New Urban Outfitters Keeps Some Original Architecture

May 8, 2012 — Pauline

A new Urban Outfitters will be opening on W. 4th on May 10th. It is located where the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce used to be (originally constructed in 1912).

According to Vancity Buzz, the building  ”maintains the integrity of the existing structure” and has kept some of the original materials.

Knowing that the building has kept some elements from the original structure makes me want to check out the store. I think this building is a part of Vancouver history and love that, even though it’s gone through some renovations, the history of this building is not completely lost.

Photo from Vancity Buzz.

http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2012/05/urban-outfitters-west-4th-kitsilano-store-opens-may-10-2012/

Posted in Architecture, Commercial, VictorEric. No Comments »

DTES Project – Good or Bad?

April 25, 2012 — Pauline

The Sequel 138 project has received support from Vancouver city council and the development permit board. This is a controversial mixed-income project geared at balancing the Downtown Eastside with low and middle-income earners. Opponents are accusing them of gentrifying the area and would like to keep it strictly low-income.

I’m not sure what to think of this project. On one hand, it would be nice to see the DTES cleaned up, but on the other hand, I can understand the worries of the opposers.

I used to go to Chinatown every weekend with my mom when I was young. I remember it being very busy and vibrant. Now, it is a shadow of its former self. I think it would be nice to see that area bustling and full of life again.

Read more at: http://www.vancouversun.com/Downtown+Eastside+project+wins+development+permit+board+support/6511885/story.html

Posted in Architecture, Residential, VictorEric. No Comments »

Wooden Skyscrapers?

April 23, 2012 — Pauline

With the world moving towards greener options for almost everything, we  could be looking at more and more buildings of wood instead of cement and steel.

In a CNN article (http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/15/tech/eco-wood-skyscrapers/index.html), Architect Michael Green says that modern wood materials have been around for 20 years, but until recently it was used primarily in niche markets or low-rise buildings. Today, more architects and builders are looking to wood materials because they’re more eco-conscious.

If the wood is sourced in sustainably managed forests, they are more eco-friendly than using manufacturing concrete and steel.

I love this current trend and hope that we will continue on this path.

 

 

Posted in Architecture, Eco-Design, VictorEric. No Comments »

The Specials and Their Big Come-Back!

January 18, 2011 — Katharine

It’s like the Michael Jackson of houses, who says old-school Specials can’t come back big and glam?

Vancouver Specials were introduced in the Vancouver area in the 1960′s when new Canadians favoured an efficient way to buy their new first home. Usually the Specials have features like a balcone across the front of the house on the second floor, low-pitched roofs, brick/stone finishes, kitchens on both levels, self-sustained bottom floor with seperate bedrooms. The floor plan is very similar in all the Specials, and they are very simple and practical, leading to popularity in the old days for the new Canadians can lower their costs to rent out the second floor.  In the 1990′s they were criticized as “monster homes” as they ruined the aesthetics of the neighbourhoods with its dull and unpretty look. Style and viewline were obvious not the Specials’ priority.


Vancouver Special – before Renovation

The boxiness and spaciousness marks the versatility of the Specials, and thus creative designers and homeowners saw them as a “perfect candidate for architectural makeovers”-Adele Weder, Globe and Mail, Sept 10, 2010.  Architect Stephanie Robb transformed her own home in the East end from a double-suite Special into a single-family modernized home, and won  a Lieutenant-Governer’s Award for Architecture.

Many people are interested in a makeover for their Specials due to its new recognition and popularity. The volume and simple floor plans allows the designers and homeowners a lot of creative space for renovation.


Same Special – after Renovation!

VictorEric has done one of these transformations. Some new and stylish features include an expanded kitchen with marble-top island, opening dining area with backdoor into the rear patio allowing a lot of light into the house, and fireplace at the ensuite tub to add modernism to home.

For the full project portfolio on Vancouver Special Renovation please go to link:http://victoreric.com/renovations/barjaktarovic

Showing appreciation for the new design and the conservation of old buildings, the Vancouver Heritage Foundation holds annual Vancouver Special Tours in town. This year the event takes place on Saturday September 24th. Details: http://www.vancouverheritagefoundation.org/projects/vancouver_special.html 

Go get them old-school Specials!

For more information and articles on the topic:
Article frm Metro News
Article on canada.com
Library of Images

Posted in Architecture, Articles, Residential, VictorEric. No Comments »

‘The remaking of a stadium’ — an exclusive look inside BC Place

October 28, 2010 — Jennifer

VANCOUVER — The transformation of BC Place, one of British Columbia’s iconic pieces of architecture, is barely half-complete.

From the outside, the grey lidless bowl with its trademark marshmallow roof now a distant memory sits in the middle of a jumble of construction material, looking like a worn crown with only half its spires.

Inside, the bowl is organized confusion as workers do a series of delicate dances, avoiding swinging masts and the ubiquitous forklifts that carry and shove and stack the materials meant to transform an ugly 27-year-old duckling into a new swan.

But an image is shaping up for Vancouverites of what their beloved stadium will look like when construction that includes retractable-roof is finished next summer as it gets ready to host the 99th Canadian Football League Grey Cup.

On Friday The Vancouver Sun and Global TV were given the first tour of the construction zone by PavCo officials who are more than halfway through the $563 million refit of the stadium…

Please click here for the full article

Written by: Jeff Lee
Date: October 24, 2010

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Patkau Architects wins design competition

June 2, 2010 — Jennifer

MILL RUN, Pa.

Patkau Architects of Vancouver has won the first ever design competition for on-site cottages near Fallingwater, considered Frank Lloyd Wright’s masterwork.

Patkau designed six small, efficient and sustainable cottages to blend into the site.

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy will build the cottages on the grounds of the 2,024-hectare Bear Run Nature Reserve, which surrounds Fallingwater.

Patkau also shared a 2010 Governor General’s Medal in Architecture this year.

Please click for the article

Posted by: Canadian Press
Date: May 28, 2010

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Architecture for Humanity explores creative uses of shipping containers for housing

April 21, 2010 — Jennifer

With a will to end homelessness in Vancouver, Architecture for Humanity is holding a charrette this Saturday (April 17) where six groups of designers will compete to create a viable housing option out of shipping containers (aka Intermodal Steel Building Units).

Although this would serve as only a temporary measure to curb the growth of homelessness in the city, Linus Lam, the executive director of Architecture for Humanity and organizer of Saturday’s Quick Homes Superchallenge (being held at InterUrban Gallery at 1 East Hastings Street) explained to the Straight that the idea is a sensible one.

“Vancouver being a trading post, there are actually a lot of these shipping containers around that are vacant,” he told the Straight by phone. “They are not being used because, for shipping purposes, they have a certain lifespan.”

Of course, any endeavour with a goal as ambitious as ending homelessness is not without its challenges. The most pressing, according to Lam, is getting the public excited about the idea. Janice Abbott, the executive director of Atira, a nonprofit society dedicated to helping vulnerable women, can relate to that notion. She spoke at the charrette’s lecture Thursday about housing in an economy that lacks government funding…

Please click here for more

Posted by Erin Steele
April 16, 2010

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Spotted: Hotel in Hawaii is pretty in pink

April 5, 2010 — Jennifer

The Royal Hawaiian Hotel is no ordinary building

In cities like Toronto, where skyscrapers and other manmade structures tend to dominate features such as lakes, rivers and ravines, a disconnect from nature isn’t uncommon.

(One of my favourite exchanges on the subject was overheard some years ago in St. Lawrence Market, where a visitor asked his wife if, after they had finished shopping, she would like to walk down to Lake Ontario.

Her reply: “There’s a lake here?”) But in places like Hawaii, which I visited recently, nature is very much front and centre, even in big cities like Honolulu. There, ocean meets urbanity at eye level and Diamond Head looms almost everywhere you turn, so it’s saying a lot when a building has the power to distract.

The Royal Hawaiian Hotel, though, is no ordinary building, as I discovered during my trip. Built in 1927, the pink-toned, Moorish-style icon is almost as symbolic of Waikiki as Diamond Head. That’s why a lot of locals were nervous when it closed in 2008 for an extensive renovation. When it reopened last year, a few grumblers grumbled but mostly the reviews were positive. I can see why…

Please click here for more

Posted by: Danny SinopoliGlobe and Mail Update
Last updated on Monday, Apr. 05, 2010 10:50AM EDT

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Modern architecture part of North Shore history

March 11, 2010 — Jennifer

When describing a house as a heritage building the thoughts of gable roofs, wood brackets and mullioned windows might come to mind, but here on the North Shore it’s a little different than you’d think.

It’s important to consider what truly defines our architectural heritage and what buildings are worth preserving and why. Modern architecture is still perceived as a new and contemporary movement even though its beginnings are almost a century old…

Please click here for more

Posted by: Kevin Vallely, North Shore News
March 03, 2010

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Current Exhibit: BienVenue: 2010 Games Architecture

February 27, 2010 — Danson

Posted by: Architectural Institute of British Columbia

February 10 – March 1, 2010
AIBC Gallery: #100 – 440 Cambie Street, Vancouver

The Architectural Institute of British Columbia presents a unique exhibit from February 10 to March 1, 2010. Designed to coincide with the 2010 games, this exhibit will showcase the innovative work of B.C. architects and firms involved in designing competition and non-competition venues.

The AIBC Gallery is free and open to the public Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Click here to view a slideshow of current project submissions.

Posted in Architecture, Associations, Industry News. No Comments »
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