Homes come in all shapes and sizes but what makes them unique? Sometimes a home has historical significance, a unique design or features. Ottawa has no shortage of such unique homes but which ones are worth knowing about?
Our team of expert realtors has curated a list of out-of-the-box, unusual or historically important properties and luxury homes in Ottawa. We have done extensive research besides visiting most of these cool properties in person to gather data for this article.
If you are looking forward to buying a unique home you should work with a unique agent like Labrosse Realty to find a high-end property.
Market Update: Ottawa’s real estate market has shown resilience with an average home price of $707,180 as of April 2025, representing a 0.3% annual increase and demonstrating steady growth in the luxury and unique property segments.
Qualicum Street, Nepean, Ottawa
1969
James Strutt
3000 sq/ft
The purpose of designing this strange circular shape residence was to protect an old Maple tree growing in the middle of the hill. The owner hired Strutt, a renowned architect who designed this unique property while ensuring the protection of the tree.
Dwyer Hill, North of Ottawa
2006
Ray Moulton
2200 square feet.
Ray Moulton was a programmer, firefighter and gamer. He and his wife Rebecca decided to make a unique energy-efficient house. They believed that the monolithic dome can be the best form of architecture for energy conservation in Ottawa. Ray was fond of the Star Wars series. His passion is visible in the choice of architecture and he called his home “Star Wars House.” His real estate agent was dressed up like Princess Leia for an open house.
400 Lansdowne Road, Rockcliffe Park, Ottawa, Ontario
1959
Hart Massey
1200 square feet.
The architect Hart Massey designed this residence for himself and his family. He resided here till 1979. The building won the Silver Medal of the Massey Awards for Architecture. It was the highest honour at that time.
85 Glebe Ave, Ottawa
1912
The building was the residence of William Powell, the developer of Clemow Estate. The house is currently used by the Embassy of Vietnam. This house made it to our list due to its historical and architectural significance.
55 MACKEY ST, Ottawa
1898
Unlike mill workers, mill managers used to live in ornate mansions a hundred years ago. The house that we have chosen for this list is typical of such mansions. This house was the home of Gordon C. Edwards, the General Manager of the Edwards Sawmill. Edwards served as a Liberal M.P. between 1926 and 1930 as well as the director of many companies. He built this residence to live up to the tradition of the manager of the mill living within the community.
189 Laurier Avenue East, Ottawa.
January 1, 1903
The house is commonly known as Panet House or Royal Military College of Canada Building 27. The building is famous for its historical and architectural features. The house was built for the first staff adjutant, a notable RMC graduate, Captain H.A.Panet. He remained there till 1898. Unlike the soldier’s home in Hemingway’s renowned novel published in 1925, Panet House has always been loved and cherished by its inhabitants as well as the people of Ottawa.
In 1982, the city government decided to rebuild the house to establish a fire station at this place. In response to the public outcry, the location of the fire station was changed. In 1986, Panet House was declared a part of the national heritage.
In 1990, Panet House was purchased by the Republic of Angola. They continue to use this building as their embassy.
River View Estate, Dunrobin, Ottawa
$8.8 million
27.8-acre estate with 835 feet of waterfront
With Ottawa’s average home price now at $707,180 as of April 2025, luxury properties continue to attract significant attention. River View Estate remains Ottawa’s most expensive listing at $8.8 million, described as “the quintessential estate property, where lifestyle meets beauty.” The luxury market has shown strong activity with a 57% increase in sales over $1.3 million in early 2025.
Rockcliffe Park, Ottawa
Patrick McCarron
We chose this home for our list as it reflects how blending and renovating two homes can be perfectly and harmoniously done. The house belongs to Jim Taggart and his wife Jane Panet. Both lost their former spouses to Cancer in 2009. They used to live in Rockcliffe Park as neighbours.
When they decided to live together, they also decided to blend their homes. Jim’s house was a single-storeyed bungalow while Jane lived in a house with many stairs. They decided to live in a bungalow but redesigned it by combining the items from both homes.
Their redesigned home is cozy, traditional and perfectly harmonious. It is also an exceptional interior redesigning project. Symbolically, it reflects how the lives of two people can be perfectly harmonious in one space.
29 Somerset, Ottawa
Between 1883 and 1888
Rental information not currently available
Samuel Adams
This strange house seems to have emerged right from the famous movie The Adams Family. Surprisingly, this house was designed and built by an architect whose surname was Adams too.
The house made it to our list because of its strange architecture. The building has a historic value too as it was built by renowned architect Samuel Admas. The house was later used as a diplomatic residence. At present, the house is listed as available for rent.
35 miles West Of Ottawa. The house was built on the land owned by Joseph’s family.
355 square feet
$58,000 CAD
These days there has been an increasing trend of recycling old vehicles and using them as residences. We have looked into several such houses but the one that made it to our list is by Joseph Dupious. The house is energy efficient and is equipped with all the necessities.
Belonging to a family of mechanics and engineers, Joseph Dupious is an engineer and a renewable energy researcher by profession. He had been planning to build an off-the-grid home years before he started working on it. His father had been in the renewable energy business and greatly encouraged the project.
Lindenlea, Ottawa
4500 square feet
This house features a modernist style of architecture called Lighthouse. Designed by Linebox studio, the house provides a comfortable living style for a family of five people.
Outside Carleton University
180 square feet
When you were a child, you might have wanted to build a perfect palace/sand castle for your mother. Ben Hayward, a student of architecture at Carleton University goes one step ahead and makes a dream home for his mum right outside his school. Besides showing his immense love for his mum as well as his skills in architecture, this house gives an idea to home buyers on how to develop a low-cost, energy-efficient dwelling.
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If you own a home, it gives you the freedom to do whatever you like with it, at least to some extent. Are you looking to buy an unusual home or are you thinking of making your existing home a bit “unusual?”
With Ottawa’s current market showing balanced conditions and strong luxury segment performance, now presents an excellent opportunity for unique property investments. Whether you’re interested in heritage properties, modern architectural marvels, or sustainable living solutions, Ottawa’s diverse real estate landscape offers something for every unique taste.
If you are looking to buy a home in Ontario, connect with an expert realtor like Labrosse. Our real estate agents specialize in luxury and unique properties. Book a consultation today.
Unlike the majority of homes, a unique home has an impressive layout or several extravagant upgrades.
If the home has a historic value and is recognized as a heritage, you might not make changes or renovations unless approved through a rigorous process.
The best way to find the value of a home is through an appraisal. Later you can consult an expert realtor to price and list your unique property for sale.
Another way to get an idea about the price is by checking out the listings for comparable unique homes for sale in the same area. You can also visit some of these unusual buildings for sale in person to get an idea on how to price yours.
Ottawa’s luxury market has shown remarkable strength in 2025, with sales over $1.3 million increasing by 57% in the first two months compared to 2024. The market benefits from stable employment in the government and tech sectors, making it attractive for high-end property investments.
Labrosse Real Estate Group
4366 Innes Road
Ottawa, ON, K4A 3W3
Direct: 613-227-6409
Email: Hello@LabrosseRealEstate.com
Office: 613-590-3000
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Nicholas Labrosse Courtier Immobilier Inc
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