Bambini

The Preston Street Business Improvement Area commissioned the design and installation for Bambini, a sculpture representing a child's view of a soccer team, and a welcoming feature to Little Italy in Ottawa. Installed in the fall of 2013, it generated negative impressions from many in the community though some liked and supported it.

The piece's designer, Chantal Gaudet, a senior landscape architect with the design consulting company Stantec said, "It’s new, and people are going to get used to it. We need to respect what they think about it." She went on to say, "The Italians are very family oriented. It’s a part of their culture, and that’s what I tried to represent."

Bambini stands on the eastern corners of the intersection of Preston Street and Gladstone Avenue in Ottawa.

"Bambini"

Bambini represents a joyful
celebration of the themes of family and
the events that unite the
Italian-Canadian Community.

The style is deliberately naïve, based upon a
child's drawing of the community coming
together to cheer on their soccer team.

Located at the cultural heart of Little Italy, where
St. Anthony of Padua Church, the spiritual centre of
the Italian community in Ottawa, connects with the
commercial hub of Preston Street, Bambini is
designed to be a meeting place where neighbors
can connect with each other.

"Bambini"

Bambini a été créé pour
représenter lest thèmes de la famille
et les événements qui unissent la
communauté italo-canadienne.

Le style est délibérément naïf, basé
sur un dessin d'enfant qui démontre des membres
de la communauté réunis afin d'encourager leur
équipe de soccer.

Situé au cœur culturel de la Petite Italie, proche
de l'église de Saint Antoine de Padoue–centre
spirituel de la communauté italienne d'Ottawa–et
est au sein du quartier commercial de la rue
Preston; Bambini a été conçu comme point de
rendez-vous où les voisins peuvent se
recontrer ensemble.

"Bambini"

Bambini e una creazione che
celebra con gioia i temi della famiglia e
gli eventi che uniscono la communità italiana.

Lo stile è volutamente semplice, basato sul
disegno di un bambino dove si vedono membri
della comunità che si uniscono per sostenere la
loro squadra di calcio di un bambino.

La struttura situata nel cuore culturale della Piccola
Italia, dove la chiesa de Sant'Antonio da Padova
—centro spirituale della comunità—si collega con
la strada Preston dove si trova il quartiere
commerciale; Bambini è stato progettato per
essere un luogo d'incontro dove vicini e
lontani si ritrovano insieme.