Celebrating our architectural heritage

trofirhen · #1 Posted **Apr 30, 2014, 10:52 PM**

Although Vancouver is overall doing a fine job in city planning, it sometimes seems that there are "hiden gems" (hidden in the fact that they go largely unappreciated by most), that should and would be wonderful if they were scrubbed up, spiffed up, sparkled and spangled up, and integrated into the urban fabric as highlights, instead of just something to walk past.
Here are two outstanding examples we all know: The Dominion Building and the Sun Tower.
These treasures are just too good to lie fallow.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ncouver_02.jpg

http://www.comicbookmovie.com/images...77/w%20(2).jpg ............................

trofirhen · #2 Posted **Jun 30, 2014, 6:52 AM**

Would or does the Seymour Building qualify as a heritage building? It seems it might have the character to do so
Sorry for the oversized pic.
Unintended, but I couldn't seem to get around it.

http://www.oneseed.ca/wp-content/upl...r-Building.jpg

http://photos.wikimapia.org/p/00/02/72/23/83_big.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...uilding_02.jpg

spm2013 · #3 Posted **Jun 30, 2014, 3:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by trofirhen

Would or does the Seymour Building qualify as a heritage building? It seems it might have the character to do so
Sorry for the oversized pic.
Unintended, but I couldn't seem to get around it.

Yeah it's class B:

Quote:

B (Significant) The site represents a good example of a particular style or type, either individually or collectively. It may have some documented historical or cultural significance in a neighbourhood.

http://vancouver.ca/home-property-de...e-or-tree.aspx

red-paladin · #4 Posted **Jun 30, 2014, 6:42 PM**

Speaking about the Sun Tower, the lobby was recently restored/renovated.

trofirhen · #5 Posted **Jun 30, 2014, 7:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by red-paladin

Speaking about the Sun Tower, the lobby was recently restored/renovated.

Great!! Know where I can find any picture threads or collections?

spm2013 · #6 Posted **Jun 30, 2014, 9:00 PM**

Are these recent renovations or are you guys just talking about the previous restoration work?

I like the story about the previous owner being connected to the Johals though it looked like he sold it off to Allied in 2011. And also married to actress Grace Park

Quote:

Before becoming a developer, Kim was one of six men charged, along with Peter Gill and Bindy Johal, in the murders of criminal gang members Ron and Jimmy Dosanjh.

All five were acquitted of charges in 1995, but Kim, Gill and co-accused Mike Budai were later ordered retried on appeal after juror Gillian Guess was convicted of obstruction of justice for having an affair with Gill during the first trial. (Bindy Johal was killed in a 1998 nightclub shooting before a second trial could begin.)

Charges against the remaining men were stayed in 2002 after B.C. justice officials concluded conviction would be unlikely.

Though he has a well rehearsed response

Quote:

"I was hoping you wouldn't relate [the case] to this day," Kim said Tuesday.

"What needs to be clarified is I've never been in trouble with the law before or since [the case]," Kim added.

"This was somebody saying something about me. Obviously that's why I was cleared."

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/n...3-f2b63fbba18b

trofirhen · #7 Posted **Oct 17, 2015, 3:17 AM**

https://flic.kr/p/qZadpB

OK, here we are at Hastings and Hornby, looking South.
What is that building to the right of this picture address 433 Hornby, with that concrete "style" all its own? It's aristocratic, and I rather like it.
One block south, on Hornby, there's a blaah box Day's Inn. What is slated to go in there? Anything? This streetscape has potential, esp. leading into classy W. Hastings.
Notice to the left the stone Credit Foncier Building. This corner has a touch of class. Can't we see to it that future development amplifies that into a classy Hornby canyon?
When you've got flower seeds, plant 'em. Thank you for your time and consideration.

csbvan · #8 Posted **Oct 17, 2015, 6:02 AM**

900 West Hastings is such a gem! 50 years and it still looks great.

red-paladin · #9 Posted **Oct 17, 2015, 7:48 AM**

What do we call that kind of design... with ornante forms of exposed concrete as opposed to brutalism?

retro_orange · #10 Posted **Oct 17, 2015, 10:37 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by red-paladin

What do we call that kind of design... with ornante forms of exposed concrete as opposed to brutalism?

Formalism?

mcminsen · #11 Posted **Oct 18, 2015, 4:37 PM**

The labour intensive restoration and repair work on Waterfront Station continues. More pics here.

Oct.17 '15, my pic

mcminsen · #12 Posted **Oct 22, 2015, 4:05 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by trofirhen

OK, here we are at Hastings and Hornby, looking South.
What is that building to the right of this picture address 433 Hornby, with that concrete "style" all its own? It's aristocratic, and I rather like it.
One block south, on Hornby, there's a blaah box Day's Inn. What is slated to go in there? Anything? This streetscape has potential, esp. leading into classy W. Hastings.
Notice to the left the stone Credit Foncier Building. This corner has a touch of class. Can't we see to it that future development amplifies that into a classy Hornby canyon?
When you've got flower seeds, plant 'em. Thank you for your time and consideration.

I stopped to admire that building today. It is the new location for the Ingledew's shoe store. Here are a few pics.

Oct.21 '15, my pics

trofirhen · #13 Posted **Oct 22, 2015, 5:48 AM**

Cool pics !!! Thanks mcminsen !!

LeftCoaster · #14 Posted **Oct 22, 2015, 6:01 PM**

I've always cited that as my favourite brutalist building, but is it even brutalist? It almost seems to delicate and ornate.

red-paladin · #15 Posted **Oct 23, 2015, 2:30 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

I've always cited that as my favourite brutalist building, but is it even brutalist? It almost seems to delicate and ornate.

I said the same thing in another thread about it.

retro_orange · #16 Posted **Oct 23, 2015, 3:47 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

I've always cited that as my favourite brutalist building, but is it even brutalist? It almost seems to delicate and ornate.

The type of architecture is called new formalism, often very similar to brutalism and of the same era. Both were quite popular in Vancouver back then and a big name at the time was Gerald Hamilton, he designed the Planetarium in vanier park and the East Asiatic House at 1201 Pender among others. The sculptor George Norris did many pieces of art for high profile buildings at the time including the crab sculpture in front of the planetarium and the large frieze on the post office at 2300 Pine St.

a few favs of mine are:
The Haseman Building, 740 Nicola, 1973 - recently sold as part of a private sale of an entire city block, will likely be redeveloped in the near future

pic from: http://www.instagram24.com/tag/nicolastreet

East Asiatic House, 1201 Pender, 1963 - best viewed in person, in beautiful original condition, the courtyard is amazing and has several sculptures by George Norris in stone

pics from: http://urbandb.com/canada/british-co...l#.VimwnBFVikr

Post office, 2300 Pine St, 1967 - most striking element is the 95ft frieze by George Norris spanning the east and north exterior walls

pics from: http://illustratedvancouver.ca/post/...rge-norris-rip

New Westminster Professional Building, 625 5th Ave, 1966 - best viewed in person was recently renovated and upgraded when the property owner (blue sky) built a new condo next door that ties in well with the old building

pic from http://www.britishcolumbia.ca/invest...5-5th-ave-304/

*for the life of me, i cannot get the pictures to work... (replaced with different, less impressive ones)

officedweller · #17 Posted **Oct 23, 2015, 8:39 AM**

Yeah, love the new formalism buildings.

The Vancouver Museum (Planetarium) also falls in the category.

West Pender Place demolished one at 1477 West Pender, shown here:

http://www.bijouliving.com/2008/09/w...t-century.html

and 1090 West Pender will be a goner some time soon.

Quote:

Originally Posted by officedweller

The CD-1 Rezoning application is going before council Tuesday, Feb 3rd.

http://former.vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/...20150203ag.htm

Report here:

http://former.vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/...cuments/p4.pdf

Of interest, see the Statement of Significance in Appendix D for the existing modernist "Formalist" concrete precast façade building on site. Same architects as East Asiatic House and the Planetarium.
The developer was Jack Poole's company and the the forerunner to Daon Development.

They may reuse some of the panels.

http://former.vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/...cuments/p4.pdf

http://former.vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/...cuments/p4.pdf

Compare this to the way the curtain wall on 725 Granville or Telus Garden appear to use "off-the-shelf" window pane widths
with a "filler" pieces at the corners:

http://former.vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/...cuments/p4.pdf

retro_orange · #18 Posted **Oct 23, 2015, 10:10 AM**

yeah i love the vancouver museum planetarium building, definitely a great place to wonder around, inside and out. It's too bad about 1090 pender, at least they are saving some of the facade for the new building. It wasn't maintained as nicely as most other vintage buildings in that area.

Off hand i cant think of many brutalist buildings in vancouver but one of my favorite was almost closed a few years back, The Bloedel Conservatory at QE park, 1969

pic from: https://bloedel.wordpress.com/tag/bl...vatory/page/2/

Another favorite brutalist building is the Frank Stanzl Broaday Medical Dental centre building at 805 W. broadway. 1974 This building needs to be put on the heritage registry for recent buildings, its in amazing original condition with some great original futuristic features inside.

pics from: http://ounodesign.com/2012/05/27/197...dimir-plavsic/
Has a great personal writeup of the building aswell

and the Westminster Abbey in out in Mission with stunning stained glass windows

pic from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westmi...itish_Columbia)

officedweller · #19 Posted **Oct 24, 2015, 6:57 AM**

Thanks!

Never knew about the Abbey.

retro_orange · #20 Posted **Oct 24, 2015, 11:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by officedweller

Thanks!

Never knew about the Abbey.

I have never been to the abbey but I stumbled upon a detailed photo essay of the building years ago, theres some incredible details inside the building and its full of mid century furniture in the adjoining rooms.