by Mike Archibald
In a city where glass towers share space with quaint heritage homes and stately mansions, Vancouver’s varied and inspiring buildings give architecture buffs plenty to enjoy. Let’s break down where to find the best examples of the old and new, and what makes Vancouver architecture so special. [Photo credit: iStock.com/JodiJacobson]
Canadian writer and artist Douglas Coupland coined the term “City of Glass” to describe Vancouver; when you check out the downtown core, you’ll see exactly what he means. Sleek and contemporary, high-rise buildings such as Jameson House and the Shangri-La Hotel provide gleam and stature to the skyline, and they’re joined by many other structures that are similar in style. For more glass giants, check out one of the signature buildings by the late Vancouver architect Arthur Erickson: the Law Courts building. This so-called “horizontal high-rise” has a large glass-paneled slope of a roof and looks futuristic even today; it’s an outright marvel.
For architecture no less impressive but considerably older, pay a visit to Gastown, which features cobblestoned streets, brick-clad boutiques and Victorian vibe. Walking down narrow alleyways, you’ll get a taste of the city before modernist and contemporary architecture came along. The historic neighbourhood has an inviting, European feel to it that makes for a unique contrast to the more modern styles that characterize so much of Vancouver’s downtown core.
Vancouver’s Commercial Drive area is the site of some recent architectural developments, most of which falls on the contemporary side of the spectrum. The renovation of the city’s old York Theatre added bright red tile and a healthy portion of glass; the two work together to frame the interior like a stage for the outside spectator. Along the burgeoning Main Street strip in Mount Pleasant, you’ll find condos, live/work studios, mural-clad buildings and other projects serving to bring East Van up to date.
As for detached residences, there’s beauty there too, mostly of an older vintage. One style of architecture that stands out is Vancouver Craftsman, which emphasizes angled roofs and gables, covered frontal space and subdued but attractive colour. You can find Craftsman homes in various neighbourhoods throughout East Van – including Commercial Drive, Mount Pleasant and Strathcona; they’re a mark of tradition, well worth preserving.
Besides hosting such eye-grabbers as the Beaty Biodiversity Centre and the Museum of Anthropology (also designed by Arthur Erickson), Vancouver’s West Side is a large area that’s home to many gorgeous residential properties that are well worth a look. In neighbourhoods like Point Grey and Kerrisdale, you’ll see large lots and fetching houses in a broad range of styles. Shaughnessy is home to some of the finest (and priciest) examples of residential real estate in Vancouver. Developed in the early 20th century, it’s a neighbourhood of rich heritage, with grand, stately homes. One prominent design is Tudor Revival, which hearkens back to the medieval period in England. Arches for doors, angular panes of glass and wooded exteriors add up to an exquisitely tasteful look, one that conveys both wealth and refinement. The City of Vancouver has recently taken steps towards preserving such architecture, establishing the First Shaughnessy District as a Heritage Conservation Area in order to protect pre-1940 character homes from demolition.
If there’s one style of residential architecture that has come to characterize the city as a whole, it’s the Vancouver Special. Construction of these homes started in the mid-60s, and to this day the Vancouver Special is one of the defining housing styles of the Lower Mainland. Handsome but unassuming, the residences are made up of two levels, usually with ranch-style roofs, touches of brick facade, and bedrooms on the ground floor. These houses are renowned throughout Canada, and they’ve been the source of some good-natured local humour, but their popularity attests to their solid practicality and homey, family-friendly quality.
From Colonial to contemporary, architecture in Vancouver is as varied as it is beautiful. By all means take in the landmark buildings and iconic masterpieces, but save some time for wandering. In a place as diverse as this, you never know what you might find.
