Downtown Art Scene in Vancouver

Vancouver Condo Buildings Contribute to the Public Art Culture

Oct 1, 2009 Joseph Leung

Residential and commercial buildings in downtown Vancouver boast interesting venues for displays of unique and unusual sculptures, architecture and industrial art.

Public art displays are not necessarily commissioned by government agencies. Property developers in Vancouver work with the city's planning department to help support and sustain the creative sector. Some of these installations make passers-by pause, gaze and ponder the messages conveyed, hidden functions and perhaps the history of the neighbourhoods. A visitor may not come upon a small quiet piazza after turning a street corner but one will likely be welcomed by a structure what causes a reaction of "what the heck?".

Many of these installations can by found on the City of Vancouver's Pubic Art Registry.

Here are some intriguing downtown art pieces among the residential highrises and commercial buildings in Vancouver:

Downtown Condo Building - Eugenia Place

Eugenia Place is located at one of the prime real estate spots in Vancouver - in front of English Bay at 1919 Beach Avenue. Nobody strolling along the beach will miss the pin oak tree growing and soaring atop the building of over 15 stories high. The tree approximates the height of the first growth trees indigenous to the area. One would wonder how far the roots reach.

Downtown Condo Building - Cascina

The telescopic shafts juxtaposed at different angles in front of the Cascina at 590 Nicola Street in Coal Harbour entice curious pedestrians to look down into the shafts for unexpected discoveries. The shafts are in fact exploration shafts that were sunk over 100m deep in Coal Harbour to search for coal reserves. There may not be coal underneath a luxury condominium building but a few BMW's or Mercedes may aspire the onlookers to questions why there are not more Priuses.

Downtown Condo Building - Grace

Drivers will not miss the golden roof top of the building at 499 Drake Street when they come off the Seymour Street off-ramp of the Granville Street Bridge. The curious gargoyles on top of the narrow vaulted passageway entrance to the first phase of the building at the corner of Richards and Drake Streets draw passers-by to take a glimpse of the lush inside courtyard bordered by intertwined stairways leading to condo units at staggering levels - a perfect landscape substitute for Hogwarts in a Harry Potter improvisation.

Downtown Public Building - 401 Burrard Street

Five steel cubes on a vertical frame at the entrance to the building at the corner of Burrard and Pender Streets glide up and down the frame to mirror the movements of the elevators inside the building. The undersides of the cubes are LED screens that reflect the foot traffic in and out the elevators. The federal government building lets everyone know when employees clock in and clock out.

Public Art is Everywhere

Most visitors to Vancouver are armed with travel brochures and tour books raving about Stanley Park, Grouse Mountain, Granville Island, Capilano Suspension Bridge and nearby Whistler or Victoria. However, an aimless stroll in any downtown neighbourhood in the young, dynamic and innovative city can be a rewarding leisure activity if one does not forget to look up / down / over / across / beneath the most usual and unusual places.

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