Downtown Vancouver Updates

[Coldrsx]

Brockton House is a gem... and certainly one of those people would look back upon as 'what the fuck were we thinking'.

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

Brockton House is a gem... and certainly one of those people would look back upon as 'what the fuck were we thinking'.

Highly doubt it. If it weren't in good shape no one here would bat an eye at its demolition. It just isn't architecturally significant.

[officedweller]

Brockton House reminds me of a residential version of East Asiatic House on West Pender.

[retro_orange]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Brockton House reminds me of a residential version of East Asiatic House on West Pender.

I'm glad you posted that officedweller, East Asiatic house is a building you have to see in person to really appreciate, great proportions and massing, detailing and original features and stone carvings. It's one of my favorite buildings in the city. It should be designated heritage before anything happens, it was designed by the same architect who designed the H.R. Macmillan space centre in vanier park. Who owns it?

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by retro_orange

... Who owns it?

http://www.wicklowwest.com/building-info/east-asiatic-house

Wicklowwest Holdings - they seem to own several buildings in the area.

This is their description (suggesting they appreciate the architecture):

1201 West Pender Street is the East Asiatic House building and was built for the Prince of Denmark. It was designed by renowned architect Gerald Hamilton who also designed the Planetarium and Q.E. Theatre in Vancouver. Located on the northwest corner of Bute Street and West Pender, it has floors of about 6,700 square feet and good views of Coal Harbour and the Northshore mountains. The building offers 8 floors for a total of 59,483 sf. It was built in 1963. Taxes and operating costs are estimated at $17.70 for the year 2016. Parking is available in the building for $220 per reserved spot. Located 2 blocks from Burrard Street on the west side of the Downtown Core, there are many attractive amenities nearby, including restaurants (Urban Fare, Goodlife Fitness in the building, etc.) and the Seawall less than a block away.

http://www.wicklowwest.com/building-info/east-asiatic-house

East Asiatic House also has similar proportions or massing to the United Kingdom Building (offset masses touching a core, plus a podium)
- but with better materials.
The United Kingdom Building is painted and hasn't aged as well (and is a likely candidate for redevelopment, as it was recently sold).

[retro_orange]

Originally Posted by officedweller

http://www.wicklowwest.com/building-info/east-asiatic-house

Wicklowwest Holdings - they seem to own several buildings in the area.

East Asiatic House also has similar proportions or massing to the United Kingdom Building (offset masses touching a core, plus a podium)
- but with better materials.
The United Kingdom Building is painted and hasn't aged as well (and is a likely candidate for redevelopment, as it was recently sold).

Sweet! i just found some very interesting info on the building:

1201 West Pender Street is the East Asiatic House building and was built for the Prince of Denmark. It was designed by renowned architect Gerald Hamilton who also designed the Planitarium and Q.E. Theatre in Vancouver. Located on the northwest corner of Bute Street and West Pender, it has floors of about 6,700 square feet and good views of Coal Harbour and the Northshore mountains. The building offers 8 floors for a total of 59,483 sf. It was built in 1963.

quote from: http://www.wicklowwest.com/building-info/east-asiatic-house

[Vin]

Originally Posted by Jebby

Highly doubt it. If it weren't in good shape no one here would bat an eye at its demolition. It just isn't architecturally significant.

To be replaced by a cookie cutter tower full of spandrels? No thank you. I rather have a building of that era retained. They are pretty rare these days, and not found outside downtown Vancouver in the region.

[retro_orange]

Originally Posted by officedweller

http://www.wicklowwest.com/building-info/east-asiatic-house

Wicklowwest Holdings - they seem to own several buildings in the area.

This is their description (suggesting they appreciate the architecture):


http://www.wicklowwest.com/building-info/east-asiatic-house

East Asiatic House also has similar proportions or massing to the United Kingdom Building (offset masses touching a core, plus a podium)
- but with better materials.
The United Kingdom Building is painted and hasn't aged as well (and is a likely candidate for redevelopment, as it was recently sold).

haha i should have read yours more clearly before responding. I wonder if we have any other buildings in Vancouver that were developed by royalty?

[retro_orange]

Originally Posted by Vin

To be replaced by a cookie cutter tower full of spandrels? No thank you. I rather have a building of that era retained. They are pretty rare these days, and not found outside downtown Vancouver in the region.

Exactly. The spandrel mess will be a much higher maintenance building as it ages with seals failing etc. opposed to Brockton house that still has it's original windows intact and indestructible concrete facade. The new tower will likely need a costly spandrel and window overhaul every 20 years if not less. Adding more units that are of inferior quality doesn't seem like a good trade-off.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by retro_orange

haha i should have read yours more clearly before responding. I wonder if we have any other buildings in Vancouver that were developed by royalty?

I revised mine probably as you were posting...

[officedweller]

From Changing City Updates - 2 mid-rises on West Pender:

424 and 454 West Pender Street

OLD VERSION (Rejected by UDP):


https://changingcitybook.com/2016/06/17/424-and-454-west-pender-street/

NEW VERSIONS (approved by UDP):


https://changingcitybook.com/2016/06/17/424-and-454-west-pender-street/


https://changingcitybook.com/2016/06/17/424-and-454-west-pender-street/

[csbvan]

I think that the new version fits the area much better.

[Klazu]

Wow, for once the UDP approved version looks much better!

[osirisboy]

Yes! The new version looks much better!!

[retro_orange]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Hmmm - 1770 Davie is actually in the "Denman Village" part of the West End Community Plan, not the "Lower Davie" part of the plan.

Denman Village is limited to 60 ft.

Good to know! Fingers crossed it gets restored. Emporis states that it was the "First building over 10 stories in the West End to receive heritage status" but i can't find any info of it being in the heritage register. Any ideas?

Being built in 1958:

pic from: http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/residences-in-1700-block-of-davie-street

This pic also shows Ocean Towers under construction:

pic from: http://archives.jewishmuseum.ca/3b18w

[mcminsen]

Some pics of Burrard Bridge today.



June 19 '16, my pics

[Klazu]

Cool to see things moving forward but won't anyone think of the poor cars!

[Vin]

Originally Posted by Klazu

Cool to see things moving forward but won't anyone think of the poor cars!

Cars? What cars? (Swat off like flies....)

[Vin]

For a streamline look to future skyscrapers with glass curtain walls, I think developers should introduce innovative ideas like this:

Retractable glass balconies:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwguRr6LuAY

• Video Link

Hats off to this French company for coming up with this!

[officedweller]

Do you think they've completely removed the old balustrade ?

PS - the traffic flows quite well.
I travel westbound on Pacific turning left onto Burrard Bridge at about 7pm a couple times a week and there's less traffic than before the work - and traffic flows smoother than before.

Originally Posted by mcminsen

Some pics of Burrard Bridge today.

June 19 '16, my pics