To design anew while reflecting the old is a great challenge for an architect and one which has been ably met in the design of Ewing Terrace. The objective of this project was to create a residential infill unit of six townhouses reflecting the traditional architecture of downtown St. John's.

Originally this was the location of W.H. Ewing, a furrier who at peak of production purchased thousands of seal pelts every year and was a mainstay of that fishery. Unfortunately, after 75 years in business, Ewings closed in 1971 and the building on this site was irreparably damaged by fire in 1986.

When construction on this project started in 1998, the site had been empty for some time and was dwarfed by the multi-storey Delta Hotel. The work, all new construction, proceeded through 1998. Care has been taken on the outside elevations to reflect the traditional architecture of downtown St. John's in both building form and arrangement.

Attention has been paid to such details as door and window headers as well as moulding and flooring. The exterior design admirably incorporates narrow clapboard, traditional window forms and narrow eaves. The colour scheme gives a lively yet coherent sense to the whole project. The architect, Philip Pratt, has demonstrated a keen sense of design and sensitivity in this project. The result is a worthy example of how to meet the challenge of building modern, functional accommodation while respecting and reflecting the integrity of design features from the past.