Heritage Vancouver's Top Ten

Heritage Vancouver has released its annual Top Ten Endangered list. 

At the top is Paul Merrick's wonderful Forest Education Centre (pictured above) at VanDusen Botanical Garden. Other endangered buildings include the Vancouver Post Office and the Waldorf Hotel.

If you feel strongly about the preservation of these sites, let the City of Vancouver know.

Image: Heritage Vancouver Society

Exploring Vancouver

Vancouver Heritage Foundation's final brown bag lunch happens this Wednesday November 21st. 

Harold Kalman will be speaking about his recent book Exploring Vancouver and the process of selecting buildings for inclusion. Robin Ward is the co-author.

Pictured above are the three previous editions of the book, published in 1974, 1978 and 1993 as well as the 2012 one. 

Though the 2012 edition is the most robust, each edition bears revisiting as they all have varied lists of building profiles, reflecting their respective eras.

After photographing the first two editions and skipping out on the third, John Roaf is back for the latest.

The talk happens at BCIT's Downtown Campus from 12 noon to 1:30pm. Register here.

Vancouver Heritage's 125th Plaque Project

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...

Laneway House Tour

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.

Modern House Tours

The West Vancouver Museum and Archives and the Vancouver Heritage Foundation have announced their respective annual modern house tours.

The West Vancouver tour happens next month, on July 11, and will feature both contemporary and vintage modern architecture. The cost has understandably increased this year (to $100) and includes bus transportation and a wine reception at the end of the day at one of the featured houses. Last years' reception was held at the recently refurbished Forrest Residence, designed by Ron Thom in 1963.

Vancouver Heritage Foundation's Mid-Century Modern tour takes place on October 3 and, like West Vancouver's, will feature bus transportation and a reception at the end of the day at one of the houses. Last year's reception was at a Duncan McNabb-designed residence where Peter Oberlander gave a thoughtful talk that painted a rich portrait of the history of the modern movement in Vancouver.

The line-up of houses for both tours in past years has been excellent. It's a great chance to experience some of the city's unparalleled trove of modernist architecture.

Image: Stager Residence by Barry Downs, courtesy Vancouver Heritage Foundation

Modern Tours and Exhibition

Some excellent events are coming up in the next few months in Vancouver. They are organized by the Vancouver Heritage Foundation and focus on modern aspects of the city. There is a walking tour taking in various Modernist landmarks downtown, a residential bus tour of Modernist homes and finally a talk and exhibition focusing on painting in Vancouver from 1960's-1970's. The latter features a talk by noted framer and author Brian Dedora. Links are below.

www.vancouverheritagefoundation.org/
www.vancouverheritagefoundation.org/projects/openvan_midcentury.html