Planning Canberra and Ottawa: More differences than similarities

Abstract

At first glance, it is tempting to consider Canberra and Ottawa as similar ''political capitals," to use Peter Hall's classification. They are both capitals of Commonwealth countries and products of political compromises in federal states. Both of them grew rapidly after World War II. Yet a closer look at the planning of the two cities reveals more differences than similarities. Canadian visitors to Canberra find a city quite unlike any in their own country.