The TD Bank building and Eaton’s building by Cesar Pelli, photo © Michael de Courcy, mid-1970s This is not a true post-mortem, since Cesar Pelli‘s 1973 Eaton’s building has not actually been demolished—and how rare it is to be able to say that in Vancouver, now one of North America’s capitals of demolition. However, the building might as well have been demolished because it has effectively disappeared. Pelli, one of the …read more

This example of blobitecture is being proposed for Vancouver, apparently to be squeezed between two older buildings on the waterfront in the historic neighbourhood known as Gastown. There has been no public hearing regarding the building, so the public have taken to social media to express what seems to be more displeasure than pleasure. Celebrated former city director of Planning Ray Spaxman has spoken out against it, as have a …read more

This post is for Vancouverites who are either new to the city or who are urban or civic politics nerds but may not be acquainted with the early historical roots of the local civic political party known—somewhat hilariously—as the Non Partisan Association (NPA). In power for many years, the NPA was recently all-but eliminated by a new developer-funded party, Vision Vancouver. However, lately the NPA seems to be attempting a …read more

Yes, the official ScanBC Twitter account which monitors the electronic communications of BC’s emergency services has reported that Vancouver Police are on scene with a male robbed of his gold chain and his purse and Seymour St  & W Hastings St. Suspect fled in white BMW This almost reads as a form of time travel in which the new Vancouver reality is overlaid upon the old. Or as William Gibson …read more

This made me laugh quite hard. Also, courtesy of the enjoyable fuckyournoguchitable tumblr: antlers, actual real taxidermy, fake taxidermy, steer skull and cardboard antlers. Meanwhile, as Vancouver’s historic Chinatown gets very quickly gentrified–evacuations of historic businesses, sales and demolitions of buildings, and the erection of new glass luxury condos—we see it filling up with upscale little restaurants and cafes full of… antlers. This white man’s pioneer or settler style, circa …read more

Photo of Reykjavik by Gunnar Steinn / Made by Iceland Jón Gnarr, mayor of Reykjavik and member of The Sugarcubes, shared Made by Iceland‘s photo on Facebook and wrote this: My dream (It’s pretty naive but I just have to get it off my chest) I think Iceland offers a unique opportunity for the world. It is a small community with only 350.000 inhabitants, highly modern and educated within less than …read more