This is the so-called Birch Room at the French Embassy in Ottawa. I say so-called because officially this is Le Fumoir or the Smoking Room.

The astounding thing about this room is that Eugene Beaudouin had the walls and ceiling covered with white birch bark giving the room an alternate name and creating the effect shown below.

Birch Room, French Embassy, Ottawa

4 comments:

  1. I've always heard about this famous room decorated with birch bark, and am so happy to see the beautiful images. I particularly like the corner detail shot, so I have an idea of how the bark is placed, cut, and set.

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  2. Thank you for your comment. The whole embassy is an amazing place and this is just a small room within it. I feel very priviledged to have got to see it.

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  3. May I ask how you were able to visit? Is it on a day in fall when French buildings are open to the public?

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  4. It was part of a tour to Ottawa that followed the World Congress on Art Deco in Montreal, 2009.

    http://artdecomontreal.com/congress/en/

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