Vancouver Lights

Toderian Out

2012-01-31T10:58:00.000-08:00

Brent Toderian has been fired from his position of director of planning with the city.

See Frances Bula's article in the Globe.

There's bound to be much debate over Toderian's termination and legacy but the question now is who will succeed him?

Architecture of Words

2012-01-31T08:25:00.000-08:00

Check out Letters: Michael Morris and Concrete Poetry at the Belkin. It's an excellent exhibit and a chance to revisit one facet of Morris' impressive 1960's output.

It's the first time the Letters works have all been exhibited together and they dominate the main gallery space, vibrating with an electric energy.

Morris' concrete poetry work has a bold, graphic clarity and meets at the intersection of typography, design and verse. A rich group of concrete poetry works from the Belkin collection provides context, including pieces by Ugo Carrega, Gerhard Ruhm and Jiri Kolar.

The show runs until April 8, 2012 and includes Artists talks and programs.

Now, if we could get a retrospective on Brian Fisher's work...

Vancouver History

2012-01-13T08:10:00.000-08:00

A couple of new blogs that explore the history of Vancouver:

Changing Vancouver shows the city through then and now images and pairs them with in-depth descriptions. The blog has just come online this month but there are dozens of interesting postings. It is authored by local historian and writer John Atkin and city planner Andy Coupland.

Atkin and Coupland are also responsible for Building Vancouver, which focuses on Vancouver's early buildings and architects and features a wealth of historical detail.

Binning Residence Funding

2011-12-22T09:25:00.000-08:00

The Government of Canada recently announced some much needed financial support for the Binning residence.

Parks Canada, through the National Historic Sites Cost-Sharing Program will contribute $11,000 for the preparation of a site conservation plan. That amount will match a contribution by the Land Conservancy of British Columbia, who took over the site after Jessie Binning's death in 2007.

It's a drop in the bucket, but it's a start that acknowledges the Binning residence's national historic importance.

Canadian Architect Awards

2011-12-15T11:14:00.000-08:00

The 2011 Canadian Architect Awards of Excellence winners have been announced.

Amongst the winners are West Coast firms Patkau, Hughes Condon Marler and B+H Bunting Coady.

The awards were juried by Walter Francl, Diarmuid Nash and Peter Sampson.

Image: UBC Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences/CDRD by Saucier + Perrotte Architectes w/ Hughes Condon Marler Architects

Architecture of Religion: Redeemer Lutheran Church

2011-12-06T16:47:00.001-08:00

The Redeemer Lutheran Church sits on a busy strip of Granville Street, nestled into its mature Shaughnessy environs.

It was designed in 1959 by Thompson Berwick & Pratt and shortlisted for the 1961 round of Massey Medals.

It's part of a group of buildings in Vancouver–St. John's, Shaugnessy Heights United, Granville Chapel and Unitarian–that reflected a renewed mid-century interest in religious architecture.

They highlight a shared concern between modernist architects and religious orders in harnessing light, though with admittedly different connotations.

Exterior from Granville Street

Front entrance

There is an optimism and clarity to these buildings that sets them apart from more traditional religious architecture. The Redeemer Lutheran in particular is a straightforward, cost-conscious design that draws on prevailing architectural trends of the 1950's.

Side entrance

A classic A-frame form, supported by concrete buttresses, splays out on the sides with flat-roofed areas for offices, entrances and meeting rooms. A secondary building is connected by a covered breezeway.

Central skylight

Main chapel

A central skylight running the length of the spine of the chapel admits a diffused light down onto pews and the altar.

Decoration is kept to a minimum and windows at the sides of the chapel are unadorned. Wood is used generously on the interior and contributes to a natural and muted color palette.

The church remains largely as designed and continues to serve its congregation after fifty years.

re:CONNECT Voting

2011-11-23T08:32:00.000-08:00

The City of Vancouver's re:CONNECT competition to re-imagine the future of the viaducts is in the voting stage.

Among the many submissions: a NYC-Highline inspired transformation of the viaducts; reverting the False Creek flats back to marshland and the creation of new parkland; a false volcano that covers the stadiums and area.

Voting is open until November 25th. Winning entries will be announced on December 1, 2011.

Above, Submissions (from top) #56, #11, #113, #82

Glass Towers Quandary

2011-11-22T09:52:00.001-08:00

A sober report from a University of Toronto professor on the problems of Toronto's glass towers.

Ted Kesik, Professor of Building Science and author of the report, raises the issue of the expected lifetime performance of the glass (5-15 years, or 15-25 years more conservatively) and the costs of eventual replacement on a massive scale.

Kesik's report makes one thing clear: many sealed units fail. And with that failure, most of the R-value ceases to function. Factor in manufacturing, transporting, and installing replacements and the question of thermal resistance becomes one part of a complex assessment of costs and environmental considerations. In older buildings there are also aesthetic concerns with existing glass.

Kesik also talks about alternative methods of construction to glass walls such as punched windows and the use of materials like brick and masonry block.

It's difficult to say what conclusions can be drawn from the report for Vancouver, where the climate is milder but glass towers are plentiful.

On a related topic, ouno blog recently posted on the questionable viability of skyscrapers as a building typology.

Kesik ends his report with this:

"Today's glass condo towers are not as energy efficient and far less durable than their 1960's counterparts. Is there any industry where 50 years later, the products it produces cost more and perform worse than their predecessors?"

Vancouver Curio: Pacific Centre Promo

2011-11-15T15:52:00.000-08:00

The cover for a promotional brochure for Pacific Centre in Vancouver.

At top is an illustration showing Cesar Pelli's faceless black TD tower, standing on the site of the second Hotel Vancouver. Eaton's edges into the foreground, with the Four Seasons Hotel and Marine Building receding in the background towards the harbour and north shore mountains.

The brochure features a layout of Pacific Centre with store listings set in what must be 5 point lower case type, rendering it virturally unreadable. It's undated but judging from the buildings, likely dates from 1975.

Pacific Centre was designed by Victor Gruen + Associates, with McCarter, Nairne + Partners (1975).

John Fulker: Images of Architecture

2011-11-03T11:04:00.000-07:00

John Fulker's career flourished alongside the Canadian architects whose work he captured: Barry Downs, Arthur Erickson and Clifford Wiens among others. In the process he created an invaluable visual record of architecture on the West Coast and beyond.

For the first time in thirty years his work will be exhibited at the West Vancouver Museum. Following the 2009 exhibition of Selwyn Pullan's work, "Images of Architecture" is another opportunity to reacquaint with a local legacy.

The exhibition opens on November 15th with a reception with the photographer and runs until January 14th, 2010. There is also a photographer's talk on December 3, 2011 at 1:30pm.

Photo: Graham Residence, John Fulker, 1967

1981: Thom + PNE

2011-11-01T20:31:00.000-07:00

Check out this post from Retro Coast: a 1981 PNE brochure featuring a Prize Home designed by Ron Thom.

Compare Thom's design with more recent Prize Homes.

Curiously, the house is currently for sale, in somewhat altered form, in White Rock.

Staples Residence

2011-10-30T21:20:00.001-07:00

Erickson Massey's 1967 Staples residence in West Vancouver is currently for sale.

It sits next door to the old Graham residence location on Cliff Cove and takes advantage of a breathtaking waterfront site that looks up Howe Sound. As with many houses from the era, the lot is now considered 'under-built'–in developer parlance–and there is concern that the house will come down.

However, unlike the Graham residence, which was badly renovated and allowed to deteriorate, the Staples residence has had no modification over the years and remains in beautiful and original condition.

It shares a common DNA with the Smith and Graham houses in its post and beam-based spatial explorations and a material palette of cedar, glass and bush-hammered concrete. All three houses showcased Erickson's renowned ability to design for difficult sites.

Soaring beams shoot past floor to ceiling glass into the surrounding foliage. The house achieves a quiet but powerful drama through clarity of design and an intimacy with the site. A Japanese influence is felt in the austerity of the composition and elements such as shoji screens, sand-float stucco and a koi pond.

Landscaping was designed by Don Vaughan and focused on native plantings and bonsai trees which still cling doggedly to the craggy slope.

The Staples worked closely with Erickson Massey and project architect Bruno Freschi to achieve a stunning design that happily accommodated a family of four for decades. The home now needs a new custodian to imbue it with the vitality and appreciation that has been its hallmark.

Western Living's Designers of the Year

2011-10-16T17:29:00.000-07:00

Battersby Howat scooped Western Living's 2011 Designer and Interior Design awards and Omer Arbel won Industrial Designer.

See Western Living's website for the full list of winners.

Michael Harris also recently profiled Arbel's first residential commission in Vancouver Magazine.

Barry Downs' North Vancouver Civic Centre

2011-10-11T22:54:00.000-07:00

Downs/Archambault's 1975 North Vancouver Civic Centre has been in transition for some time and the recent redesign by Mcfarlane Green Biggar is close to completion.

The original complex of City Hall and the library, designed by Barry Downs, was a remarkable if under-recognized work of West Coast Modernism that was diluted through incremental change and evolving civic priorities.

Downs conceived the Civic Centre as an unassuming, functional pair of buildings that inspired a more inclusive idea of politics and civic interaction.

Material choices spoke to this: raw cedar, concrete and an emphasis on landscaping of native plantings. Downs designed a pronounced planted berm and water feature that softened the connection between buildings and the urban surroundings.

It was a vision of politics that embraced integration and subtlety - hallmarks of Downs' work. The civic centre was so deeply connected to place, it felt as if it literally rose out of the fecund North Shore landscape.

Sadly this vision has largely been dismantled. The berm and water feature are long gone. The library building was demolished last year. Across the street is Diamond & Schmitt's new library – a sign of a changing urban mandate that is now transforming North Vancouver's Civic Centre and community buildings in general.

Meanwhile, Downs' lone remaining City Hall structure sits as a testament to the ingenuity, understatement and priorities of a different time and a master of the site.

B+W Photos: John Fulker

Moon Residence

2011-10-09T23:13:00.000-07:00

See this weekend's Globe & Mail for Adele Weder's article on Fred Hollingsworth's Moon/Miller residence in North Vancouver.

Reconnecting Vancouver

2011-09-25T11:10:00.000-07:00

Have a great idea for Vancouver's viaducts? Check out the city's open ideas competition to re-imagine the Eastern Core and the viaducts.

How do you think they should be used?

Robson Square + Picnurbia

2011-08-17T07:44:00.000-07:00

As the repairs to Robson Square draw to a close the space is coming alive again.

It's a chance to experience the landscape anew, almost like stepping back thirty years. Granted, I miss the mature plantings that provided quiet shelter from the city but the renewal closely reflects the original design.

Meanwhile the stretch of Robson Street between Hornby and Howe remains closed off, a temporary pedestrian zone that allows the north and south blocks of Robson Square to meld together.

An intriguing installation has appeared there recently: Picnurbia, a pop-up park in the form of undulating waves of soft yellow turf, interrupted only by sun umbrellas and wooden seats that span the hollows. The soft forms invite exploration and reimagine the urban experience.

It's an unexpected delight to come across Picnurbia - I encountered it in the quiet of early morning and had breakfast while lounging, with Robson Square as a backdrop. Quite remarkable.

Picnurbia is the work of The Loose Affiliates, a Vancouver-based design collective that explores how urban space is used, searching out opportunities where none appear to exist. It's a summer installation so check it out while while the weather is warm.

Photo: Krista Jahnke

P4A #6

2011-08-10T20:25:00.000-07:00

Guest speaker Omer Arbel will join hosts Anant Topiwala, Anne Pearson and Christine Wang for the sixth edition of Party For Architects.

The action happens Thursday, August 25th at Vancouver Special and should be a great night of Peroni-fueled discussion about our built environment.

Architectural Stewardship

2011-08-06T13:06:00.000-07:00

This recent piece by Dave Leblanc in The Globe and Mail is worth a read.

The Artist's Circle in West Vancouver

2011-08-05T19:03:00.000-07:00

This is the final weekend of The Harmony Arts Festival in West Vancouver. If you haven't had a chance to check it out, it's well worth a visit.

The festival highlights the rich cultural life of West Vancouver, both past and present. The Museum has had a strong showing this year, organizing The Artist's Circle–a ten day exhibit of ten artists in a temporary gallery set up by the seaside.

The location is frankly spectacular and the artwork matches the locale, including works by Gordon Smith, B.C. Binning, Douglas Coupland, Ian Wallace, Attilla Richard Lukacs and Joan Balzar.

It's the brainchild of Curator Darrin Morrison who had a vision of art by the sea as a way to promote West Vancouver's artistic legacy. It also foreshadows a plan for a larger, dedicated space to house the municipality's significant cultural holdings and engaging exhibitions.

Morrison has shown through his resourceful and inspired use of the current tiny Museum building that a new purpose-built facility would be well used and an invaluable addition to the community.

One of the highlights of the festival was a talk by Gordon Smith, Douglas Coupland and Ian Wallace. Each artist has a deep connection to the local rugged landscape and it was a loose but engaging round table discussion.

Smith held court as elder statesman, while always singing the praises of other artists' work. I can't think of another venue where you might hear a story about the Smiths hosting PM Pierre Trudeau and his family along with the Binnings and a bathrobed Arthur Erickson.

Still, one of the most remarkable things about Smith is how current he remains in his knowledge of contemporary arts, culture and architecture, even at the age of 92. The man is an art machine.

Coupland and Wallace were gracious and offered insights into their methods and the influence that West Vancouver has had on their work.

Kudos to West Vancouver, the curators and the artists involved for bringing together a terrific event.

Untitled, B.C. Binning

Illustrated Vancouver

2011-08-01T19:32:00.000-07:00

A wonderful site showing Vancouver through illustration.

Via Eve Lazarus' blog which in turn has an excellent write up on Malcolm Lowry's time in the city.

Shannon Mews Approved

2011-07-29T23:22:00.001-07:00

In a disappointing decision by city council, the proposed Shannon Mews development by Wall Financial has been greenlit.

After three nights of public hearings council voted 6-4 in favour despite the vocal opposition of many citizens. I attended the first night and the general tone of comments was not anti-development but rather that the scope of the current proposal was out of scale with the property and the neighborhood.

Furthermore, the heritage aspect of the plan focuses almost exclusively on the Rogers mansion, gatehouse and perimeter wall while ignoring the delicate siting that went into Erickson's mid-70's townhouses.

Photo: Arlen Redekop

Coast Modern Soiree

2011-07-21T16:22:00.000-07:00

Coast Modern is throwing a party to raise finishing funds for their film. Check out the trailers for Gavin Froome's and Michael Bernard's comprehensive and vibrant study of West Coast Modernist architecture.

The action takes place on July 28 at Ouno Design's space in Strathcona. Oysters, booze and music will be on hand, as well as the excellent CoMo posters by Byron O'Neill and BUILD.

Tickets are $10 (with drink) or $100 (with poster + drink) and can be purchased online.

Hollingsworth in North Vancouver

2011-07-16T09:39:00.000-07:00

In what is already proving to be an active month for architecturally significant listings, add Fred Hollingsworth's 1950 Moon Residence to the list.

It is one of his Wright-influenced Neoteric designs that features a taut post and beam structure, cedar board and batten siding, copious interior plywood and red brick that defines the central living space. The house is actually two linked structures set on a 45 degree angle, giving a dynamic sense of space.

The Moon Residence is listed as a Primary Building in North Vancouver's Heritage Building Inventory and remains in stunningly pristine condition.

Mid-Century Real Estate

2011-07-16T09:18:00.000-07:00

Check out Robert Crowe's Facebook page focusing on local Mid-Century Modern real estate.

It features a comprehensive survey of active listings across the lower mainland and an abundance of related mid-century information.

If you're in the market for a beautiful Thom-designed home that needs some love, here's his listing for the Carmichael residence.

Linear House

2011-07-12T21:12:00.000-07:00

The latest residential project from Patkau Architects: Linear House

Sited between a Douglas Fir cluster and an orchard on Saltspring Island, the house spans 276 feet in length and exhibits the highly refined Patkau aesthetic; in this case, realized in broad rectilinear form in fibre-cement board and maple millwork.

The interior spaces are expansive and relate directly to the surrounding landscape through top hung doors that, at their widest, open to 78'. In the right light these openings appear from inside as vast, beautifully rendered landscape paintings.

Linear House has been widely profiled since its completion and recently won at AZ award.

Carmichael Residence

2011-07-03T10:30:00.000-07:00

Ron Thom's 1957 Carmichael residence is on the market.

This is one of Thom's Wright-inspired hexagonal houses and shares a common language with the nearby Southworth and Case residences. Taken together, they show Thom's development beyond his earlier rectilinear designs.

Interior view showing brick, wood and sand-float stucco.

The material palette of concrete brick, natural wood and sand-float stucco coalesce into a series of intimately connected spaces with an embracing scale. A broad hipped roof, clerestory windows and extensive butt-joint glass add a richness to the design and draw the exterior landscaping inward.

At just 1150 sq. ft. the house is small, even by 1957 standards, but it emphasizes quality of living space rather than size, in stark contrast to current trends.

Plan from 1950's Canadian Architect article showing hexagonal grid system.

Section from 1950's Canadian Architect article.

The Carmichael residence has a trail of recognition including the Massey Medals for Architecture in 1961. It was one of two Thom-designed homes featured in the Architecture and Sculpture in Canada exhibition at the Canadian Government Pavillion during Expo 67 and is also listed in West Vancouver's Survey of Significant Architecture 1945-1975.

Carmichael Residence as shown in the 1961 Massey Medals catalogue.

In close to original condition with Thom-designed furnishings still intact, the house needs work but is listed as "mainly lot value" which is a travesty considering it's an exemplary West Coast style building by one of Canada's greatest architects.

But with a lot size of 88'x150' the business case for tearing it down and increasing the FSR through rebuilding is compelling.

However that doesn't take into account its less tangible qualities: thoughtful design, an essential connection to nature and the not inconsiderable belief in the ability of architecture to enrich the quality of life.

There is always hope of a middle ground: a sensitive restoration with an addition or a secondary building on the lot that allows the preservation of this remarkable little house.

Color photos: John Bland Canadian Architecture Archive at McGill University.

B+W photo: Selwyn Pullan

P.K. #17

2011-05-31T08:30:00.000-07:00

The line-up of presenters for Pecha Kucha #17 has been announced.

Mid-Century Cuba

2011-05-17T21:35:00.001-07:00

Architecturally, Havana is all it's cracked up to be and more: once glorious buildings dripping with neglect; a distinct beauty of accrued patina that defines the city.

There is also a healthy dose of mid-century architecture that gets less ink than the spanish revival buildings. However, both eras are equally neglected– creating a sort of architectural duality that describes a city frozen in time.

Cuban architecture magazines from late 1958 and early 1959 give a fascinating glimpse into what was a progressive, prosperous architectural and cultural milieu.

During this time Castro would take meetings with leading architects and explain the new regime's focus on building for the social good of the people and the state rather than the glory of the architect and private clients. Translation: the slow decline of architecture in Cuba.

Cuba's national architecture magazine, #302 September 1958. Pre-revolution, the issue profiles a residence designed by Frank Martinez Justiz on the cover and in an inside story.

Arquitectura, #308 March 1959. Post-revolution, this issue focuses on architecture for the state and has an article on Castro's visit to the College of Architects.

1958 Sargeant advertisment showing the School of Engineering building at the University of Villanueva, by architect Ricardo Galbis Martinez.

1958 Gold Medal-winning residential design by Richard Neutra, Raul Alvarez and Enrique Gutierrez.

Plans for Neutra's design showing the common language with his other residential work at the time.

Original 1958 Schlage advertisment featuring the Seguro Medico building.

Seguro Medico in 2011. Balconies have been painted purple and red.

The Havana Libre (originally Hilton, 1958) features a massive tile wall mural by Cuban artist Amelia Pelaez (1896-1968). The hotel was designed by Los Angeles architects Welton Becket & Associates, who also designed the Capitol Records building in Hollywood.

A canopy of circular ceiling skylights in the lobby of the Havana Libre.

The Capri (1957), no longer in operation, with the FOCSA apartment building in the background, one of Havana's largest residential buildings.

Typical old Havana skyline.

Residential tower on the Malecon with shades of Corbusier.

The Habana Riviera lunchroom (above and below). Like walking into 1957.

Riviera lounge entrance (and ex-casino) with expansive wall mural by Rolando Lopez Dirube.

The pristine lobby of Habana Riviera, featuring a stunning sculpture collection. Much of the hotel has not been as well maintained.

Half a dozen oversize paintings by Cuban artist Cundo Bermudez (1914-2008) hang in the defunct lounge of the Habana Riviera, awaiting customers who will never come. These works are national treasures and sit gathering dust behind closed doors.

The half-promising front entrance to the Habana Riviera. The sculpture (by Florencia Gelabert) and scale are impressive but undercut by a tattered water feature that runs dry and speaks to the general lack of supplies and resources in Cuba.

A regional Cuban airport with the clean lines of International Style modernism, kept relatively intact.

Typical low-rise International Style building.

The classic old Havana street scene.

Buildings (above and below) originally built for and still used by the Cuban film and television industry.

The National Museum of Fine Arts in Havana has an impressive collection of Cuban artwork but the dearth of any literature on Cuban artists and culture was disappointing.

Unlike other cities, Havana never progressed beyond a functional European style modernism. The architectural variants that developed and supplanted it in North America are nowhere to be found. As with everything else, the dividing line is January 1959 and one can't help but get the feeling that, after fifty years of revolution, the Cuban people are waiting for change.

RAIC Awards

2011-05-09T20:34:00.000-07:00

Architecture Canada–RAIC recently handed out awards of excellence, a few of which have a Vancouver connection.

Adele Weder has won the President's Award for Architectural Journalism for her Canadian Architect article Call of the Wild. Weder's writing is consistently insightful and nuanced and has enriched the local and national architectural dialogue.

The Prix du XXe Siecle awards have also been announced and include two career-defining Arthur Erickson works: The Museum of Anthropology (1971-1976) and Robson Square (1973-1983).

The awards recognize buildings that have had a lasting impact and contribute significantly to the cultural fabric of the country. These are buildings that have earned the description "iconic."

Also on the list are John B. Parkin's Ottawa Train Station and Clifford Wiens' Heating and Cooling Plant in Saskatchewan.

Pecha Kucha Vol.17

2011-05-08T14:43:00.000-07:00

Pecha Kucha Vol.17 takes place on June 23, 2011. The theme for the evening is West Coast Modernism and is a co-presentation by the West Vancouver Museum + Archives and Cause + Affect.

Updates on presenters to follow as information becomes available, but there promises to be an interesting cross-section of Vancouver architects, landscape designers and artists.

Casino Expansion Rejected

2011-04-19T16:11:00.000-07:00

Yes.

Every House Has A Story

2011-03-29T23:56:00.000-07:00

A recent Vancouver Lights guest post on Eve Lazarus's blog, about the pending Vancouver Art Gallery move.

B.C. Place c.1981

2011-03-16T11:38:00.000-07:00

Images from a 1981 British Columbia Place promotional brochure.

Original logo.

The name B.C. Place described the north False Creek lands, much of which were later developed post-Expo 86 by Concord Pacific. This included the stadium, then known generically as The Amphitheatre.

The signature white inflated roof seems modest and understated now. It was to be built for a "guaranteed" $126 million and was designed by Vancouver architect-engineers Phillips Barratt.

Illustration of activities by Andre Lim. Note the Whitecaps player – thirty years on the soccer team is finally set to play in the refurbished stadium.

A final sales pitch broadly describes the master plan. Projected to take 15 years to achieve, the city is still wrestling with the character and content of the area.

A parting shot...

Top Ten Endangered

2011-03-14T16:23:00.000-07:00

Heritage Vancouver has published its annual list of endangered buildings, including Shannon Mews (Erickson-Massey) and the Collingwood Library (Semmens + Simpson).

Photo: Collingwood Library, c.1951. Credit: VPL #8856

Casino Expansion

2011-03-09T16:40:00.001-08:00

If you oppose the planned casino expansion, sign the petition and write a letter to city councilors.

Plyscrapers

2011-03-09T16:16:00.000-08:00

An intiguing article on building skyscrapers with wood.

It's part of a government-funded study promoting B.C.'s timber industry and was led by Michael Green of MGB Architecture + Design.

Green argues that the ecological benefits of building with wood, along with innovation in materials and building techniques, point to a new renaissance of wood-based construction.

D'Arcy Jones/Form + Forest

2011-03-02T15:19:00.000-08:00

Check out the latest addition to Form + Forest's cabin series here, designed by D'Arcy Jones.

The Pioneer is a two bedroom, 1200 sq. ft. version and follows the more compact Ranger, Trapper and award-winning Cowboy.

As with all the variations, the Pioneer is prefab, shipped flat pack and features Jones' distinctive and refined aesthetic.

Frankenstadium

2011-02-28T21:51:00.000-08:00

P4A #5

2011-02-17T14:50:00.000-08:00

The fifth installment of Party For Architects is lined up for March 3, 2011.

Gair Williamson and Chris Woodford from Gair Williamson Architects are the featured speakers. GWA's recent projects include Judas Goat, the Paris Annex and The Keefer (below).

The event has reverted back to the more intimate confines of Vancouver Special (from the MOV) and promises to be a great evening.

Toronto Modern

2011-02-12T17:18:00.000-08:00

Excellent blog on Modernist Toronto architecture by Robert Moffatt.

Prior to moving to Toronto in 2002, Moffatt lived in Vancouver and wrote the Vancouver Modern column for Heritage Vancouver's newsletter–worth searching out for its informed and comprehensive coverage of the city's Modernist heritage.

Toronto Modern is now on the blog roll at right.

Edgewater Casino Expansion

2011-02-08T10:44:00.000-08:00

Vancouver Not Vegas, a non-partisan coalition, is holding a forum on the BC Place development which is to include a substantially expanded Edgewater Casino.

It's taking place tomorrow, Wednesday February 9th at the Chinese Cultural Centre and will feature addresses by Sandy Garossino, Peter Ladner and Bing Thom. The forum will be followed up on February 17th by a Public Hearing at City Hall.

Vancouver's downtown feels increasingly sanitized and a casino development on this scale doesn't send a great message as far as the cultural life of the city is concerned.

Case Residence

2011-02-06T21:37:00.001-08:00

In case you missed it...Adele Weder's insightful article on RJ Thom's Case Residence in West Vancouver.

Currently for sale and needing some work, the house was built by Dennis Case himself with Thom's close guidance. It is one of Thom's most resonant if idiosyncratic works, based on a grid system with remarkable spatial complexity.

For $1 million you could do worse than scoop an essential piece of Vancouver's modernist legacy.

Vancouver Heritage's 125th Plaque Project

2011-02-06T21:14:00.000-08:00

The Vancouver Heritage Foundation is planning to celebrate Vancouver's 125th anniversary by recognizing 125 people, places and events that have shaped the city. Commemorative plaques will be placed at selected sites in the fall of 2011.

The list is to be drawn up through committee nominations and public input. You can have your say here by filling out a site nomination form.

Maybe the site of the original Hotel Vancouver, the Festival of Contemporary Arts, the Castle Hotel, Ned Pratt...

VAG Decision Delayed

2010-11-30T21:53:00.000-08:00

A decision on the Vancouver Art Gallery's proposed move has been delayed until early 2011. See Marsha Lederman's article in today's Globe & Mail.

Plywood Down

2010-11-30T21:48:00.001-08:00

A follow up photo of the Plywood Research Laboratory location, post-demolition:

Waterhouse-Hayward Recalls Thom

2010-11-30T21:42:00.000-08:00

Photographer Alex Waterhouse-Hayward's recounts photographing Ron Thom in 1985.

Laneway House Tour

2010-11-13T16:08:00.000-08:00

Following the recent Mid-century and Vancouver Special house tours, the Vancouver Heritage Foundation is mounting its first Laneway house tour.

It's a timely look inside six recently completed laneway houses, as the city focusses on increasing density.

The tour takes place on Saturday, December 11, 2010. See the VHF website for details.

Cornelia Oberlander Talk

2010-11-12T15:42:00.000-08:00

Thanks to our friends over at ouno for the heads up on the Beaty Biodiversity Museum's lecture series.

Cornelia Hahn Oberlander will talk on November 18th about what the environment means to her. Sounds like an excellent opportunity to hear one of our country's greatest landscape architects speak in the recently completed Patkau-designed Beaty.

See website for details.

Plywood Research Laboratory

2010-11-12T15:36:00.001-08:00

Ron Thom's Plywood Research Laboratory is to be demolished, replaced by–surprise–townhouses.

Built in 1962, the laboratory's most distinctive feature is its faceted stressed-skin roof. The structure underlying the roof system is a dynamic arrangement of two-hinge glulam arch ribs, meaning there are no typical support features like beams or posts.

The roof consists of trapezoid and triangular fir plywood panels which further strengthen the structural support. The plywood is covered with a fibreglass 'skin'. The design allows a large free and open workspace and is strong enough to support three separate crane systems (one in the centre and two on the sides), each capable of moving 1 tonne of weight.

The drainage system from the roof is also unique, with water funneling down the facets onto concrete buttresses that act as structural support with channels for runoff.

The building was Canply's plywood research laboratory for over 40 years, but has been increasing encroached upon by low-scale residential development. Given Thom's prominence, the building was considered for heritage designation, a move that was not supported by Canply.

That designation never went through and this modest but significant piece of North Vancouver's architectural heritage will fall this week.

Testing laboratory interior.

Roof detail with translucent skylights.

Testing laboratory showing materials and cranes.

Roof detail, with yellow and green cranes in foreground.

Plan of exterior.

Detail plan of two-hinge glulam arch ribs.

Rendering of building front entrance.

V-shaped roof section leading to concrete buttress and drainage channel.

Detail of concrete buttress.

Front entrance.

North side of building with mature native west coast landscaping.

Bing Thom in Washington

2010-10-31T17:29:00.001-07:00

See Lisa Rochon's glowing profile in Saturday's Globe & Mail of Bing Thom's new Arena Stage design in Washington, DC.

Po-Mo Monument Coming Down

2010-10-22T20:34:00.000-07:00

The Terry Fox Memorial at BC Place is slated for demolition.

As part of the revitalization of BC Place, PavCo will dismantle the memorial in order to redesign the plaza and to make way for construction cranes that are building the new stadium roof.

There is much debate around this move–the Franklin Allen-designed memorial has long perplexed Vancouverites who have found it difficult to reconcile the design with the spirit of the man it is meant to celebrate. Its post-modern aesthetics have not helped the cause.

And yet it is a design firmly rooted in its era and one chosen by a committee that included Arthur Erickson and Abraham Rogatnick. It would be interesting to hear their comments, however both passed away last year. Despite its unpopularity, some kind of preservation plan through relocation might be worthwhile, if only as a curious part of our history.

The upside is that, at the suggestion of the Fox family, Douglas Coupland has been commissioned to design a new monument. It's hard to think of someone better suited to memorialize one of our great Canadians.

Vancouver Lights in Toronto: Part II

2010-10-05T17:30:00.000-07:00

The second installment of Vancouver Lights' Toronto visit covers a more condensed time period: all of the following works were completed within 5 years of each other, from 1960 to 1965. They include important works by some of the country's foremost architects, including John B. Parkin Associates, Earle C. Morgan, Page + Steele Architects and Ron Thom (at that time still with Thompson Berwick + Pratt). There are also key contributions from foreign architects, namely Viljo Revell and Modernist giant Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.

Together they give a portrait of a city percolating with creativity and a time when Modernism was not just ascendant, but dominating design in Toronto.

TD Centre

The Toronto Dominon Centre largely speaks for itself. Sprawling over a block in the downtown business district, it feels like a functional, breathtaking shrine to its architect–Mies van der Rohe–and his vision of order and clarity. The buildings have been well preserved and the interiors and details maintained impeccably. Lobbies still hold Mies' 'Barcelona' chairs and the main banking centre–a large open room flush with rich wood and muted light–emits an aura of calm and confidence that is frankly remarkable.

Currently in the midst of renovation work, including replacing artwork and 'green' features such as new sealed windows, one hopes the timeless essence of the place remains intact. It is an ode to Capitalism and the commercial machine that imbues that function with dignity and optimism.

O'Keefe Centre for the Performing Arts

Initially called the O'Keefe Centre for the Performing Arts upon its completion in 1960, this cultural centre was renamed the Hummingbird Centre in 1996 and is currently called the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts.

It too is in the midst of a renovation, though one that is much more extensive than the TD Centre. As with many theaters built in Canada at the time, it featured state-of-the art design and acoustics, the latter eventually being criticized as inadequate. It was designed by Earle C. Morgan and Page + Steele Architects and is a Modernist take on traditional theatre design, with an emphasis on more open circulation spaces and cleaner lines.

The entrance, with it's distinctive canopy, rises out toward the street and welcomes theatre-goers into a compressed lobby before opening up inside to an impressive double height foyer, featuring a 100' mural by Toronto artist Ronald York Wilson. The grand entrance is tempered on the exterior by straightforward material choices and muted pedestrian arcades that ring the building.

Toronto City Hall

Toronto City Hall was designed by Finnish architect Viljo Revell in the late 1950's after winning an international design competition. Completed in 1965, it features two curved buildings, rising out of a rectangular base, that cradle a council chamber, often referred to as the 'pearl' of the complex. The rounded buildings are slender, resulting in an office arrangement with windows on the inner sides only.

To the south of the buildings is Nathan Phillips Square–a windswept plaza with a large fountain/water feature and sculptural concrete elements. Parts of the plaza feel a bit forlorn and forgotten, such as the elevated walkways on the outer sides of the block, however there are signs of revitalization through ongoing landscaping.

Crashley Residence

An original John Parkin-designed residence from the early 1960's with a confused history. Originally built for J. Douglas Crashley (one time president of the AGO), the house was renovated in the 1990's but has fallen into shocking disrepair in the intervening years.

The subject of much hand-wringing and various proposals for renovations on a designated heritage structure, a 2008 Preservation Board memo ruled that Moriyama and Teshima's plans to add another story to the house were unacceptable. M+T's proposal to open the house up to the street seems to have drawn particular ire, given that the nature of Parkin's original design–and importantly, the character of the neighborhood–emphasized privacy and modesty. As of the time of these photos, the house sits decaying and abandoned.

Massey College

One of the most captivating buildings in Canadian architecture, Ron Thom's 1962 Massey College warrants a post of its own, which will follow. Meantime, here are a few photos that give a hint of the complexity and depth that sits at the corner of Hoskin and Devonshire on the University of Toronto campus.

Vancouver Lights in Toronto

2010-09-19T20:01:00.000-07:00

I recently travelled to Toronto, taking in the Film Festival (for this) as well as some of the city's architectural highlights. For the sake of convenience, I'll be breaking photos down into two separate posts, roughly organized by era.

First, more recent projects (1982-2010).

Art Gallery of Ontario, redesigned by Frank Gehry, 2008. Gehry's buildings don't always work for me, however the AGO is lovely piece of architecture that serves its purpose well. The interior is bathed in wood (fir and glulam) that emanates a natural warmth. The gallery rooms hold their art well and the atrium that looks out on Dundas Street is a tranquil space to take a break and rest the eyes. As shown in the photos below, Gehry also designed a number of intriguing staircases in the building.

Addition to the Royal Ontario Museum, Daniel Libeskind, 2007. Just one photo of the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal looming out over Bloor Street. A less successful addition, taking cues from Libeskind's 1999 Jewish Museum in Berlin, that feels forced and ill-considered here.

The Bata Shoe Museum, Raymond Moriyama, 1995. A handsome building that shows a largely blank, understated limestone wall to Bloor Street, with the exception of the pyramidal glass entrance. Though the building resembles the general idea of a shoe box (roughly rectangular shape with 'lid'), the subtle angularity creates a shifting visual dynamism. Exhibitions at the museum are drawn from the Bata collection of 10,000 shoes.

The TIFF Lightbox, Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects, 2010. I attended the first screening in the building–Bruce MacDonald's Trigger–and am happy to report that, from a cinema-goers perspective, the Lightbox was a pleasure. The theatre design is excellent and materials were consistent and largely subdued. The focal point of the interior is the atrium space just inside the entry that houses an elevated central control room (orange box in bottom photo). The space is clean and clear-eyed, if a touch antiseptic. However this is offset by film-related images projected on one of the large white walls. There has been criticism of the building, notably the exterior and the way it relates to the neighborhood, however it seems to fulfill its mandate admirably, as a centre for all things film. Toronto is lucky indeed.

Roy Thompson Hall, Arthur Erickson, 1982. One of Erickson's largest commissions in Toronto (along with William Carsen Centre), this hall sits in the middle of downtown and still acts as a major cultural focus. The interior was redesigned in 2002 by Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects, after complaints of sound quality issues and poor acoustics. The building features a distinctive reflective glass canopy (originally meant to be clear like Robson Square) and a sunken water feature with patio that acts as a respite from city commotion.

Next up: Part two of Vancouver Lights in Toronto, including buildings by Ron Thom, Peter Dickinson, Mies van der Rohe and John B. Parkin.

Shannon Mews Update

2010-09-19T11:49:00.000-07:00

Busby Perkins + Will has made a formal application to rezone the Shannon Mews site from RS-6 (residential) to CD-1 (Comprehensive Development). The result would increase the FSR to 2.08 from 0.6 which is substantial in what is largely a single family dwelling district.

Here is a rendering of the corner of Granville and 57th from BP+W:

The plan calls for the retention and designation as heritage of the existing mansion, coach house and gatehouse but makes no mention of the 1971 Erickson-designed buildings on the site.

Interestingly, it was Erickson who helped save the original buildings and gardens by proposing a plan that allowed them to remain sympathetically within the 1971 plan. Ironic then, that his designs look set to be brought down to make way for the new development.

As I mentioned in a post last year, it seems like an excellent opportunity for architectural dialogue between original Italianate villa, circa-1970's West Coast Modernism and post-millennial Eco-Density development.

Though the Shannon Mews buildings are not among Erickson's most important work–they were built economically as rental units–they still display many of his characteristic trademarks: clarity of form, respect for siting, economical use of materials.

As with all rezoning applications, the City of Vancouver welcomes your feedback.

Western Living 2010 Designers of the Year

2010-09-16T20:39:00.000-07:00

Western Living has just published its 2010 Designers of the Year issue.

Amongst the winners are Marc Boutin (Architect of the Year), Victoria Wood (Landscape Designer of the Year) and Izm (Furniture Designer of the Year).

Special mention goes to D'Arcy Jones (shown above) as the inaugural winner of the Arthur Erickson Award which celebrates the work of an emerging architect or designer.

See Western Living for a full list of winners and profiles.

Telling Details of Clifford Wiens

2010-09-02T17:45:00.000-07:00

Just came across this volume on Clifford Wiens at the Charles H. Scott Gallery bookstore on Granville Island. It's the companion piece to an exhibition on Wiens that toured various galleries across the country in 2006-2007, including the Charles H. Scott.

I unfortunately missed the show on this important prairie modernist but the book covers his work from 1955-1995 and includes residences, offices and industrial and religious projects.

Wiens is perhaps best known for his Heating + Cooling Plant (1967, above) at the University of Regina and the Silton Summer Chapel (1969, below) in Saskatchewan. The former is an expressive work that goes well beyond the often perfunctory nature of industrial buildings and features board-marked concrete beams and a unique removable endwall glass curtain. As the architect himself comments, it is "a concrete temple to technology."

The chapel is a lesson in the strength of perceived simplicity: an open air structure, supported by glulams and tension rods that transfer forces up through the centre rather than at the corners. It's a beautiful re-imagining of religious space that maintains an essential connection to the natural world.

Telling Details is published by the Mendel Art Gallery in Saskatoon (kudos for mounting an architectural-based exhibit) and was curated by Trevor Boddy. It includes essays by Mendel Director Vincent Varga and Clifford Wiens, who discusses the deep impact a prairie upbringing had on his architecture.

Though there are a surprising number of errata in the book, the photographs are lovely and it's nice to have something on Wiens; his work seems to have flown under the radar, likely because of its prairie setting. But it's important work and makes me wish for an expanded volume that more fully explores the subject, especially for those who missed the original exhibition.

Photographs: Clifford Wiens

Filberg House Tour

2010-08-28T20:01:00.000-07:00

Continuing their excellent series on Vancouver architects and architecture, the West Vancouver Museum and Archives is offering a unique experience coming up in September: a tour of Arthur Erickson's 1958 Filberg Residence.

This much-published house is one of Erickson's earliest commissions and exhibits the arabesque tendencies that occasionally cropped up in his designs. It is a rarified pavilion that has a compelling, if heartbreaking story attached to it. Filberg commissioned the house but did not live to see its completion. His intention was that it become a meeting place for intellectuals and leaders, an ambitious vision that sadly never came to fruition. It was sold, eventually altered rather grotesquely and slipped into disrepair before a later owner fastidiously restored the house to its former glory.

Leaders and intellectuals presumably still don't congregate there, but the house remains a sublime work that sits on a high, south-facing bluff near Comox, looking out over the Straight of Georgia.

The West Vancouver Museum and Archives is offering a day trip to the house or an extended overnight package which allows visitors to experience it at dusk. The trip is being guided by photographer Simon Scott who worked closely with Erickson and photographed his buildings for the essential 1975 Tundra book "The Architecture of Arthur Erickson."

See the Museum and Archives website for details of the tour as well as other upcoming Erickson-related events.

Image: Christopher Erickson www.arthurerickson.com

Twenty + Change: Images

2010-08-26T16:35:00.000-07:00

Emily Carr University of Art + Design.

Gastown Drive In: Urban Republic Arts Society/pH5 Architecture. Excellent re-imagining of existing urban space. Seeing Hard Core Logo here on a beautiful starlit summer night proved a remarkable way to experience the city.

Anderson House (model): D'Arcy Jones Design. Deft and subtle touch on Saltspring Island, BC.

Anderson House (rendering): D'Arcy Jones Design.

Molly's Cabin: Agathom Co. Northern Ontario lake-side stunner from RJ Thom's son's firm.

Cascade House: Paul Raff Studio. Lush, textural Toronto residence with strong environmental mandate.

Zacatitos-01 (model): Campos Leckie. Understated desert modern prototype, working with the climate and off the grid; from Vancouver design firm.

Main gallery, Emily Carr University of Art + Design.

Twenty + Change

2010-08-23T07:24:00.000-07:00

Twenty + Change is now showing at the main gallery at Emily Carr University of Art + Design.

The exhibition focuses on emerging Canadian architectural talent and includes drawing, photos and models.

Among the 20+ firms profiled are AGATHOM Co., from Toronto and D'Arcy Jones Design and MGB Architecture + Design from Vancouver.

The show runs until September 3, 2010 and is an excellent chance to check out new developments in Canadian architecture.

Heritage Canada: Endangered Buildings

2010-08-18T19:08:00.001-07:00

Heritage Canada has released its list of endangered buildings for 2010. At the top are Vancouver's schools, particularly Kitsilano Secondary.

The Vancouver School Board has provincial funding for seismic upgrading and seems to favour using it to build new schools while placing a low priority on upgrading existing heritage structures.

Facadism seems to be the order of the day in the case of Kitsilano Secondary: most of the building will likely be demolished, including the 1958 Modernist addition, with the exception of the historic facade and a few details.

Demolition was approved by the VSB in July but still has to be approved by the Provincial Government and the City of Vancouver.

Barry Downs at UVic

2010-08-07T17:44:00.001-07:00

In the already lush and leafy environs of the University of Victoria campus, the Sedgewick building stands out through its sheer sensitivity and integration with the landscape.

Designed by Barry Downs in 1968-69, it houses humanities and administration departments and sits at the western edge of the circular campus, surrounded now by newer buildings and increasingly dense foliage.

Quintessentially west coast, Sedgewick was designed with a deep connection to the site, strengthened by a compact massing and a material continuity through the stained cedar cladding. Comprised of three one-story structures, with windows set back under eaves looking out onto salal and cedars, the layout has a dynamism due to shifting planar forms and walls that shoot past normal termination points.

Sedgewick embodies qualities which Downs has explored his whole career: human scale, deep connection to the west coast and a sense of understatement and restraint. Echoes of these buildings can be seen in his residential work and in the later Pearson College (1974) which he worked on with Ron Thom in nearby Pedder Bay.

UBC AMS SUB + HBBH+BH

2010-07-25T22:09:00.001-07:00

Hotson Bakker Boniface Haden has been selected as architects of the new UBC AMS Student Union Building.

Two others firms had been short-listed in addition to HBBH+BH: Bing Thom Architects and Busby Perkins+Will. To the AMS's credit, the selection process was comprehensive and engaged.

Some first thoughts on the SUB design from HBBH+BH. See their SUB-specific website for full text:

"The new SUB will function like an agora - an arena for the community to express its values. It will be a space where student culture will flourish. Local values can be expressed in light of global concerns."

Sustainability was a key part of their submission, stressing a 'green' approach to the design. So was accessibility and transparency, particularly important given the student population who will be using the building. HBBH+HB also introduced the idea of a 'design cube' (pictured above) - an on-site office to work from to better engage the campus community.

Bloedel Saved

2010-07-21T00:18:00.000-07:00

Good news for the Bloedel Conservatory: in a solution that seems to make sense for all parties, the Vancouver park board has supported a proposal that will see the facility partner with Van Dusen Botanical Garden to ensure its long term viability. See the Vancouver Sun's coverage here.

Douglas Coupland

2010-07-12T13:41:00.000-07:00

This profile of Douglas Coupland's renovated second home in West Vancouver appeared in the New York Times last year.

Coupland is a master with colours, materials and reinterpretation, so it's interesting to see what he's done with a post and beamer. The upstairs becomes a pure white gallery/backdrop for colourful artwork, while the downstairs retains the warmth of wood and a mid-century aesthetic. The house is a logical extension of his multidisciplinary work, integrating art and architecture.

West Vancouver has an astounding architectural heritage that is slowly being obliterated; it's nice to see someone as high-profile as Coupland lead by example on the restoration front.

Photo: Martin Tessler.

Party For Architects: Summer

2010-07-12T11:11:00.000-07:00

The latest Party For Architects is lined up for Thursday, July 15.

For the summer edition the location has shifted from Vancouver Special to Museum of Vancouver. The MOV, which has done a great job re-engaging with the cultural sector in the city, should be a good fit for the PFA.

As with past events, the evening will feature guest speakers, music and excellent conversation about our built environment. On the bill are Nick Sully and Alec Smith of Shape Architecture and dj Lucas.

As always, it's graciously hosted by Julian Carnrite, Mitra Mansour, Anne Pearson and Anant Topiwala. Things get underway at 7pm.

The Modern House on Tour

2010-07-09T17:32:00.000-07:00

The West Vancouver Museum and Archives is hosting its annual West Coast Modern House Tour tomorrow (Saturday July 10, 2010).

There's a nice crop of houses: RJ Thom's 1957 Southworth Residence (profiled earlier on Vancouver Lights); a 1964 Barry Downs and Fred Hollingsworth house (purchased by the Helliwell/Smith and subsequently renovated); Russell Hollingsworth's own home; the 1954 Erickson-designed Stegeman Residence, renovated by Brian Hemingway; and Erickson's iconic Smith Residence II (pictured above).

See today's Globe + Mail for a tour profile by Adele Weder.

Photo: Ezra Stoller/Esto www.esto.com

The Lantern Goes Out

2010-07-06T21:23:00.001-07:00

See Frances Bula's blog for a post about the recently kiboshed Lantern Residence that was part of West Vancouver's pilot project for infill housing.

A sensitive piece of architecture designed by Barry Downs, it would have been an ideal starting point for density in the municipality and a fitting testament to Downs' mastery of site. If council can't work up the courage to move ahead confidently on a proposal this strong, it begs asking what they are waiting for.

Bula's blog has the full text of Rick Gruneau's letter explaining their decision to withdraw from the project.

Disappointing all around: for the clients, Barry Downs and West Vancouver.

Lionel Thomas: Abstractions

2010-07-06T15:26:00.000-07:00

The West Vancouver Museum + Archives is currently running an exhibition on the work of Lionel Thomas.

The West Coast Modernist painter and sculptor contributed immensely to Vancouver's public art. His work appears all over the city, exhibiting a dynamic connection with the architecture it inevitably appears alongside.

Lionel Thomas: Abstractions 1949-1990 focuses on the artists' little-seen abstract painted works and runs until August 28, 2010.

Thom + Erickson: North Shore Residential

2010-06-25T20:25:00.000-07:00

Two houses currently for sale in West Vancouver showcase the unique residential approaches of two of the city's most prominent architects from the last century.

Ron Thom's 1957 Southworth Residence and Arthur Erickson's 1963 Bayles Residence both spring from the heyday of West Coast Modernism and display an integral connection to the rugged North Shore landscape.

Thom's house sits prominently on a rock outcropping with an expansive view to the water. Rather than heavily blast the site, Thom wrapped the house around the rock, its foundation following the contours. Wood and stone are used on the interior and exterior and bring a continuity to the structure.

As suggested by the site, the plan is highly irregular and angular, displaying an intimacy that is typical of Thom's early houses. At 2100 sq. ft., the footprint is modest and the scale is human.

Inside, the ceilings find all kinds of angles and odd corners that come together like intricate wooden origami. The influence of Wright is apparent in the layout and the stone-faced hearth that dominates the main living area and wraps around to the front entrance.

Thom once famously said a building should "make love to a site", a comment which suits the Southworth Residence just fine. The house remains in excellent condition with much of its original character intact.

Erickson's Bayles Residence shares similar programmatic concerns with the Southworth and, at 1800 sq. ft., is even smaller.

The house is built on a steep site with a rock bluff looking out over the water. Erickson has incorporated the rock, but instead built on top of it, as if just lightly placing the structure down on the site.

This house anticipates the more refined 1964 Smith Residence with a stepped plan that makes use of the topography: stretching one part of the house between two rocky peaks resulting in varying levels.

Like Thom's work, the scale is intimate and human with a limited material palette that includes wood (some sourced from the site), recycled brick, stucco and glass.

The two houses show different approaches while still respecting the importance of the site. Erickson's use of glass is more generous and his design has a cerebral calm and clarity about it. Thom's work on the other hand feels more complex, intricate and affecting.

Both architects would go on to larger works but there's an economy of scale and integrity of materials that give these places a timeless quality. There are very few grand gestures, just many unpretentious, thoughtfully executed moves that come together in a compelling and satisfying way. More than anything it is this aesthetic that remains relevant.

A Model Exhibition

2010-06-17T21:12:00.000-07:00

The Charles H. Scott Gallery has a new exhibition up, entitled 1:26 In Study Model Wonderland From Halifax to Vancouver. The show focuses on the role of architectural models in the design process.

It's an interesting angle and one that usually doesn't get a lot of exposure. The models can be crude and simplified but are a crucial part of the creative process for many architects.

A wide cross-section of Canadian architects contributed models and were interviewed-including Shim-Sutcliffe, HBBH and Moriyama + Teshima.

The exhibit is curated by Sophie Gironnay and runs until July 18, 2010.

Contemporary Vancouver Architecture

2010-06-09T17:16:00.000-07:00

Check this week's Georgia Straight for a feature by Charlie Smith on Vancouver's recent architecture. The impetus for the piece is the just published book by Chris MacDonald, A Guidebook to Contemporary Architecture in Vancouver.

The book covers a wide variety of projects, from the Chan Centre at UBC to the Waterfall Building and Emily Carr College of Art + Design and has essays by Adele Weder and Matthew Soules. It's not all inspired architecture-- though there are many highlights-- but it does provide an accurate cross section of the city's post-Expo built environment.

The interviews with MacDonald and Soules in the article give insight into how buildings were chosen and their thoughts on city architecture beyond these specific projects.

Kahn, Piano, In Texas

2010-05-30T10:24:00.000-07:00

A worthwhile read on art museum architecture, the issue of institutional growth and one solution to it.

Image: New York Times

Patkau + Wright

2010-05-26T23:30:00.000-07:00

Patkau Architects has won an international competition to design six cottages at Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater in Pennsylvania. The cottages will serve as lodging and provide additional room for educational programming.

In addition to Patkau, two other Canadian firms were among six chosen by a preliminary selection committee, including Saucier + Perotte and MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects.

Image: Western Pennsylvania Conservancy

Douglas Simpson: West Coast Modernist

2010-05-21T14:09:00.000-07:00

The AIBC recently held its annual conference with one of the panels focusing on the work of local modernist Douglas Simpson. Along with Harold Semmens he formed Semmens + Simpson Architects and between 1949 and 1957 designed a number of prominent buildings in Vancouver, including the old Vancouver Public Library, Hycroft and St. Anselm's Church (seen above).

See this page for information on Simpson's work, created by his son Gregg.

Update: Robson Square

2010-05-21T10:38:00.000-07:00

A few photos taken near the South side of the Art Gallery, at Robson and Hornby:

Forum on VAG

2010-05-18T21:29:00.000-07:00

While we're on the subject of Robson Square, there will be an open forum on the future of the Vancouver Art Gallery this Thursday at 7pm.

Panelists include a broad range of Vancouverites, from Michael Audain, Joost Bakker and Heather Deal to Gordon Price and Ian Wallace. Billed as a dialogue on the VAG's potential move and "its implicatons for planning of civic space", it's being sponsored by UBC, SFU, Architecture Canada and RAIC.

Bring your opinions-- it should be an interesting night.

Robson Square Tear Down

2010-05-18T20:47:00.000-07:00

Disheartening news at Robson Square where mature trees and plantings have been razed by the province to repair the roof membrane that lies underneath.

Repairs to the building have been ongoing for some time but apparently the swiftness of the removal of the gardens took both the city and the original landscape designer, Cornelia Oberlander, by surprise. Considering Oberlander lives in Vancouver and is one of Canada's most important landscape architects as well as the integral relationship Erickson's design has with the landscaping, it's shocking and shameful she wasn't consulted on this.

For anyone who never ventured into the almost hidden pathway at the corner of Robson and Hornby, it was one of the most magical spots in downtown to disappear into--an oasis of mature native West Coast landscaping in the middle of the city.

The good news is the gardens will be replanted according to the original 1976 design.

Party For Architects

2010-04-30T10:12:00.000-07:00

The third installment of Party For Architects is slated for Thursday May 6 at Vancouver Special.

The evening will feature guest speaker Bryn Davidson of Lanefab, food from Tonina's Deli and, yes, beer. Coast Modern Film will also be on hand to present an L.A.-focused film trailer.

Past events have featured excellent talks by D'Arcy Jones and Clinton Cuddington and are a great chance to get together and talk architecture.

Endangered Heritage

2010-04-22T21:20:00.000-07:00

Heritage Vancouver has released its 2010 Top Ten Endangered Sites.

Included on the list are The Bloedel Conservatory, Kitsilano Senior Secondary and the Dal Grauer Substation. Also noted as endangered are Vintage Neon Signage and Historic Street Trees, both of which have been disappearing downtown, particularly on Granville Street.

John Mackie of the Vancouver Sun ran a feature on the list, which has stirred up a lively debate in the comments, though it's dismaying how easily our cultural heritage can be overlooked. We need to realize that these sites are an integral part of our history-particularly in a city as young as Vancouver-and that in tearing them down we risk losing a crucial part of our identity.

CBC

2010-04-06T21:41:00.000-07:00

Two opposing views of the new HBBH-designed CBC addition: Alex Waterhouse-Hayward's blog piece from last year and Adele Weder's recent profile in Canadian Architect.

I can sympathize with Waterhouse-Hayward's view- like him I had a fondness for the CBC building as it was originally designed, by Paul Merrick of Thompson, Berwick + Pratt. It was of its era, its Brutalist style reflecting both architectural and broadcasting currents at the time.

I also agree that we can be too quick to alter buildings merely because their style has fallen out of favour. Every building has a story to tell, yet additions to existing structures are a reality and an artform in themselves. Sympathetically designed they can lead to an enriched dialogue, like this or the VAG's current Erickson/Rattenbury home.

I think Weder nails it when she defends HBBH's addition as flowing from a new directive for broadcasting and media in general, one that started with the client: it is becoming more democratic and transparent in a way that was difficult to anticipate even a few years ago.

Merrick's concrete edifice and HBBH's glass-faced newsroom contrast two distinct solutions that speak to the CBC's evolving mandate.

Image: Hotson Bakker Boniface Haden

Woyat-Bowie Building

2010-03-16T23:31:00.000-07:00

This Medical-Dental building was designed by Fred Thornton Hollingsworth in 1966. It has a small, economical layout with four office spaces, one of which was originally used by the Hollingsworth & Barry Downs partnership (1974-1967).

The most striking feature- apart from the building being relatively intact and unscathed by renovations- is the raised roof that floats above the central waiting area, connected to the structure below by slender posts and rows of clerestory windows.

Offices are organized in two blocks on either side of the building and face onto inner courtyards. Materially, the Woyat-Bowie is classic Hollingsworth: natural cedar, white stucco and attention to detail. Both Wright and the Japanese tradition are apparent in the spatial relationships, humanist scale and use of light.

Abe's Wish

2010-03-11T22:03:00.000-08:00

Abraham Rogatnick's posthumously published argument for keeping the VAG in its current location.

RJ Thom in Kerrisdale

2010-03-08T16:00:00.001-08:00

Ron Thom's 1956 George Dickie Substation, in the heart of Kerrisdale.

The building, built almost entirely of brick, has two large massings separated on one side by a low concrete entrance with clear Wrightian geometry and decorative pattern. The material palette of brick and concrete is reminiscent of Thom's residential work and Massey College in Toronto.

Despite its bulk, the building feels largely invisible, probably due to the blank brick walls as well as the general air of neglect that surrounds it.

VAG + Thom

2010-03-05T09:46:00.000-08:00

Posts seem to be merging: Bing Thom weighs in.

VAG On The Move?

2010-03-04T14:16:00.000-08:00

See Frances Bula's blog and article in the Globe & Mail today for an update on the Vancouver Art Gallery's potential move.

According to director Kathleen Bartels, the gallery has deemed the potential False Creek location unworkable and has set its sights on the old bus depot location on Georgia beside the recently refurbished Queen Elizabeth Theatre.

This block is certainly more appealing than False Creek, for many reasons, but the nagging question must be asked again: is a move necessary? It seems there are a number of options for expansion that might solve the VAG's understandable need for more space.

This comes hot on the heels of Lisa Rochon's recent support to keep the gallery in its present location.

BTA + RAIC

2010-03-03T17:38:00.000-08:00

Vancouver's Bing Thom Architects has won the 2010 RAIC Architectural Firm Award.

Coming up through Erickson's stable, Thom was a key force behind the Law Courts and formed his own practice in 1980. The eponymous firm's projects have contributed a deep and lasting influence on Vancouver and the lower mainland.

Below, a few photos of Thom's Chan Centre at UBC:

Visions of B.C.

2010-03-01T11:00:00.000-08:00

Along with the ongoing Leonardo da Vinci exhibition, the Vancouver Art Gallery is presenting Visions of British Columbia: A Landscape Manual.

It's a superb show that focuses on our great province and the integral role- as is the Canadian preoccupation- that the landscape has played in the arts and on our psyche.

Works by a diverse complement of B.C. artists are here, including Don Jarvis, B.C. Binning, Jack Shadbolt, Jeff Wall and Brian Jungen among many others.

The visual arts are paired with choice quotes from B.C. writers such as Malcolm Lowry, John Vaillant and Emily Carr that foster a meaningful connection between disciplines.

It's always nice to see works from the VAG's substantial local collection; the diversity of artists gives the show a satisfying historical breadth.

Visions of British Columbia is curated by Bruce Grenville and Emmy Lee and runs until April 18, 2010.

Canada Pavilion Redux

2010-02-28T19:41:00.000-08:00

Canada Pavilion...

...and the unfortunately similar LiveCity beer tent next door.

Rochon and Vancouver

2010-02-28T18:33:00.000-08:00

With the spotlight on Vancouver and the 2010 Olympics, Globe & Mail architecture critic Lisa Rochon has turned her eye to various issues on the West Coast.

Along with a glowing review of the Olympic Village, and a profile of Surrey's urban development and Townshift competition, her most recent piece discusses the proposed new roof for BC Place, the Woodwards complex as well as the increasingly- and thankfully- unpopular Vancouver Art Gallery move.

Kudos to the Globe and Rochon for the coverage.