Modelled
on the Reading Room of the British Museum, this distinctive
circular structure features a ring of sixteen flying buttresses,
pinnacles, decorative windows and beautiful ornamental ironwork.
The Library building is crowned by a circular lantern.
The Library also plays a vital role in the overall look of
Parliament Hill. While the Centre Block and the formal Parliamentary
lawns represent an ordered landscape, the Library's design echoes
the contour of the escarpment, and the building is set against
the wilderness of the cliff.
The first Librarian of Parliament, Alpheus Todd, advised that
this Gothic marvel be separated from the Centre Block by a corridor
to protect it from fire. That advice helped save the Library
from the disastrous fire that struck the Centre Block in 1916.
As a result, we can continue to enjoy this architectural jewel.
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from these Attractions:
