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Vancouver's Hidden Design Gems

Alison McLaughlin

| September 2, 2009

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Dal Grauer Substation | 970 Burrard Street

This mondernist masterpiece, an innovation in style when completed in 1954, now sits in drab contrast to the glitz of the Burrard Street revamp. The Dal Grauer was designed by architect Ned Pratt and artist B.C. Binning and draws inspiration from the painting of Mondrian in its color block matrix and mosaic tile work. Can we at least chip in for some Windex?

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Ovaltine Cafe | 251 East Hastings

Every city has a fantastic diner. This is not ours. Sure, it's had a starring role in every movie of the week made in Vancouver, but its downmarket flavor leaves a sour taste in your mouth. Asks Cynthia Penner "Did someone lose the recipe? Looks like it could use some sweet creamy goodness around here!" True.

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Arbutus Mall | 16th & Arbutus

Step in the way-back machine on the corner of 16th and Arbutus, home of the Ridge Theater and Varsity Bowling. It's charm is as tangible as the scent of mildew. "I like the theater's street appearance. It is RIDGE," says Bronek. "Narrow and tall, it's the neighborhood that's not so good. I'd rather see it in an older part of town."

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The Pantages | 152 East Hastings

An early part of vaudeville impresario Alexander Pantages's empire, this down-at-heel relic is Vancouver's oldest theater. The once opulent showhall was designed by Edward Evans Blackmore but what will its future bring? The DTES could use a Trader Joe's....

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The Lido | 518 E. Broadway

It captured the imagination of all who stumbled past. A decrepit grocery store with decades-old stock and, once cleared out, over $400,000 in bills worth more as historical artifacts than currency. It's now a Chulo Pony outlet store. Yawn. Wonders Cynthia: “Four hundred grand found in the closet of a deli run by an old German lady who never had it open? Headquarters of the illicit schnitzel trade?!?”

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1885 Yew St.

A psychedelic throwback to the days when Kitsilano was a hotbed of all things hippie. Adding to the vulgarity are the top-floor party animals who are known to drop a rubber spider onto unsuspecting passers-by. It's the only apartment building in town that dares you not to fall in love with it. Asks Cynthia Penner: “Did Pepsi sponsor this?”

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Sam Kee Building | 8 Pender Street

Anything motivated by spite is bound to thrill. In 1913, the City of Vancouver increased the width of West Pender Street, which, they must now have known, Sam Kee owned. The nerve! Not to be bullied by "the man," Sam commissioned what, with a width of 4 feet, 11 inches, is still Guinness's World's Thinnest Building. Now it's owned by Jack Chow. He sells insurance. “It could be used as a new Speaker's Corner, where politicians could appear in different kiosks to argue their efficiency," says Celine. "All in point form, on a banner draped from the second floor for all to see."

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Vancouver Maritime Museum | 1905 Ogden

The triangle – nature's perfect polygon – runs riot at the Maritime Museum, but who cares? Certainly not the army of school kids who grudgingly daytrip this drydock, which is home to the St. Roch, a restored RCMP schooner. Says Celine: “It should be reused as a chapel in the wine regions, but a paint job is a must, regardless.”

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Maxine's Hideaway | 1215 Bidwell

Once a house of ill repute connected to the home of sugar czar B. T. Rogers by a secret tunnel, this grande dame of the West End ain't what she used to be. Currently occupying the space is a dinner cabaret. “I have no idea what this building is doing in Vancity,” says Bronek. “It should be sent back home! To Spain or Italy or....”

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Finn Slough | South Richmond

Nestled on the Fraser River sits Finn Slough, Vancouver's Venice, kinda. It's a century-old Scandinavian fishing community that stands on stilts, and if it looks like an off-the-grid squatters colony, there's a reason for that. The hamlet has an interesting history, though, and the this specimen is one of tidiest in the village.

Woe unto you, O People of Vancouver, if you ignore these paragons of local architecture and design.

Condominiums with more sales pitch than closet space aren't properties worth gushing over, but they get the most attention in Vancouver. Forget them. What we wanted to know is, What are Vancouver's ten most neglected of underappreciated masterpieces? We got our answers from three industry experts:

– Celine Pitre of Celine Interiors
– Cynthia Penner of Box Interior Design
– Bronek Proschek of Environmental Design Group

Did we miss your favourite? Don't be afraid of the comment box below.

(Special thanks to photographer Christine McAvoy.)

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I was very young, it was

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 2009-09-24 08:19.

I was very young, it was 1963, my Mom had taken us shopping at Woodwards downtown and to get home we had to catch the bus at the stop 1 block north. It was while I was riding that bus I spotted the 4 foot wide building and asked all kinds of questions. Mom couldn't answer any of them. I was amazed by that building and started to see amazing buildings everywhere we went on the buses around Vancouver. I now live far out of the city, but when I recall my life in Vancouver it is with these stunning buildings as a backdrop to my memories. "Vancouver" may not appreciate the grand dams of architecture that call her home but I did, still do.

I was working for Kits

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 2009-09-23 16:24.

I was working for Kits Camera when the building at 1885 Yew Street was "decorated" with imported tile. The blue/orange spinning symbol is actually the original logo for Kits Cameras who grew to about 50 locations before being bought by Blacks. The head office was in the building as was their first store. The incredibly eccentric Norm Babb started the photo chain and lived in the top floor penthouse.