Volume 10 Number 11 December 2001 HERITAGE Vanco N e w s l eu t t ev r er Christmas at Roedde House by J u s t y n a K r o l n 1893 Gustav Roedde built a house on Barclay Street in Today the house is a fully restored museum. It’s the cen- Vancouver’s fashionable West End. It was a stately home, trepiece of Barclay Heritage Square, which features a total designed in the late Victorian manner, and served as a of nine Victorian homes, most of which serve as community Itestament to the success and perseverance of the German- spaces and public housing facilities. The development of born immigrant who became Vancouver’s first printer and the Square introduced an unusual combination of inner-city bookbinder. The design of Roedde House is attributed to the parkland and heritage buildings, thereby turning the site into B.C. architect Francis M. Rattenbury, notable for his work on a functional – and historical – community asset. The Museum the Parliament Buildings and Empress Hotel in Victoria and maintains community involvement by providing a number of for Vancouver’s Art Gallery (formerly the Court House). elementary-school tours as well as guided visits for the pub- Rattenbury, a friend of Gustav Roedde, conceived the lic. It also hosts teas and salon concert series, and is particu- house in a Queen Anne Revival style with a cupola, bay win- larly known for its wonderful Victorian Christmas events. dows, an upstairs porch and a downstairs veranda. Terence While the Victorian décor of the Museum makes time-hon- Brunette, City of Vancouver’s heritage planner and past cura- oured Christmas customs come to life, the Roeddes’ German tor of Roedde House, has noted that Rattenbury came from background makes such celebrations even more fitting. The a professional climate that was associated with some of the traditions which most of us associate with a Victorian or most advanced and sophisticated developments in architec- English Christmas originated in Germany and were brought tural thinking of the time. It is likely that the Roedde House into England by Prince Albert after his marriage to Queen would have been seen as a designer’s house in the way Victoria in 1840. Prince Albert became one of the greatest that the homes of those involved with applied design often authorities on the English Christmas, and introduced Windsor employ cutting-edge product. to the first Christmas tree – with all of its trimmings – which see Roedde House page three HERITAGE V a n co u V e r M o d e r n VancoPRESENTSuver A Victorian Christmas Party The Executive and Board of Directors of Heritage Vancouver Request the pleasure of your company at the Roedde House Museum, 1415 Barclay Street December 13th, 6 to 9 pm The Roedde House will be deco- rated in authentic Victorian style for Christmas and this gathering Photo: Robert Moffatt 2001 will be an opportunity for vol- unteers, members and friends of Heritage Vancouver to celebrate the festive season. Between rainforest and river It will also be a chance to do some Christmas shopping: Vancouver authors will be on by hand with copies of their newest Robert Moffatt books on heritage in Vancouver. (Cheques or cash accepted.) Chow house is prominently visible from the 1319 Riverside Drive, North Vancouver entry drive. Roofing of flat stones Light refreshments will be served. Blair MacDonald and Barry Downs 1960 andcedar shakes helps visually RSVP to 604-254-9411 integrate the structure into the sur- if attending. Set into a rocky, forested site rounding trees and river rock, and bordering the Seymour River, the the house is further anchored to the Chow house exudes a Zen-like site by the grey concrete blocks tranquility amid native evergreens used for retaining walls and the Heritage Unlimited 2002: and vine maples. raised rear terraces. The proximity Challenges/Opportunities/ In designing the house, architects to the river is capitalized upon by Commitment Blair MacDonald and Barry Downs enclosing the living and dining area Wednesday, January 16, 2002 looked to Japanese design prin- with glass outer walls; the open- ciples to maximize the rainforest ness creates a feeling of hammock- Join us as President Janet Leduc, setting. The Japanese theme was like suspension above the rushing Heritage Consultant Donald Luxton established by framing dark-stained water. and Program Chair Art Perret present a structural members around white Selected for the 1964 Massey wide-ranging and informative overview stucco wall panels inside and out, Medals for Architecture exhibi- of challenges and opportunities facing their regular cadence creating a tion, the Chow house is one of Heritage Vancouver in 2002: serene atmosphere and minimizing several projects that MacDonald • The overhanging future of Burrard visual distractions from the site’s and Downs designed together dur- ‑‑Bridge natural beauty. A raised clerestory ing the late 1950s and early 1960s. • Health of the Heather Pavilion, VGH continued the theme and floods the Both architects enjoyed further • The China Gate Project entrance and hallway with natural success in Vancouver: MacDonald • The Top Ten List – 10 months later light, the effect varying throughout with McCarter and Nairne, and Preview the exciting program plans the day. Downs most notably in partnership for the year, mark your calendars As Riverside Drive is several feet with Richard Archambault. and commit your time and expertise above the site, the house’s rooftop to make 2002 another successful and fun-filled year. from cover Roedde House time to save the house. The dining Burrard Bridge Alert room was gutted, panelling burned and furniture and china destroyed, but no The City of Vancouver is quickly became an institution throughout England and eventu- one was hurt. The fire accounts for the currently conducting a False ally throughout the Western world. fact that the dining room was redeco- Creek Crossings Study. Prince Albert also helped to popu- rated in a completely different style larize carol singing. from the rest of the house – with high One of the options still being consid- The Roedde family celebrated thirty- dado, horizontal panelled doors, and ered is the widening of the Burrard two of their Christmases at the house framing in the new mission (or Arts Street Bridge to accommodate pedes- on Barclay Street. While most of the and Crafts style) for the insides of the trian/cyclist lanes on the outside of family’s stories recall holidays filled windows. the structure. It would involve either with lavish decorating, gift-giving and Since the Museum’s inception, the complete removal or replacement elaborate supper preparations, a nar- the Christmas season has been of the historic railings or, at the very rowly-averted tragedy nearly brought celebrated at the House with the least, the hanging of outriggers on the these traditions to an end in 1913. The accoutrements of times past: mulled sides of the bridge. If you can’t visual- Christmas tree, standing in the wide cider and fruitcake, carolling in the ize what this would look like, go see bay of the dining room and lit by can- parlour to the accompaniment of a what has been done to the Port Mann dles attached to the branches by clips, Victorian Steinway piano, and the Bridge, and then try to imagine that caught on fire just as everyone was fresh scent of evergreens from the kind of cantilevered structure hanging about to sit down to dinner. The fam- luxuriously decorated lintels hung off the side of the Burrard Bridge. It ily tried to extinguish the flames with with cedar, spruce and holly. would destroy the heritage fabric of buckets from the kitchen until the fire Justyna Krol is a curator at Roedde House. this unique landmark. engine from No. 6 Firehouse (now Almost any other suggestion–for restored) on Nelson Street arrived in example, modifications to the Granville Bridge or a completely new structure dedicated to pedestrians and The Penthouse: A Popular Success cyclists–would be preferable to the destruction of this “A” heritage struc- ture. Heritage Vancouver is completely opposed to this option and we have embarked on a campaign to stop it. We need all of you to write a letter to the city objecting to the idea and ask- ing that the integrity of the bridge be maintained. Heritage Consultant Donald Luxton has just completed a comprehensive heritage study of the bridge and will be making a presenta- tion at our January meeting. UBC teacher and author Becki Ross, discussing the history of stripping at The Penthouse, addresses a full house at Becki Ross, Penthouse owner Ross Filippone Heritage Vancouver monthly meeting November 21. and HV President Janet Leduc Penthouse photos: Brock C. Piper Letter to the Editor: Words from the President Dear Editor: It was a delight to see the historic Beatty Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all! Street Drill Hall given such a terrific boost in your last issue. As Robert Moffatt point- ed out, this year is the 100th anniversary Dear Members, of the Drill Hall, the proud home of the British Columbia Regiment, the oldest regiment in the province. While the Drill On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to wish all of our Hall may look its age, this heritage building members a happy holiday season and best wishes for the year ahead. continues to function as the modern base You are our greatest asset. Thank you so much for your continued sup- for the men and women of The BC port for our advocacy efforts, and here's hoping that 2002 brings us an Regiment, which is an operational Reserve expanded heritage register, protection for derelict heritage buildings and Army unit of the Canadian Forces 39 increased tax relief for owners.