Vancouver's Architecture

Robson Square is a collection of buildings and open spaces designed by architect Arthur Erickson and it marks the absolute heart of downtown.

Robson Square starts with the massive slopes of glass covering the Law Courts Building that’s opposite the Wedgewood Hotel. The Courthouse opens up into a public space with a waterfall, trees and many stairs and a ramp.

The lower level has eateries, conference rooms and a skating rink as well as a University of BC bookstore. Arthur Erickson, the complex's architect, provided a structure that is both functional and a testament to the idea that high-rises are not the only alternative for inner cities.

After the courthouse was constructed, the classical-styled former courthouse on Georgia Street at the north end of the site was adapted to become the home of the Vancouver Art Gallery.

Address: 800 Robson Street (Corner of Robson and Hornby Streets)

The Art Gallery is located in the heart of the Downtown core in what was once the Vancouver Provincial Courthouse. The 165,000-square-foot building was originally designed as a courthouse by Francis Rattenbury, after a comptetition in 1905.

Rattenbury is the same architect who designed Victoria’s Legislature Building. After the new courthoused at Robson Square was built, the Rattenbury structure was renovated by Arthur Erickson in 1983.

Address: 750 Hornby Street

This is more than just a hotel. At one time, the hotel’s roof line was the town’s symbol and while other buildings have dwarfed it, the old establishment remains a major part of the city’s history.

Built in 1939, the design was inspired by the picturesque chateaux of Scotland and France with steeped roofs and gargoyles. It was finished in time for the visit to Vancouver of King George V I and Queen Elizabeth. While it was rival Canadian National that built the hotel, Canadian Pacific agreed to joint management of the hotel in exchange for use of the hotel’s name.

Now owned by Fairmont Hotels, it has had a complete multi-million dollar makeover, the result being that whatever glories might have been diminished in recent years have been fully restored. The renovations exposed the wonderful stone arches and other designs that had been covered up by previous renovations.

Address: 645 Howe Street

Located across from the Hotel Vancouver, the sandstone Gothic Revival church with its gabled roof, buttresses and stained-glass windows sticks out like a lush olive tree against the sterile high rise skyline. You must go in to see the rich, multi-colored windows.

The oldest surviving church in Vancouver, it was completed in 1895, and is at the heart of the Cathedral Place complex, a city block that houses several important buildings including Cathedral Place Tower, Canadian Craft Museum and a lovely plaza that separates the buildings from one another.

Here is where you can experience several architectural styles, all of which blend into one another - the church, the 23 storied Cathedral Place tower done in psuedo art deco style, and the contemporary Reid Gallery.

Address: 690 Burrard Street (Corner of Burrard and W. Georgia Streets)

Across the street from the Queen Elizabeth Theatre and Playhouse complex (home of the Vancouver Opera), the CBC building, and the main Post Office is the $100 million Vancouver Public Library at Library Square.

In addition to more than one million books, and a collection of electronic databases, the building is home to 1394 sq. m (15,000 sq. ft.) of retail space, and 15 stores.

This is a concrete, low-rise building with an associated concrete tower with a pre-cast concrete panel exterior. The structure is exceptionally well oriented to the street with its ground-level collection of boutiques, restaurants and a grand entrance hall.

But its main attribute is its design - an exterior that resembles the Roman Colosseum.

Address: 350 W. Georgia Street (Corner of W. Georgia and Homer Streets)

The old CPR railway station, meticulously restored to its original 1914 beaux-arts style, is now a terminal for the Seabus and Skytrain system and called Waterfront Station. It lies next to Gastown and is adjacent to the Convention Centre and the Pan Pacific/Canadian Pacific Waterfront Hotel properties.

The interior of the building is one of the city’s most impressive with a series of paintings by the wife of a former CPR executive decorating the walls. It’s now also a gathering place for young people with backpacks meeting downtown, where they can get a coffee and muffin at Café Zoom or at the Starbucks franchise outlet.

Address: 601 W. Cordova Street (At The foot of Seymour Street)

The Canada Place complex that includes the original convention center, plus the main cruise ship terminal, Pan Pacific Hotel, Vancouver Board of Trade, restaurants and shopping, is also the city's iconic symbol.

Built in time for Expo '86, the complex faces the craggy North Shore mountains.

Shaped like a ship and recognized by its five towering white sails, it's the primary the site for the cruise ship industry with ships sailing to Alaska between May and October. Next to it, to the west, is the newest part of the complex, the new convention centre, constructed in time for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.

Immediately adjacent to the new convention centre is the Olympic Torch, the centre point for the winter games.

Address: 999 Canada Place (Foot of Burrard Street)

For the latest in contemporary life-style architecture take a walk along the seawall that extends from the new convention centre and Olympic torches on the waterfront towards Stanley Park. There, you'll get a taste of "today" in the towering structures built as high-rise condos.