Houses on the river?

We went for a walk round Parliament Hill tonight, appreciating the view of the city's landmarks lit up after dark. Thousands of lights and plenty of nighttime colour; the only empty area we could see was, of course, the (mostly) frozen Ottawa River lying like a dark open field between all the buildings.

Empty as they seem, our rivers are the central focus of Ottawa-Gatineau, linking all parts of the metropolis.

Remembering that the city planners' main goal is to "develop the downtown core" I suddenly began to imagine what might be done, one day, with this underused open space: it could be built on. Construction on water, especially on water that freezes and floods, sounds unlikely at present, and none too sensible in this climate, but who knows? They are already experimenting with amphibious housing in the Netherlands and in Dubai, and I know someone who's been happily living in a boat on an English canal for the last few years.

A Google Image search for "amphibious houses" brings up quite a selection.

Having said all that, I confess I value the emptiness of the wide river at the heart of our city. It makes for a breathing space. Maybe it should be left alone after all.