About the Firm
At Hamel Design & Planning, we’re more than just design. With over twenty years working on a variety of projects throughout the Ottawa area, our firm is skilled and experienced in modern architectural design, planning and drafting for custom residential and commercial buildings.
Why work with us
Visually the physical design of a space is important, but we strongly believe that proper planning is equally significant. Our talented team of architectural designers will focus on the functional needs of your space to produce the most effective plan and specifications. Combine that form and function with beautiful textures and colour through modern, imaginative designs, and together you have the perfect recipe for a stunning piece of art. Always forward thinking, and adopting the latest technologies and trends, we are here to outline every detail of the process and cover all the technical aspects you may need assistance with.
Simply put, you’re in good hands with HD&P. Let us take care of you.
When you’ve been in business as long as we have, you make friends. Friends, connections and contacts – we’re so proud of the relationships we’ve built with local contractors, home builders, suppliers and city officials. We’ve been known to push the boundaries where appropriate and act as an advocate on behalf of our clients. We are known for our creativity, modern style design aesthetic, focused attention to detail, cost-effective problem solving, and industry expertise.
We enjoy the challenges of designing innovative solutions that address building surroundings while meeting (and often exceeding) our clients’ practical requirements.
Working with HD&P you can expect that we:
- Always listen
- Provide the best advice using our by-law, permit and building code knowledge to achieve your goals
- Provide navigation and ongoing communication through the design and planning process
- Render your dreams into reality through forward design, vision and strategic thinking
Many of our buildings have been featured in local newspapers and magazines. See a list of our awards and accomplishments.
What we do
Custom homes, multi-residential units or small commercial projects. We will work directly with individual homeowners looking to build their dream home, or with developers on homes or small commercial projects. We do it all from planning concept to building permit drawings.
Our services include:
- Custom home design, additions and renovations
- Multi-residential units
- Small commercial projects (concept to building permit drawings and applications)
- Zoning and lot development analysis and planning strategies
- Site plan control applications
- Committee of Adjustment preparation and presentations for consent to sever lots applications
- AutoCAD architectural drafting services
- Building rendering, modelling and photography
We have provincial BCIN (Building Code Identification Number) certification.
Awards & Achievements
1st PLACE
Contemporary Custom Urban Home Awards to 153 Carleton Avenue.
1st PLACE
Client award to Legacy Homes for 378a & 378b Winona Avenue. New custom urban Infill housing.
1st PLACE
Client award to Gallivan Developments Inc. for 269-275 Avondale Avenue. New custom multiple urban Infill housing.
Award of Excellence
for 57 Lewis Street. New custom Infill home built on a newly severed lot in the Golden Triangle area.
Canadian Architecture and Design
January/February
For: 93 Gilchrist Avenue
Ottawa Renovates
For: 93 Gilchrist Avenue
The Ottawa Citizen -"Art of urban living Detailing and light define two modern homes on tight lots"
For: 93 Gilchrist Avenue and 57 Lewis Street
1st PLACE
Client award to Gallivan Developments Inc. for 168 Hinton Avenue. New custom Infill home built on a newly severed lot.
Ottawa Magazine - 2008 Interiors Edition
For: 93 Gilchrist Avenue
1st PLACE
Client award to Gallivan Developments Inc. for 93 Gilchrist Avenue. Renovation and Addition to a Westboro home doubling its size.
For the newly amalgamated City of Ottawa and Chairman of the Urban Core Committee of Adjustment Members ("Panel 1") Appointed by City Council and elected by peers.
As a member of the Committee of Adjustment, my role and responsibilities involved deliberations and decisions on matters pertaining to applications for minor variances to the Zoning By-Law, consents to sever properties and planning act permissions regarding non-conforming properties and/or structures and buildings. Many public hearings were held to hear presentations on these matters from members of the development community (developers, architects, lawyers, planners, designers, individual home owners), affected neighbourhood associations, politicians, citizens and neighbours, as well as municipal department planners and legal and legal representatives. As Vice-Chair of the Committee, my role was primarily to support the Chairman in his role to provide direction to the Committee and the Secretary-treasurer and staff. I helped address the problems of the Committee when they arose, helped develop funding strategies and budgets and also represented the Committee of Adjustment at City Council and at Planning Committee meetings when required as well as maintaining my role and responsibilities as a member of the Committee of Adjustment.
Fourth Year Design Studio
The Design Studio project involved the documentation, analysis and strategy for the design of the redevelopment of the Byward Market area around and including the Market Parking Structure. This was a term project involving about 18 4th year architecture students and focused on creating an adaptive re-use and/or new uses for the parking structure and surrounding area through an increased understanding of the urban context.
1st Place
Client award to Gallivan Developments Inc. for 267 Stewart Street. Addition to and complete renovation of a large three-storey Victorian home in Sandy Hill.
(Former City of Ottawa) Appointed by City Council and elected peers.
1st PLACE
Owner award to Jacques and Leslie Hamel for 22 Morris Street. Front yard addition doubling the size and the complete gutting and renovation of our home in the Glebe.
1st PLACE
(With James A. Colizza Architect) for 115 Holmwood Avenue. Adaptive re-use of an abandoned transformer building into a semi-detached residential building with the opportunity for further subdivision into four residential units.
1st PLACE
(With James A. Colizza Architect) for 1437 Lexington Avenue. Renovation of and addition to a bungalow to make a three-storey home in Ottawa just South of Baseline Road and South of Prince of Whales Drive.
1st PLACE
(With James A. Colizza Architect) for 243 Range Road. The creation of a new home on a newly severed, vacant lot overlooking the Rideau Canal in Sandy Hill.
Certificate of Merit
For 22 Morris Street Additions and
Renovations "in recognition of this sensitive infill project that enhances the character of its neighbourhood".
Participant:
In the 2020Z By-Law Review of the City of Ottawa as representative of the Heritage Subcommittee of Local Advisory Committee for Architectural Conservation (LACAC). This document formed the basis for the new City of Ottawa By-Law, 1998.
1st PLACE
(With James A. Colizza Arch.) for 313 Second Avenue. A rear yard addition and renovation to a Glebe area home.
1st PLACE
(With James A. Colizza Arch.) for Longfields Madden Court. A 61 unit affordable housing development in Nepean that set a new standard for affordable housing in the area.
Recipient of this award "in recognition of your tremendous contribution to the community in the area of Arts and Culture. Your dedication as a leader in our community is appreciated by your neighbours and peers".
of the Local Advisory Committee for Architectural Conservation (LACAC), (City of Ottawa).
Appointed by City Council and elected by peers.
of the Design Committee (City of Ottawa).
in the City of Ottawa Housing Forums sponsored by the (former) City of Ottawa.