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Allan Teramura

@ateramura.bsky.social
288 followers 681 following 62 posts

Architect, conservationist. Ottawa, Canada. wmta.ca 🇨🇦

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Allan Teramura @ateramura.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Paris has fancy public toilets but the place still smells of pee. Certain men just need to behave.
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Allan Teramura @ateramura.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Recent bluster aside, Ford thinks more like Trump than he'd want us to believe: news.bloomberglaw.com/environment-...
news.bloomberglaw.com
Judge Blocks Interior’s Removal of Bike Lane on National Mall
The Interior Department can’t pave over popular bike lanes across the National Mall in Washington, a judge ruled Tuesday, granting a group’s motion to block the removal scheduled to begin April 23.
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Allan Teramura @ateramura.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Because Ottawa, plainly, is just too urban.
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Allan Teramura @ateramura.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
True. Also true that the City of Ottawa had nothing to do with the buildings, landscape, monuments, and recreational amenities in this photo.
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Ariel Troster @arieltroster.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
You don’t have to force me onto a bike …
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The War on Cars @thewaroncars.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
One more lane, bro. Just one more lane and traffic will be fixed forever.
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Allan Teramura @ateramura.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
True. Would have stopped there but every table was filled.
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Allan Teramura @ateramura.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
Meanwhile a block away a NCC managed lane is populated in spite of construction going on. A bit of shade and relief from cars attracts people, oddly enough.
Quiet lane in Byward Market populated by cafe patrons
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Allan Teramura @ateramura.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
Tactical #urbanism experiment in #OttCity consisting of an elaborate and baffling array of crates, signs, ropes, and barriers where a few loose tables and chairs would do. Seems to be actively repelling people on Sunday afternoon. This taxpayer would support a staff trip to #Montreal.
Empty street in Ottaea's Byward MarketBarriers preventing access to a pop-up urbanism installationBarriers preventing pedestrian access to a pedestrianized area
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Allan Teramura @ateramura.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
No that's a verbatim quote from an #OttCity official reacting to a design they found too bold
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Allan Teramura @ateramura.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
This isn't Europe, you know
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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
WATCH: The BEST public art is MORE than just art — it’s functional too. This really smart integrated art in a recent project in central OSLO draws you in, supports both place-making and way-finding, and reveals all the mid-block nooks and crannies that you might NEVER know about without that art!
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Allan Teramura @ateramura.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
The iconic Kikkoman shoyu bottle was designed by Kenji Ekuan, who also contributed to the design of Tokyo's Nagakin Capsule Tower. #design #metabolism Behind it is an angry racist politician attempting to attack China.
Still from racist Republican political ad with bottle of Kikkoman shoyu in the foreground
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Allan Teramura @ateramura.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
9 year old piece still up. Thoughtful site selection also matters: ottawacitizen.com/opinion/colu...
ottawacitizen.com
Teramura: Why not skate – or paddle – to a new central library?
We have heard a lot about the success of the new Halifax Library, and its unique architecture certainly contributes to this. But another factor in its success is so…
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Allan Teramura @ateramura.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
Don't forget the stairs inspired by the ĺibrary in the Harry Potter movies, a stipulation made by the children involved in a participatory design exercise
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Allan Teramura @ateramura.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
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Allan Teramura @ateramura.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
This will be an interminable project. Not only will Mark Carney not live in 24 Sussex's replacement, neither will his successor. Whoever it is may not even be in politics yet, so they might as well get started. www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
cbc.ca
State of 24 Sussex 'an embarrassment,' says Carney | CBC News
The state of 24 Sussex Drive is "an embarrassment," says Prime Minister Mark Carney, who suggested he wants a decision made about the future of the derelict residence meant for Canada's prime minister...
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Allan Teramura @ateramura.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
This will be an interminable project. Not only will Mark Carney not live in 24 Sussex's replacement, neither will his successor. Whoever it is may not even be in politics yet, so they might as well get started. www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
cbc.ca
State of 24 Sussex 'an embarrassment,' says Carney | CBC News
The state of 24 Sussex Drive is "an embarrassment," says Prime Minister Mark Carney, who suggested he wants a decision made about the future of the derelict residence meant for Canada's prime minister...
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Allan Teramura @ateramura.bsky.social · 25/04/2026
Full compliance with codes, standards, and applicable regulations. What else do you need?
Office building of a large engineering company
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Allan Teramura @ateramura.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
It's the paralasis induced by an inablility to speak knowledgeably and confidently about the issue, which is too often the case around buildings in Canada. Maybe hundreds the times the cost of an ordinary house is perfectly reasonable given all the other demands on it.
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Allan Teramura @ateramura.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
This project is extremely complex, and arcane security requirements are I suspect producing an eye-watering budget. The politicians know, however, that outlets like the Post will eventually just talk about how many shoes the bedroom closet can hold.
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Allan Teramura @ateramura.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
petercoffman.bsky.social could no doubt be of assistance to another Ottawa academic in need
bsky.app
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Allan Teramura @ateramura.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
In Ottawa, infill lots tend to get developed with maximalist single family homes for a market completely unconcerned with affordability. It seems to me a publicly-backed response should focus on large rental buildings.
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Allan Teramura @ateramura.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
...Ideal conditions for small spec builders to quickly put up a bunch of identical houses. Don’t know how typical this situation was across Canada, but probably not uncommon. Housing strategies derived from this condition have limitations for today.
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Allan Teramura @ateramura.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
I grew up in a post-war pattern-book neighbourhood. Recently stumbled across an aerial photo of it (vacant area to the right) taken a few years before our home was built – a street grid likely built before the Depression and war laid it fallow for almost 20 years...
Aerial photo of a partially built neighborhood taken in 1944
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Allan Teramura @ateramura.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
Woodcut by the late Fran Rosewarn (Jones) who did posters for Le Hibou. Would be great to see graphic design as part of this resurrection
Woodcut by Fran Rosewarn
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Allan Teramura @ateramura.bsky.social · 21/03/2026
The data is provocative but the solution is unconvincing. An architects’ boycott of spec housing would hardly stop it from being built; we need to act, as informed citizens or through civil society organizations, to influence those in a position to prohibit or tax its financialization.
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Allan Teramura @ateramura.bsky.social · 17/03/2026
Carleton Martello Tower progress, with concrete spolia recovered from the WW2 structure starting to go in. The contrast with the new GFRC panels will help tell the story of this unusual site. #heritage #WW2 #saintjohn
View of galvanized structural steel supporting a board-formed concrete slabShoring supporting a brick vault undergoing repairRecovered concrete panels
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Allan Teramura @ateramura.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
Meanwhile smaller nearby communities from Smiths Falls to Wakefield are experiencing a kind of rebirth. In contrast downtown Ottawa look like a place that's given up.
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Allan Teramura @ateramura.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
Claudia Neri, who designed our firm's website and graphic identity, in conversation about women in Italian graphic design - tinyurl.com/5482rnyh #womenindesign #graphicdesign www.teikna.com
tinyurl.com
Design As Identity: Milan-based Art Director Claudia Neri in Conversation with Design Writer Pamela Young @ the opening of the exhibition PINK.
DESIGN AS IDENTITY Milan-based Art Director Claudia Neri in Conversation with Design Writer Pamela Young EXHIBITION OPENING PINK Women in Italian Graphic Design. From the Origins to the Present Thursd...
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Allan Teramura @ateramura.bsky.social · 20/02/2026
A bowdlerized version of this place isn't conservation; it's morbid and embarassing. Let it go.
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Allan Teramura @ateramura.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
Taking this news as an excuse to re-post a now 10-year-old sketch of York St as a pedestrian precinct. Thought at the time 2017 celebrations would justify a legacy project and pitched this to various councillors. Instead we got the baffling shipping containers. tinyurl.com/35rrjam4 #urbanism
Photo of York Street as it is today: a parking lot with a dramatic viewThumbnail sketch of York St with cars removed
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Allan Teramura @ateramura.bsky.social · 14/02/2026
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Allan Teramura @ateramura.bsky.social · 14/02/2026
Northern Italy, 1988
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Allan Teramura @ateramura.bsky.social · 06/02/2026
Saint John NB, on a hill overlooking the harbour
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Allan Teramura @ateramura.bsky.social · 06/02/2026
Work well under way on the interior masonry of the Carleton Martello Tower, as the forest of shoring posts start to be removed. #heritage #saintjohn
View of a masonry wall undergoing conservationView of underside of a brick vault with cracks
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Allan Teramura @ateramura.bsky.social · 25/11/2025
The AIA’s appeasement campaign under Trump 1.0 made me wonder just how MAGA the profession is in the US, or if it’s just that organization’s leadership. Hope they’re not still employing that strategy but if they are it’s clearly not working for students: www.dezeen.com/2025/11/24/a...
dezeen.com
Architecture no longer considered a "professional degree" in USA
Students in the USA will receive lower loans under the terms of the One Big Beautiful Bill as architecture will not be considered a professional degree.
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Allan Teramura @ateramura.bsky.social · 08/11/2025
Favourite journey: travel here by train from Parkin's Ottawa Train Sration
Photo of spiral ramp in Ottawa Train Station (Architizer)
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Allan Teramura @ateramura.bsky.social · 07/11/2025
There will only be one viable option: more intense commercial development, whatever that looks like then.
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Allan Teramura @ateramura.bsky.social · 07/11/2025
Lansdowne 3.0 happens when the waterproofing under the roads protecting the parking structure fails and we’re told the structure cannot be saved. Likewise the retail will be “at the end of its service life.” By then no-one will be sorry to see the deteriorating, unloved box stores go.
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Allan Teramura @ateramura.bsky.social · 07/11/2025
At least the costly promised-but-never-built timber screens on the north side stand do not have to be demolished to make way for more condos in 2.0.
Rendering of timber screen on north side stands at Lansdowne ParkRendering of timber screen on north side stands at Lansdowne Park
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Allan Teramura @ateramura.bsky.social · 03/11/2025
If this can be made to work it could help bring about the revival of the 1920s walk-up apartment building – single stair, no parking – which would be a great thing.
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Allan Teramura @ateramura.bsky.social · 03/11/2025
From the firefighting perspective this would need to be sorted out. Not that it’s insurmountable, but I haven’t seen this part of the discussion anywhere.
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Allan Teramura @ateramura.bsky.social · 03/11/2025
Her response was that it was probably worth studying, but also informed me that in places where single exits are permitted, the response to fire alarms is to shelter-in-place, not evacuate as we have been drilled to do. Integrity of exits is therefore less critical.
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Allan Teramura @ateramura.bsky.social · 03/11/2025
Years ago I floated this idea with a fire protection engineer I hoped to enlist in a pilot study for this type of housing solution. Like most architects I wondered why this was possible in Europe but not here.
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Peter Coffinman @petercoffman.bsky.social · 02/11/2025
Not an original idea, but I used ‘Moving Surfaces’ to frame the Aberdeen Pavillion for the ‘Lansdowne’ photo in Andrew Waldron’s architectural guidebook, ‘Exploring the Capital’. The piece does act as a visual and imaginative anchor for the place.
A rhythmically undulating arc of steel in the foreground frames a brightly sunlit traditional, barn-like building in the distance.
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Allan Teramura @ateramura.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
How it started. Would not be surprising to see towers populating the "Great Lawn" someday.
Original proposed site plan for Lansdowne circa 2008
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Allan Teramura @ateramura.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
@bsky.app A few images of Lansdowne 1.0 as depicted by OSEG 15 years ago, and approved by Council. The promised public space was not provided, but is instead large format commercial space. #Ottawa
Rendering of an unbuilt public square at Lansdowne ParkRendering of an unbuilt public square at Lansdowne ParkRendering of an unbuilt public square at Lansdowne Park
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Ariel Troster @arieltroster.bsky.social · 24/10/2025
I am thrilled to introduce Isabel Teramura to the Somerset Ward team as a policy and planning assistant. Isabel has a Master’s degree in Geography, Planning and Environment and specializes in housing policy.
Ariel with Isabel
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Allan Teramura @ateramura.bsky.social · 15/10/2025
The Terms of Reference for the architectural competitions that produce these kinds of results are extremely easy to find, even in Canada.
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