In continuation of my previous post from Medium, I'm beyond excited to share the main version of the blog with all of you. Being someone who commutes downtown every day, I cannot help but feel inspired by the countless heritage buildings in the area. Among the numerous remarkable structures, there are five that have gradually become my favourites.
Recently, I have realized that despite encountering something daily, we tend to overlook its specific details. To be precise, when I got the idea of illustrating my 5 most favourite heritage downtown buildings of Vancouver - I could barely sketch it out of my memory.
I took this as an opportunity to observe the intricate details of these buildings and illustrate them with a free-hand style. I believe you will take pleasure in browsing these artworks as much as I relished creating them :)
Vancouver Public Library - Main Branch
Vancouver Public Library's main branch easily became my favourite leisure spot for multiple reasons within a short period. One of the reasons was this nine-storey library had all genres of books, especially a wide range of art & architecture books, which immediately got my attention.
Designed by Moshe Safdie partnering with DA Architects and landscape architect Cornelia Oberlander, this was a winning entry in a design competition that was constructed in 1995. Being a replica of Rome's Colosseum building, the library had a few additions later in 2017 and was finally completed in 2018. Boasting a stunning rooftop library, this downtown location is the most popular spot among visitors, offering one of the best sunset views throughout the season.
2. Hotel Europe at 43 Powell Street
This heritage hotel remains a prominent feature among the numerous tourist attractions, evoking vintage aesthetics for anyone wandering through the streets of Gastown.
The Hotel Europe, completed in 1908 and designed by Par & Fee, exemplifies Edwardian architectural elegance with its blonde brick façade, bold cornice, and Classical-style columns. As the city’s first reinforced concrete building, it features refined glasswork above the main floor and a lobby adorned with original marble, brasswork, and tiling. Designed to initially have eight storeys, the hotel was completed with six plus a sub-ground level, incorporating natural light through sidewalk glass blocks.
Today, while the large sign and clock that once marked the hotel have been removed, its architectural integrity remains intact. The front patio, still accessible as part of the corner rental suite, retains its historical charm, offering a classic perch for people-watching. Despite renovations, the Hotel Europe preserves its early 20th-century sophistication, reflecting its storied past and enduring design.
3. Waterfront Station
The one particular spot that is always filled with local crowds, as well as outsiders, is the one and only Waterfront Skytrain Station. While my simple drawing may not fully capture the original grandeur of the building, I felt compelled to feature it as one of my top 5 favourite heritage structures in the downtown area.
Constructed in 1914 by the Montreal firm Barott, Blackader, and Webster, stands as a striking example of Neoclassical architecture. The building’s façade is adorned with more than a dozen Ionic columns, lending it a grand, classical presence. The Canadian Pacific Railway moniker is prominently displayed above these columns, highlighting its historical significance as a major terminus for the CPR’s transcontinental trains.
Inside, the station features murals painted by the wife of a CPR executive, depicting the scenic journey from eastern Canada to Vancouver, including the Rocky Mountains. In front of the station, the bronze Angel of Victory statue, crafted by Coeur de Lion McCarthy in 1922, commemorates CPR employees who died in World War I, with an additional plaque honouring those lost in World War II. Despite its evolution into an intermodal transportation hub, Waterfront Station retains its architectural elegance and historical charm.
4. Dominion Building at West Hastings
Designed by architect J.S Helyer, this 13-storey Beaux-Arts style commercial building is housed on West Hastings Street in downtown, Vancouver. I have especially observed this building under the blazing sun, beautiful sunsets, and dreary winters. After exploring the interior of this historic building housing Nuba, a Lebanese restaurant, I must admit that the structure's original character has been preserved despite the modern upgrades.
Nevertheless, this building is distinctive due to its architectural features such as a solid stone foundation, masonry columns that end in arched hoods, window arrangement, terra-cotta panels, mansard roof, entrance at the corner, Corinthian columns at the Hastings Street entrance, and a cornice adorned with dentils.
5. Vancouver Art Gallery
Located in a busy area, the art gallery was built in the Art Deco style as a one-story exhibition space designed by local architects Sharp and Thompson. Despite the original construction in 1931, the gallery was expanded in 1951.
Having been located in West Georgia until 1983, the gallery later relocated to its current location on Hornby Street. The City proposed a renovation of a 99-year lease of the 1906 neoclassical courthouse building. The project was led by Vancouver-based Arthur Erickson Architects as a part of 3 block development which later became Robson Square.
The expansive outdoor plaza accommodates a variety of social activities and entertainment options, with numerous delightful food carts lining the streets. This location is the liveliest destination in the city centre, offering a feast for our eyes and spirit.
BTS of the Public Library Illustration
It was a fun and exciting process to work on all the 5 illustrations. I wanted to keep the style as minimal as possible, and hence I chose a monochromatic pallet of yellow and grey tones. The outline of the artwork mimics pencil strokes and other dry pastel mediums. Attached below is a quick recap of what the process of illustrating these structures looked like.
I hope you all had a good time reading through this article. Feel free to share which of the 5 was your favourite!
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