Renfrew-Collingwood's Humble Historic Landmark
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10 October 2010 RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWS Renfrew-Collingwood’s Humble Historic Landmark by John Mendoza the low ceiling entrance an infuence of Frank Located at the northwest Lloyd Wright. (According corner of Kingsway and Rupert to Douglas Simpson’s son, Street, the Collingwood branch Gregg Simpson, the architect studied under Frank Lloyd of the Vancouver Public Library Wright at Taliesin West is a colourful hub of activity. in Arizona.) Yet due to However, this humble library its “effective scaling and branch holds a secret pedigree proportioning,” the building presented a welcoming and that elevates it above the accessible face to the local 22 other branch libraries in community. An extraordinary photo of Vancouver Public Library’s Collingwood branch as it Vancouver. appeared before its opening in early July 1951. The glass expanse at the front of the According to one source, building has since been covered up in a subsequent renovation. (Source: Vancouver Unknown to most citizens of shortly after its grand opening, Public Library, Special Collections, VPL 8856) Vancouver, the architectural design of Collingwood branch recorded the Collingwood branch was designed the highest circulation of history, there are no guarantees needs and to budgetary constraints. by two celebrated British Columbian materials for kids of any branch for this Modernist landmark in Certainly the original colour should be architects and could be the most library in the Vancouver library East Vancouver. Due to budgetary restored and the signage could echo that important example of Modernist system. If the architects wanted to constraints, the library itself almost of 1950s typography. At the very least, architecture found in East Vancouver. create an open and approachable closed during the 1990s. Moreover, proper maintenance should be enforced. civic building, they succeeded. the history of preserving heritage For example, during Vancouver’s Opened in July 1951, Collingwood buildings and Modernist architecture general civic strike of 2007, a vehicle Library’s design infuenced its The impact of Semmens and in Vancouver has not been positive. crashed into the building, causing community in profound ways. Simpson’s branch library design (Ironically, Semmens and Simpson’s damage to the brick work. As of late Designed by local architects Harold was far-reaching; it infuenced the award-winning 1957 central library August 2010, the brick-work damage Semmens and Douglas Simpson, local and even regional architectural design has lost much of its Modernist remains and can still be seen just right the new building presented a scene. The new design quickly features due to a renovation in the of the main entrance. friendly face to the neighbourhood. attracted the curious, and it soon last decade.) In contrast to the imposing, old turned into the most visited The library and city should set an world bulk of the Carnegie branch Modernist building in Vancouver. In a recent conversation, Gregg example for celebrating the city’s at Hastings and Main, the design Its infuence can even be felt in Simpson complained about the lurid heritage architecture and design, of Collingwood branch was frmly successive library projects such as blue paint that has been slapped on especially in a humble neighbourhood contemporary. M. E. Uttley’s Okanagan Regional the exterior of Collingwood branch like Renfrew-Collingwood. Refurbishing Library (1955) and Kenneth library. Ideally, the original colour this building and many other heritage The design refects the spirit and Sandbrook’s New Westminster of the building should be retained. landmarks in our area is an important work of famous Modernist architects: Library (1958). As Gregg emphatically states, “To step in the preservation of our shared the glass expanse at the front alluded restore it to the original colour would history and the frst step of cultivating to Mies van der Rohe, the use of Because of their work on the be a great service to his legacy.” Early an identity for Renfrew-Collingwood. stone a reference to Marcel Breuer, Collingwood branch library, photos of the building contrasted However, it will only occur if the whole Semmens and with the current condition of the community shares this aspiration and Simpson were building suggest that successive does its best to discuss this with others commissioned to renovations have not been respectful who can help in this goal. design the new of its architectural status. central branch How can you get involved in preserving of Vancouver The Collingwood branch therefore Collingwood branch library? Public Library in deserves consideration for its • Find information about Vancouver’s 1954. Debuting signifcance in the architectural Modernist architectural legacy in in 1957, their design history of Vancouver. It exists The New Spirit Modern Architecture new Modernist as an east side example of local in Vancouver 1938-1963 by R. W. library building Modernist architecture designed Liscombe (available in Vancouver Public at Robson and by two acclaimed architects. If it Library) Burrard Street meets the criteria, the building • Share your ideas concerning earned praise should immediately be added to the Collingwood branch library by emailing for its design, Vancouver Heritage Registry as a rare Ms. Joan Andersen, Library Board Chair winning the 1958 example of Modernist architecture in at [email protected] Massey Medal East Vancouver. • Voice your support for Collingwood for excellence branch library’s inclusion in Vancouver’s in Canadian As the library approaches its 60th Heritage Registry by sending architecture. A rare photo of the interior of the Collingwood branch anniversary in 2011, recognition correspondence to both the mayor library as it appeared in 1951. Note the spacious quality is overdue. It would be nice if the and city council at mayorandcouncil@ Despite this of the interior and open glass front that looks out onto library’s building design, layout and vancouver.ca – messages will be illustrious Kingsway. The circulation desk area as it was in 1951 is interior furnishings could be spruced forwarded to the mayor and all council in the same area as it is today. (Source: Vancouver Public up in the Modernist spirit, sensitive of members course to the library staff and patron Library, Special Collections, VPL 28573) Continued on page 11 RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWS October 2010 11 Continued from page 10 • To see more of Douglas Simpson’s Work Work Play architectural legacy in photos on the internet, visit Douglas RENFREW LIBRARY Simpson’s website for more 2969 East 22nd Avenue Vancouver BC 604-257-8705 information www.greggsimpson. com/DCSimpson.htm Reviews by Anne Kyler, Renfrew Branch, Vancouver Public Library John Mendoza has lived in The Holford Low-GL Diet Made Easy by Patrick Collingwood for almost 30 Holford years. He is a teacher and Recipes and menus that are designed to fll you up, not fatten aspiring writer. His interests you, keep your blood sugar balanced, and you eating healthy. include travel, reading, art and Straightforward advice on how to handle restaurant meals . architecture. This is his second article for Renfrew-Collingwood Winging It: A memoir of caring for a vengeful parrot Community News. who’s determined to kill me by Jenny Gardiner Parrots live a very long time, so the gift of a baby parrot complicates the lives of Jenny and Scott Gardiner. Later the About Modernist arrival of their own babies brings more upsets, chaos and Architecture medical emergencies, yet somehow despite provocation (Graycie would be considered a grumpy parrot), they love her. Modernist architecture may be difcult to love for the average Complete Guide to Women’s Heart Health: The Go person. Unlike the ornately decorated Red for women way to well being and vitality by the buildings of the early 20th century, American Heart Association Modernist buildings are characterized There are risk factors, but then there ARE things you can do by its cubic shapes, clean lines and about them. This book is organized by decades, the challenges unembellished exteriors. and how realistically you can modify their effect on your heart and your life. Confounding the argument for preserving Modernist buildings is The Male Brain: A breakthrough understanding of the fact that some have not aged how men and boys think by Louann Brizendine very well; the superfcial response Here at last is the companion book to the author’s is an insensitive renovation or even The Female Brain. In the introduction is a list of 10 demolition. However, when designed physical parts of the brain that are different from with an architect’s discerning eye, a female brain. Most of this highly readable book Modernist buildings have become looks at the different kinds of behaviour that result important heritage structures in their from these biological differences, and the problems it own right. creates for couples. Some local examples of Modernist Alice I have Been by Melanie BenjaminAlice buildings include the Electra Liddell Hargreaves was the little girl that Alice in condominiums on Burrard Street Wonderland was written to amuse. This novel is (formerly the BC Hydro headquarters) a glimpse of her life, growing up, not allowed to and the Guinness Tower on West marry her love because of rumours of her childhood Hastings Street in downtown relationship with Lewis Carroll, marrying another, Vancouver. having sons, watching them go off to WWI but not —JM returning, struggling to survive hard times. The story is fascinating. “Anyone who says he can see through women is missing a lot.” —Groucho Marx. Local Artisan’s Winter Craft And we have a Reading Club winner! Fair Dec 4th 11-5pm Nancy Wong was the lucky recipient of the 2010 Adult Summer Reading Club grand Collingwood Neighbourhood House prize of a Kobo eReader at the Collingwood 5288 Joyce Street, Vancouver Branch of the Vancouver Public Library. Tables available: $20 The reading program ran from July 2 thru to August 13, 2010.