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110 Water Street, Vancouver, BC.

Description of Historic Place:

The Thompson Rooming House is a seven storey Edwardian era commercial brick-faced structure located on the south side of Water Street in the historic district of Gastown.

Heritage Value:

Gastown is the historic core of Vancouver, and is the city's earliest, most historic area of commercial buildings and warehouses. Built for Dr. Alfred Thompson, the Thompson Rooming House is valued as an early Gastown hotel, representative of the area's seasonal population in the early twentieth century, as Vancouver emerged as western Canada's predominant commercial centre. Hotels such as this provided both short and long-term lodging, serving primarily those who worked in the seasonal resource trades such as fishing and logging. Many of these hotels had combined functions of commercial services on the ground floor and lodging rooms on the upper floors, which contributed to the lively street life in Gastown. This building is clearly articulated by function, with a commercial lower floor, and hotel use on the upper floors.

The Thompson Rooming House is valued for its architecture as a fine example of the Edwardian style from the early twentieth century, illustrating how popular architectural styles were used by the hotel business to market a progressive image. It is significant as an early design in Vancouver by architects Sharp and Thompson, who had established their Vancouver practice in 1908. Both trained in London, England, G.L.T. Sharp (1880-1974) and C.J. Thompson (1878-1961) were among the few in Vancouver at the time with architectural credentials, and they brought a sophistication to this building that is typical of their work. The year this building was designed they won the open competition for the new University of British Columbia. It was designed as an identical block to the adjacent Des Brisay Block, built the previous year.

Source: City of Vancouver, Heritage Planning Street Files

Character-Defining Elements:

The character-defining elements of the Thompson Rooming House include:
- location, in close proximity to the waterfront of Burrard Inlet and the Canadian Pacific Railway yard
- siting on the property lines, with no setbacks
- spatial relationship to other late Victorian and Edwardian era commercial buildings within the historic context of Gastown
- form, scale and massing as expressed by its seven-storey height, flat roof and rectangular plan
- articulated mixed commercial/residential use
- masonry construction, including tan brick cladding on the front facade and common red brick on the side and rear facades
- regular grid-like front facade fenestration, with original wooden brick mould
- stepped brick parapet at front
- sheet metal cornices below third floor windows, between sixth and seventh floors, and at parapet level
- pilasters between the second floor front facade windows, covered in sheet metal
- side entry to upper floors with granite threshold and mosaic tile flooring
- original interior features such as the open staircase, wooden balustrades, plaster walls and wooden door and window trim
- early neon sign

Canada's Historic Places

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236 East 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC.

The original occupant was James W. Chapman, who was a wood carver.

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Vancouver City Hall.

Built in 1935-36 as a symbol of Vancouver’s growth. City Hall is a prime example of Moderne Design. Its geometric silhouette, stylized bands of ornamentation, elegant light fixtures and ornate lobby are characteristic of this style. The building is constructed of reinforced concrete clad with granite and sandstone. It is sited in a formal park-like landscape in what was Strathcona Park. This central location was selected following the amalgamation of Point Grey, Vancouver and South Vancouver in 1929. In 1968-70, the same architectural firm designed the East Wing addition on Yukon Street.

Architects: Townley and Matheson

I took this from the roof of the Plaza 500 hotel.

See the before and during shots of construction

City of Vancouver Heritage Plaque Program

City Hall 1940

Site of City Hall 1934

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450 Stanley Park Drive, Vancouver, BC.

The Vancouver Rowing Club was established in 1899 when the Burrard Inlet Rowing Club joined the Vancouver Boating Club. Throughout its history, the Vancouver Rowing Club has played an important part in the athletic and social life of Vancouver. This building, built in the Tudor Revival style, was officially opened on September 9, 1911, replacing an earlier clubhouse located at the foot of Burrard Street. Renovations to the clubhouse were completed by Watson-Donald Architects in 1988. His Royal Highness, the Duke of Edinburgh K.G., K.T. became a patron of the rowing club in 1975.

City of Vancouver Heritage Plaque Program

Photo from 1913

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85 West 1st Ave, Vancouver, BC.

Built in 1931 with old-growth timbers, the Salt Building was formerly a sawmill operated by Sauder Industries. Both this structure, and the Vancouver Mill Machinery plant to the west, are the last remnants of False Creek's significant industrial heritage. The building was constructed on top of a platform over False Creek. Earth fill was dumped around it later. The waters of the Creek still lap at its pilings underneath. The building will likely be used as a community centre for the Southeast False Creek neighbourhood once the proposed residential development is built.

Also see...

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97 East 2nd Avenue, Vancouver, BC.

The Opsal Steel building was completed in 1918 by Dominion Construction and designed by architect T.H. Bamforth. It was originally constructed for the Columbia Block and Tool Company. It is the largest surviving example of heavy timber frame construction, with a pitched roof and rooftop lantern vents that were typical of early False Creek industrial buildings. The building was included on Heritage Vancouver's 2002 list of endangered heritage structures.