This 1949 documentary short captures a portrait of Ottawa in the mid-20th century as French architect and urban designer Jacques Gréber was brought in to address the negative impacts of growing traffic congestion, air pollution, and rail traffic on the nation's capital.

Order of Canada architect Shirley Blumberg presents the aspirations, highlights and challenges of repurposing 330 Sussex Drive, formerly the Canadian War Museum and the Dominion Archives of Canada, to become the new Global Centre for Pluralism. This Heritage Ottawa Phillips Memorial Lecture  (2017) was presented at the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat in partnership with the Global Centre for Pluralism.

Watch the award-winning transformation of this beloved century-old museum building as new galleries are built, heritage elements are restored, and the castle-like structure sensitively preserved while being updated for the 21st century.

Many historic properties are home to ancient and notable trees. The UK National Trust has created a series of fascinating videos to introduce us to some of these amazing trees.

Architect and historian Michelangelo Sabatino surveys the unfolding of architectural modernity in a country once defined by Voltaire as “a few acres of snow” in this 2017 lecture presentation at University of Toronto.

Established on the outskirts of the city in 1886, today the Central Experimental Farm is in the centre of Ottawa. It is significant for its agricultural research, which contributes to Canada’s sustainability in a world confronted by the threat of climate change. The Farm is also a unique cultural landscape in Canada’s National Capital, and is a National Historic Site. The Farm is adjacent to the Rideau Canal World Heritage Site, and UNESCO has expressed concern for inappropriate development in proximity to the Canal…

The visionary activist and author of "The Death and Life of Great American Cities" fought to preserve urban communities in the face of destructive development projects proposed in New York City during the 1960s. (Requires free sign-up with Knowledge: Network)

Visionary activist Jane Jacobs shares her critical analysis of the problems facing North American cities. With its colorful city footage and upbeat soundtrack, this film is both a period-piece and a must-see for urban dwellers, civic and community groups. Produced in 1971, Jacobs' remarks remain remarkably relevant today.

From Vancouver to Los Angeles, a relaxed journey across three generations of Modernist residential architecture created by influential architects of the day—each sharing a sense of place, light and a deep connection to their environment.  (Requires free sign-up with Knowledge: Network)

This 2015 photo-illustrated lecture at the Getty Conservation Institute presents the major conservation project undertaken for the Eames House, the landmark of mid-20th century modern architecture designed / constructed in 1949 by legendary designers Charles and Ray Eames.

This 2017 documentary considers the Welsh heritage of legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright and its influence on his visionary concept of organic architecture. Welsh architect Jonathan Adams travels to America to explore Wright's masterpieces, taking us inside Wright's own house, the Unity Temple, the Robie House and more.

This TVO documentary explores the work of six Indigenous architects, including world-renowned Anishnaabe architect Douglas Cardinal, who are creating extraordinary, sustainable structures across North America and Turtle Island. All are world leaders in aesthetics, form, sustainability and ultimately, in protecting mother earth — and their stories have never been more important. The film articulates the power of Indigenous architecture and its relevance in today’s world. 

In the 50 years since he carved his first totem pole and saw it raised on Haida Gwaii, Robert Davidson has come to be regarded as one of the world's foremost modern artists. This award winning 2019 documentary traces Davidson's life and role in the 20th century renaissance of Haida and Indigenous art. (Requires free signup with Knowledge: Network)

A behind-the-scenes look at Canada’s largest and most complex heritage rehabilitation project, currently in progress. Inside Centre Block-The Restoration explores Centre Block’s renewal, showcasing the progress since its doors closed in 2019. In Episode 1 we learn about the project, the history of Centre Block, and the delicate balance between restoration and the need to modernize.

A behind-the-scenes look at Canada's largest and most complex heritage rehabilitation project, currently in progress. In Episode 2 we learn about the building’s excavation work, see how both houses of Parliament are being modernized, and join the team working on the masonry restoration.

Le réputé architecte Pierre Thibault nous parle du quartier Saint-Jean-Baptiste qu’il connaît bien. Le projet qu’il s’apprête à y réaliser, rue Lockwell, sera fidèle aux principes qui ont fait sa renommée, basés sur une étude attentive de l’environnement qui accueillera ses créations, afin de respecter l’esprit des lieux. C’est particulièrement important dans un quartier patrimonial du Québec comme Saint-Jean-Baptiste.

Five mini-documentaries about important landscapes and their designers explore their physical realities and the spirits of those who conceived, created, and cared for them. Hosted by historians and landscape architects in a manner that engages specialists and non-specialists alike.

Partez à la découverte d'un haut lieu du fait français en Amérique. Un portrait unique de ce monument historique qui remonte aux origines de la fondation de la Nouvelle-France.

Architect Raymond Moriyama, designer of the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa in joint partnership with GRC Architects, chronicles his personal and professional journey, and his view of the architect's role in society to reflect inclusion and democracy. (Free to stream on tvo.org)

Canada's premier landscape architect and one of the most important practitioners of the 20th century, Cornelia Oberlander was known for integrating her designs with the natural environment. In this lecture, she joins the author of "Cornelia Hahn Oberlander: Making the Modern Landscape" to discuss her life, ecological philosophy and award-winning work.

An intimate portrait of the Canada Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, an architectural gem designed and recently restored, along with its gardens, by the National Gallery of Canada. (2020 / 26:01)

Discover a cultural richness that spans millenia in this guided tour of 9 sites along the Ottawa River, between the mouth of the Gatineau River and Chaudière Falls. The tour was prepared for participants in the Ontario Archaeological Society's 2021 virtual symposium that was organized by the Ottawa Chapter to mark its 50th anniversary.

During the early settlement of the area that becomes the Township of Rideau Lakes, travel is difficult and people depend on taverns for shelter, as well as gathering places for local community members. But significant drinking often resulted in violence, giving rise to the Temperance Movement and then Prohibition. A film by Allison Margot Smith.

In the years leading up to the 1837 Upper Canada Rebellion, the villages of Beverley (now Delta) and Philipsville in Leeds County were the sites of election violence that shocked Upper Canada. A film by Allison Margot Smith.

Pavel Kuznetsov presents the story of Moscow’s avante-garde and experimental Melnikov House, from its design/construction in 1920s Soviet Russia as the architect’s family home, to its establishment as a museum in 2014 and its present-day conservation project. Presented by the West Coast Modern League in Vancouver, BC in association with the Iconic Houses Lecture Tour.

This 2009 documentary follows the controversial renovation of Toronto's Royal Ontario Museum by celebrity architect Daniel Libeskind. Smartly tuned to contemporary debates on public architecture, the film presents an entertaining tale of ego, art and steel beams.

This new documentary short by Allison Margot Smith recounts the challenges posed by the Canadian Shield during construction of the Rideau Canal. Construction costs were high in terms of money, lives and time. Chief engineer Colonel John By employed an unusual method at Newboro Lock to drastically reduce these losses—the Big Breakthrough—by using a slack water canal design that today defines the heritage value of this UNESCO designated waterway.

Enjoy a bird's-eye view of the beautiful Niagara region of southern Ontario, starting high above Lake Ontario and continuing across Niagara-on-the-Lake, Fort George, fruit orchards and vineyards, and deep into the gorge of the Niagara River to the world-famous Niagara Falls. 

Take an epic journey in real-time along Ontario's magnificent Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and North America's oldest continuously operated canal system.

An intimate portrait of the life and art of Lawren Harris, a founding member of the legendary Group of Seven, and the expansive landscapes that inspired him. (Requires free signup with Knowledge: Network)

This documentary short by Allison Margot Smith tells the story of Clifford Pennock, a much beloved figure in early 20th century Elgin, Ontario remembered today for his photographs. Using a handheld camera and glass-plate technology, he left a vast collection of images, both as an amateur and a professional photographer, practicing at a time when camera technology was changing rapidly, and there was much debate over what made a photograph an “artwork.”