Description of Historic Place

Building 16, also known as the Museum Office and former Cooperage, is located in the area in front of the gorge of the Prince of Wales Bastion at the Québec Citadel National Historic Site of Canada. It is a small, rectangular, one-storey stone building with a low hipped roof covered in tin sheet metal. Its main façade is pierced by a central door and two windows evenly placed on either side. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

Building 16 is a Recognized Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental value.

Historical Value
Building 16 is associated with the third phase in the development of the military community on the heights of Cap-aux-Diamants, the lengthy period of its gradual completion as a fortress, from 1839 to 1857.

Architectural Value
Building 16 is valued for its good aesthetic design. Its simple architectural treatment reflects the utilitarian function of the building. Demonstrating a good functional design, its walls are solid masonry and the roof is covered with tin sheet metal laid with flat seams “à la canadienne.” Good craftsmanship and use of materials are evident throughout.

Environmental Value
Building 16 reinforces the historic character in front of the gorge of the Prince of Wales Bastion. It is a familiar building at the Québec Citadel.

Sources: Rhona Goodspeed, Buildings, Citadel, Quebec, Quebec, Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office, Building Report, 88-161; Former Cooperage, Building No. 16, Museum Office, La Citadelle, Quebec, Quebec, Heritage Character Statement, 88-161.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of Building 16 should be respected.

Its good aesthetic and functional design and good materials and craftsmanship, for example: the small, rectangular, one-storey massing with a low hipped roof; the roof covering which consists of tin sheet metal laid with flat seams ‘à la
canadienne’; the walls of solid masonry with regular courses; the façade pierced by a central door and two evenly placed windows; the window lintels and the window and door frames built of smooth stone, and the
small-paned windows with metal hinges; the interior masonry and floor treatment.

The manner in which Building 16 reinforces the historic character of its setting and is a familiar landmark at the Citadel, as evidenced by: its overall scale, massing and materials, which are fully compatible and maintain a
relationship with the surrounding buildings that form the old French Powder Magazine
(Museum of the Royal 22nd Régiment) and the former Armoury and former Powder
Magazine (Men’s and Women’s Barracks, Building 2); its role as a museum office and as a component of the Québec Citadel, which makes it
familiar.

Heritage Character Statement

Disclaimer - The heritage character statement was developed by FHBRO to explain the reasons for the designation of a federal heritage building and what it is about the building that makes it significant (the heritage character). It is a key reference document for anyone involved in planning interventions to federal heritage buildings and is used by FHBRO in their review of interventions.

The former Cooperage was designed and built by the Royal Engineers, likely between 1839 and 1857. It may have been modified during restoration work in the 1930s, when the protective wall was demolished, or around 1949, when the French powder magazine was converted to a Royal 22nd Regiment museum. The old Cooperage is currently being used as an entrance to the museum next door. It is a component of the Citadelle of the city of Québec, a national historic site. The building is owned by the Department of National Defence. Refer to report FHBRO 88-161.

Reasons for Designation

The former Cooperage was designated a “Recognized” Federal Heritage Building because it helps define the historic character of the area in front of the gorge of the Prince of Wales Bastion. Through of its materials and architecture, it is fully compatible with the surrounding buildings that form the old French Powder Magazine (Museum of the Royal 22nd Regiment) and the former Armoury and former Powder Magazine (Men’s and Women’s Barracks, Building 2).

Character-Defining Elements

The heritage value of Building 16 resides in its form, its materials and its relationship with surrounding buildings, in particular the former French Powder Magazine.

The former Cooperage is a small, rectangular, one-storey building with a low hip roof. Its walls are solid masonry with regular courses, and in contrast to its neighbours, which have mostly sheet metal roofs assembled with wood batten seams, the roof of the Cooperage is covered with tin sheet metal laid with flat seams “à la canadienne”. The façade of the former Cooperage is pierced by a central door and two windows evenly placed on either side. The window lintels and the window and door frames stand out from the more rustic walls because they are built of smooth stone; the small-paned windows have old metal hinges.

This simple architectural treatment reflects the old utilitarian function of the building and should be respected. It would be of interest to research the authenticity of the door, windows and roof for reference in the event of necessary replacement. The iron components (hinges and other hardware) should be rust protected. Measures should be taken to ensure that new joints and replacement stones are compatible with the historical structure of the walls and reflect the original intent in terms of material, colour, profile and coursing.

The interior does not contain many features that recall the original use of the building. Still, the windows, including their frames and sills, and the floors appear to be of the period. While the structure of the roof is hidden under a false ceiling, the masonry walls have been left exposed. If the space requires future refurbishment, it would be best to preserve the original architectural features. The same recommendations are made for both the exterior and interior masonry. Electricity, heating and ventilation should be installed in a way that is as discrete as possible to respect period materials. Subtle lighting and heating fixtures should be used, and efforts should be made to avoid the proliferation of conduits.

The heritage value of the old Cooperage is also based on its relationship with the old French Regime powder magazine. It would be of interest to suggest the original relationship between the powder magazine, the protective wall that has since disappeared and the old Cooperage. Alterations should also be minimized in the immediate vicinity of these two buildings. Moreover, efforts should be made to avoid introducing landscaping or exterior furnishings that would obscure the fundamental military nature of the site.

For guidance on interventions, please refer to the FHBRO Code of Practice.

August 27, 2001