Rideau Cottage facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rideau Cottage |
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Rideau Cottage in 1892
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Georgian Revival |
| Address | 1 Sussex Drive (on grounds of Rideau Hall) |
| Town or city | Ottawa, Ontario |
| Country | Canada |
| Coordinates | 45°26′37″N 75°40′58″W / 45.443692°N 75.682738°W |
| Current tenants | Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, and his family |
| Construction started | 1866 |
| Completed | 1867 |
| Cost | $5,000 (1867) |
| Owner | The Queen in Right of Canada |
| Landlord | National Capital Commission |
| Technical details | |
| Size | 932 square metres (10,030 sq ft) |
| Other information | |
| Number of rooms | 22 |
Rideau Cottage is a special house located on the large property of Rideau Hall in Ottawa, Ontario. It's a two-story home with 22 rooms, built in a style called Georgian Revival. The house is owned by the Canadian Crown, which means it belongs to the Canadian government and people.
For a long time, people who worked closely with the Governor General of Canada lived here. The Governor General is the King or Queen's representative in Canada. Since 2015, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his family have been living in Rideau Cottage.
Contents
History of Rideau Cottage
When Was Rideau Cottage Built?
Work on Rideau Cottage started in 1866 and finished in 1867. An architect named F. P. Rubidge created the original design for the building.
Who Lived in Rideau Cottage?
When it was first built, Rideau Cottage was meant to be a home for the Governor General's private secretary. Later, the government decided to use it as a special guest house for important visitors from other countries.
Many interesting people have lived in Rideau Cottage over the years. For example, in 1883, the new Governor General, the Marquess of Lansdowne, stayed there. He waited at Rideau Cottage until the previous Governor General moved out of Rideau Hall.
Other residents included Lionel and Lilias Massey, whose father was a Governor General. Georges Vanier, who later became a Governor General himself, also lived there when he was an assistant to Governor General the Viscount Byng of Vimy.
More recently, Barbara Uteck, who was the Governor General's private secretary from 2000 to 2006, lived in the cottage with her husband. Her replacement, Stephen Wallace, lived there until October 2015. At that time, he moved out so that the new Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, and his family could live in the house. They moved in because the usual home for the Prime Minister, 24 Sussex Drive, needed repairs.
Recognized as a Heritage Building
On October 3, 1986, Rideau Cottage was officially named a Recognized Federal Heritage Building. This means it's an important historical building that should be protected.
Design and Features
What Does Rideau Cottage Look Like?
Rideau Cottage is a two-story building with 22 rooms. It's built in the Georgian Revival style. When it was first built, it only had 14 rooms on one floor.
In 1872, the house was updated. A second floor was added, and a porch (called a verandah) was built around three sides of the ground floor. During this update, the bricks on the first floor were covered with a special plaster called stucco. This stucco was painted to look like bricks. Even after the verandah was removed later, the stucco stayed.
Recent Renovations
Between 1999 and 2000, Rideau Cottage had big renovations. The basement, roof, and inside parts were updated. The heating, cooling, and electrical systems were also improved. Outside, the stucco was taken off. Each brick and joint was carefully dyed to make the outside look even and uniform. The house was renovated again in 2013.
Key Design Elements
Rideau Cottage is known for its balanced look and simple design. It has a main entrance in the middle with a triangular shape above it. The windows have decorative shutters on the sides, and there are two chimneys that stand out.
Images for kids
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View of Rideau Cottage in 1892
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Location of Rideau Cottage on the grounds of Rideau Hall
