PNE Promotional Postcard, depicting the BC Pavilion some time prior to its construction for the 1954 Empire Games. This postcard was part of a campaign seeking public support for the expansion of the PNE’s commercial buildings.

The card is addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Ratepayer, Vancouver, BC. At the time, postcard postage cost 1 1/2 cents. The card reads:

Please vote “yes” on the PNE bylaw, Dec 10th. The PNE pays all sinking funds and interest payments as in the past. Be sure to vote “yes” for this urgently needed expansion of your Pacific National Exhibition, a non profit public body serving you.

Ernest Ferguson
President PNE

ps: It won’t cost the taxpayers a cent. Your vote is needed!

When completed, the BC Pavilion housed the infamous Challenger Map, the largest relief map of it’s kind in the world. Later the building would house the BC Sports Hall of Fame. Since the Challenger Map is a personal favourite subject of mine, here’s a bit more from challengermap.org:

The Challenger Map resided in the British Columbia Pavilion at the Pacific National Exhibition in Vancouver. It was installed in 1954 at the time of the British Empire Games held at Empire Stadium also at the PNE Grounds.

Over the next 43 years the map was seen by millions of visitors to the PNE and many more tourists, locals and particularly school groups during the rest of the year.

In 1997 the BC Pavilion was torn down and the map moved to storage at Bekins Moving and Storage in Richmond BC.

Alan Clapp has been campaigning for a new home for the Challenger Map for years. In case you don’t know who Alan Clapp is, he was a key figure in the development of Granville Island, in addition to being one of the main organizers of Habitat 76, and he also happened to write a book on improvements for Granville Street in 1978.

The map was in real jeopardy in recent years, and after much campaigning, and as far as I know, its future is still undetermined. A small portion of the map was displayed at the ISU Joint Security Headquarters in Richmond during the 2010 Winter Olympics, but I don’t believe anyone really got to see it unless you worked in the building.

I do hope the efforts of George Challenger and Allan Clapp are not forgotten; this map deserves a permanent home.

UBC Library Building Plans by architects Sharp & Thompson (later known as Thompson, Berwick, Pratt & Partners). Actually, I came across these drawings via a brochure titled Scrapbook for a Golden Anniversary, the University of British Columbia Library, 1915-1965. It was there I learned that this drawing I posted 11 months ago was by the first UBC librarian John Ridington. The brochure featured a negative image of the Periodical Room, and added the comment “It was never built”. I came across the rest of the blueprints from the UBC archives here.

spencerjohn:

Vancouver Healing Lodge 31 West Pender (Opening June 11th)

This is going to be a really significant addition to the DTES. I’m really proud a former co-worker of mine was behind this! Actually, he’s VNHS president!

Here’s the background on the building’s heritage from the City of Vancouver administrative report from October 2010:

This building is primarily valued for its architecture and the history of ownership and use. Designed by the same talented architect who designed the World Building (Sun Tower) - W. T. Whiteway, this attractive building was made with high quality brick and the combination of steel columns and fire-resistant millwork floors. The principal facade is characterized by rich surface details, ornamented window surrounds and entablatures.

Built in 1913 for Storey and Campbell, owners of the Storey and Campbell Co., this residential building (aka Palmer Rooms) provided lodging on the upper floors, with retail at the ground level. It was conveniently located between the warehouse district and Chinatown, and within walking distance to the major transportation nodes. The building remained in the Storey family until 1946, when it was purchased by Lai Hing. Lai lived in this building and operated his hotel business under Wingate Hotel for about 30 years. Most recently, the building’s name was changed to Pender Hotel.

ps: Architect and concept illustration credit goes to Joe Y. Wai Architect Inc.

The Burnaby Mountain Centennial Pavilion, 100 Centennial Way, Burnaby. This was built for the 1958 centenary celebrations, if you haven’t deduced that already. At this point in time, SFU was merely a recommendation in a report entitled Higher Education in British Columbia and a Plan for the Future, by Dr. J.B. Macdonald [source].

Update! I should add, I didn’t realize that Horizon’s Restaurant is now occupying the Centennial Pavilion! Furthermore, there was a fire at the restaurant in the spring of 2010, but the good news is, they were insured, and the restaurant has been rebuilt thanks in part to $300,000 of additional help from the City of Burnaby. It’s interesting to see how the building has been adapted over time. I’m glad I found this grand opening souvenir program!

Townley and Matheson (1919-1964)
Townley, Matheson & Associates (1965)
Townley & Matheson, Kelly, Humphrey & Ritchie (1966)
Townley, Matheson & Partners (1967-1974)

The Harland Bartholomew & Associates development plan for Exhibition Park (aka the PNE) drawn December, 1948. This file was recently added to the City of Vancouver Archives at Archive.org (image tweaked for a cleaner black and white image.)

Map shows existing buildings, proposed buildings (immediate program), proposed buildings (future program), building names and parking lot capacities in Exhibition Park. Diazo. Scale [ca. 1:4,500]. 27 x 25 cm. Vancouver Archives Item # Map 968.

Here’s one thing which didn’t come true that we can be thankful for; the envisioned front entrance would have allowed 2762 cars to drive right into the park and create a giant parking lot in the bottom corner of the site. Of course, lots of the parking inevitably still surfaces throughout the surrounding neighbourhood. But looking at the top of the map leads me to believe there were plans for the CPR to make a direct stop at the park, perhaps providing a form of early rapid transit?

And what about the aesthetic design of the park? The bottom left corner of the park bears a certain resemblance to the present day PNE. To the right there are orderly plans for a Future Exhibit of unknown variety, right where the midway is today.

Up in the top left, they decided to install the Gayway (a term synonymous with midway today). Gayway was also the term that was used at the Golden Gate International Exposition in San Francisco in 1939-40. I don’t want to get too far off topic, but the Golden Gate Expo is another favourite topic of mine. Who here knew the GGIE also featured Sally Rand’s Nude Ranch? About a month ago, I spotted this on ebay; the 3 page proposal for the attraction by the Bert Levey Circuit of Vaudeville Theatres.

I don’t see any clothing optional sections planned for the PNE in Harland Bartholomew’s development plan, but it does look like the designers did try to add a hint of romance to their plan, putting a dance hall at the end of the meandering Gayway. And if you weren’t up for some romance, they put the roller coaster right next door, so those who chose not to dance could still have the ride of their life! Oh, designing is such fun and games, isn’t it?

Update! I just learned that the midway WAS at the back corner of the PNE back in the day. While the park didn’t evolve exactly as envisioned above, at least we did get a new wooden roller coaster in 1958 designed by the legendary roller coaster designer Carl Phare. Incidentally, it’s the last remaining Carl Phare designed roller coaster in operation in the world.

There were at least 3 other coasters that pre-date the Carl Phare design at the PNE, according to rollercoastersofthepacificnw.com. First there was Coaster (Dip The Dips) - 1915-1924. Heritage Vancouver has posted a photo from 1914 of the first rollercoaster under construction here, and there’s an aerial view of the finished coaster from 1919 here. Happyland got a pair of coasters known as Giant Dipper - 1925-1947 and Baby Dipper - 1928-1944. Then along came a string of smaller roller coaster rides for Playland; Little Dipper - 1958-197?; Mad Mouse - 1958-1964?; Monster Mouse - 1965-1971?; Super Big Gulp - 1972-1994; Wild Mouse - 1979-2008. And finally, there was another roller coaster in Stanley Park called Dips circa 1913-1923. I’m hoping I come across some artwork of this one day.

From an article written by Eric Sommer in The Georgia Straight, published by the Vancouver Free Press, February 14-27, 1969. These sketches show something of a comeback for the Vancouver freeway Project 200 that never was. One ambitious firm thought they would try their hand at ‘hiding’ the freeway underground, or perhaps partially underground. Needless to say, I don’t believe this went anywhere, as it no doubt would have been vulnerable to enormous cost overruns while offering very little benefit to the city.

I’m sorry the pictures are such poor quality here. It would be nice to visit the UBC Archives to see the original article in person; perhaps one day I will get the chance. Here’s an excerpt from the article:

City Council will soon consider plans for a new Vancouver freeway that could almost be called a non-freeway.

The new concept is not an ugly concrete span scarring the city skyline; it is not a roaring thunderway through downtown Vancouver; it would not interfere with pedestrian traffic; and it would leave Chinatown intact.

The new concept is explained in a report commissioned by the National Harbors Board and prepared by the local engineering firm of Swan-Wooster and CBA. Although not due for presentation to City Council until early in March, the STRAIGHT has managed to obtain an advance copy of the report.

This report originated as an attempt to find a replacement for the great elevated freeway scheme that collapsed last year under tons of criticism from Vancouver residents. The defeated scheme would have cut a wide swath through Chinatown, introduced true multi-lane ugliness to Vancouver, and might well have initiated the Los Angelization of the city…

I recently posted the Project 200 brochure on flickr, the often discussed freeway and urban development that almost wiped out Chinatown. Gordon Price has mentioned it on many occasions; here in 2008 he agrees with John Atkin who states it was not only outspoken public opposition that ended the project; they also ran out of financing options, and the feds walked away with the money.

What I find most amusing about this photo is ironic juxtaposition between the iconic landmarks of the Woodward’s building, the Dominion Building, and the Marine Building, and the giant blocks of Lego architecture that look like badly designed hotels of the 70s. Never mind the fact that no one would have dared to imagine Woodward’s would no longer be in business some 30 years later…or that it would one day become the vibrant redevelopment that it is today. I’ll add another footnote to the story tomorrow.

The Vancouver Trust Company, an architectural drawing from an advertisement in the September 1910 issue of Man-to-Man Magazine Vol 6, no.9 (previously known as Westward Ho! Magazine and later renamed British Columbia Magazine). The advertisement announces their new address at 614 Pender Street, and promises that “A Trust Company Cannot Die or Abscond”. I guess not.

The building didn’t turn out precisely as illustrated, lacking the arts & crafts typography for one, as the period photograph from the magazine illustrates. Today, the classic lines of the building can just barely be made out, as seen in the Google streetview image. The building is located just next door to Malone’s Bar & Grill downtown.

Went End Housing Complex, Vancouver (1956) by Arthur Erickson. While this early utopian concept was never built, it foreshadows the repetitive array of towers along the seawall, all aiming to compete for the best view of the surrounding mountains.

YMCA Building at Burrard and Barclay St by McCarter & Nairne, perspective view 1940, pencil and colour wash on illustration board. Reprinted on page 56 of Trace Magazine, July - Sept 1981. The building recently went through a complete redevelopment and is now known as The Robert Lee YMCA Building, joining forces with a 42-storey residential tower known as Patina. For those who want to read the fine print, here’s the City of Vancouver rezoning report and Heritage Revitalization Agreement from 2005. The Vancouver Observer took a tour of the facilities in this 2010 article. The numbers, briefly: 

Number of units: 256
Cost of YMCA restoration: $67 million
Total project cost: $250 million
What I’d really like to know: cost of the original building in 1940 ??

Swing City, a utopian fantasy concept of a city, imagined by Roger Kemble, with P. Stephen Babiak and John R. Chislett as contributing assistants. From the October 1968 issue of Canadian Architect, pp 58-65. Presented here in post number 3 are 2 of the 4 full layouts from this article, with explanatory text to provide some context for these drawings.

Actually, I just realized this entire series of drawings can already be found online, along with a 1600 word essay to accompany the article, posted on Roger Kemble’s own personal webpage. Roger has also indulged in a few more of his architectural fantasies, including a some conceptual sketches showing what he would have liked to do with the North Shore of False Creek, given half a chance. He also shows one of his more recent award winning projects, the Vivo Gallery Residences in Nanaimo, recipient of the 2008 City of Nanaimo Design Award for a multi-purpose development. For more on Roger’s work, see this 2002 article in this Heritage Vancouver newsletter.

And incidentally, Roger’s own daughter is now an architect. According to the about page at Architrave.ca, she funded her University studies in Art, Art History and Architecture working as a model builder and draftsman for Arthur Erickson Architects and in her father’s firm Roger Kemble Architects in Vancouver.

I was impressed to see Swing City referenced in this U of T history of architecture course back in 2007: ARC 3033: Manifesto and Ethos through Postwar Architecture History in Canada. I wish I could have heard the professor discuss this work in class! I should also mention that this entire magazine article was originally printed on a special blue paper, a fitting tribute to blue sky thinking.

It was purely coincidental that I posted this series of drawings the very same week the City of Vancouver announced it was seeking a new director of planning. Will Swing City make a comeback and gain the approval of the next director of planning? Or will we dare to dream up even more fantastical plans for our fair city in the years to come? Time will tell…

ps: I also just learned that the domain SwingCouver.com is taken - it’s dance conference that just took place here last month! Have no fear, however; looks like they host an event once a year! Check out their videos from last year for some fancy footwork!

Swing City, a utopian fantasy concept of a city, imagined by Roger Kemble, with P. Stephen Babiak and John R. Chislett as contributing assistants. From the October 1968 issue of Canadian Architect, pp 58-65. Presented here are a couple closer detailed cross sections of the concept, post number 2.

Think back to 1968 if you will, and imagine a city filled with ambition, idealism, and poised to begin an explosion of vertical construction. It was the year Vancouver’s International Airport terminal opened, the Pacific Coliseum, as well as the Centennial Museum and H. R. MacMillan Planetarium, and Arthur Erickson’s MacMillan Bloedel Building too. SkyTrain was still almost 2 decades away, but the second drawing prominently features a monorail system, an integral transportation choice in a city which seems to have left the traditional street behind. This plan radically challenges all prior conventions, seeking extremely modern and modular solutions. It seems obsessed with scalability, and not so concerned with feasibility or sustainability. Would these ideals allow uninhibited human achievement, or would it transform the city into the Borg? A final post will include some of the explanatory text that accompanied these drawings.

Swing City, a utopian fantasy concept of a city, imagined by Roger Kemble, with P. Stephen Babiak and John R. Chislett as contributing assistants. From the October 1968 issue of Canadian Architect, pp 58-65. Presented here are a couple long range landscape sketches of the project.

From a distance, it almost looks like something out of District 9! In future posts, I’d like to show more detailed cross sections of this fantastical concept, followed by a final post with explanatory text. It’s certainly one of the most surreal concepts I’ve seen for the city, and yet, there’s more than meets the eye with this particular project!

Proposed pagoda for Pender Street, from the October 1968 issue of Canadian Architect. In a 1969 article from the Calgary Herald, ‘Corny’ Architecture Rapped at Meeting, it mentions that Vancouver is importing a genuine pagoda from the Orient, to be used as a pagoda; I presume this is the pagoda they are are referring to. Instead of the extravagant pagoda seen here, the city would eventually get the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden, which was built in 1985 and completed just in time for Expo 86. I for one am glad we got the garden over the pagoda; in this particular location, the pagoda seems clearly out of proportion to the street and surrounding buildings. One final detail to note; as you can see in the second photograph, Pender Street was once a one-way street heading west at this junction.