| Parkwood | |
|---|---|
| National Historic Site of Canada | |
Parkwood Estate in 2007 |
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| Province | Ontario |
| Municipality | Oshawa |
| Original use | House and residential estate |
| Current use | Museum |
| Designated as a NHSC | 1989 |
| Website | www.parkwoodestate.com/ |
The Parkwood Estate, located in Oshawa, Ontario Canada was the home of Samuel McLaughlin (founder of General Motors of Canada) and was home to the McLaughlins from 1917 until 1972. Construction began in 1916 by the Toronto architectural firm of Pearson and Darling. In 1989, the 'Parkwood Estate' was officially designated a National Historic Site of Canada[1][2] and tours are now given year-round.
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Parkwood is one of Canada’s finest and last remaining grand estates, featuring architectural, landscape and interior designs of the 1920s and 1930s. Once home to auto baron R. Samuel McLaughlin (founder of General Motors of Canada), Parkwood is praised by Canada’s Historic Site and Monuments Board as “a rare surviving example of the type of estate developed in Canada during the inter-war years, and is rarer still by its essentially intact condition, furnished and run to illustrate as it was lived within.”
Parkwood was the family home of the McLaughlins from 1917 until 1972. The majestic estate that was once a private enclave to be experienced by a select few is now a National Historic Site, open year-round to be enjoyed by all. The large property still retains its original essence as the private abode of a prominent Canadian family, reflecting not only the personal interests and tastes of its owner, but also five remarkable decades in history as Canada and the world embraced both the automobile and 20th century technology.
In 1989, Parkwood was officially designated a National Historic Site and R.S. McLaughlin was named a person of significance to Canadian heritage by Parks Canada, the agency responsible for Canada's program of historical commemoration. The dual designation of both Sam McLaughlin as an individual and Parkwood as a landmark make this site a rich and unique property and the source of tremendous pride in the community.
The period interiors at Parkwood are a complete representation of early 20th century design and grand estate function. Complete room settings showcase the designers’ works and illustrate the lifestyle of the wealthy family as well as the hospitality that they extended to guests. Crystal and china, silver, linens, books, family photographs and memorabilia, needlework and trophies are all preserved and displayed in their original settings. The collection is complete down to the monogrammed linens, creating an impression that the family is still in residence.
Significant murals adorn the interior, including works by renowned Canadian artists Frederick Challener and Frederick Haines. The hand-painted murals and decorative artwork, sparkling chandeliers, custom furniture designs, European and Canadian fine art, photographs and family mementos are all remarkable. Interior decorations in the mansion include lavish architectural finishes in carved wood and plaster, decorative plaster ceiling treatments, mantles and fireplaces, marble, tile and wood flooring, and charming architectural novelties such as hidden panels and stairways.
The decorations truly reflect old-world style blending with new-world art moderne. The collection includes pieces like Louis XVI furniture, elaborate window treatments, oriental carpets and custom-loomed carpets, ornamental metalworks and decorative clocks, planters and vases and countless objects of original artwork.
The 55 room mansion has 15,000 square feet (1,400 m2) of space, including the basement and third-floor servants' rooms.
The McLaughlin family had an avid interest in horticulture and landscaping, as evidenced by their eleven greenhouses and staff of 24 gardeners. McLaughlin sought out the best talent available to create the numerous gardens of his estate - Harries and Hall in the 1910s, the husband and wife team H.B. and L.A. Dunington-Grubb in the 1920s, and award winning architect John Lyle in the 1930s.
The Parkwood gardens have references to the great gardens of England and Europe, but with a 20th-century spirit. Much of the landscape design draws inspiration from the English Arts & Crafts gardening movement. This style called for a high degree of formality near the house, dissolving into less formal presentation with distance from the house, including a broad expanse of immaculate lawn.
The perimeters included denser woodland borders and the use of cedar hedges to sub-divide the landscape into formal garden spaces, recreation areas and farming space for the production of cut flowers, fruits and vegetables. The hedges served to prevent the viewing of the entire landscape all at once and were complemented by garden gates beckoning visitors to proceed through a sequence of garden views and experiences.
Shortly after the family took residence in 1917, landscape designers Harries & Hall were engaged to design a fitting setting for the mansion. This was achieved by linking each principal room of the house to a terrace or garden area just outside and finally out into the beautiful wooded park. The site was further refined during the early 1920s by H.B. and L.A. Dunington-Grubb. The husband and wife design team created spectacular outdoor “garden rooms” including the Italian Garden, Sundial Garden, Summer House and the Sunken Garden. They also refined the South Terrace and designed the intricate lattice fencing for the tennis court and Italian Garden. The Dunington-Grubbs were influential in the development of their profession, were the founding members of the Society of Landscape Architects as well as Sheridan Nurseries. Sheridan Nurseries is still thriving today and remain generous supporters of the Parkwood Foundation.
The last of the major additions to the gardens occurred between 1935–1936, with the commission of architect John Lyle to create the Formal Garden. Lyle was awarded the Bronze Medal from the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada for its design. The two-acre garden is a masterful expression of the art moderne style.
Then and now, the gardens are linked by theme and function to the Parkwood greenhouse complex. Three greenhouses are still used for the production of period and specialty plant materials. The greenhouses display palms, orchids and tropical plants and are home to the Japanese Garden and the Greenhouse Tea Room. Today, the gardens of Parkwood have been restored to represent how they appeared in the 1930s.
Parkwood’s beauty and history provide a backdrop for film work and professional photography. The estate appears regularly as the backdrop in fashion photography and magazine ads and is one of Ontario’s most popular locations for location filming.
Actors who have filmed at Parkwood include Adrian Brody, Brendan Fraser, Drew Barrymore, Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt Kathleen Turner, Adam Sandler, Hugh Laurie, Ben Affleck, Lucy Liu, Tony Shaloub, Alan Alda, Maureen Stapleton, Peter Gallagher, Diane Lane, James Garner, Peter O'Toole, Jeremy Irons, Angela Lansbury, Bob Hoskins, Jane Seymour, Shirley MacLaine, Richard Gere, Hilary Swank, Ewan McGregor, Peter Fonda, Julianne Moore, Woody Harrelson, Laura Dern and Canada's own Christopher Plummer, Paul Gross, Anne-Marie MacDonald, Colm Feore, Mike Myers, and Dave Foley, to name a few.
Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt
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