Vancouver’s architecture and art often respond to the natural environment that surrounds us. For every one of us who lives here, it is not hard to comprehend why the endless oceans, soaring mountains, dense forests and luminous rain storms serve as constant inspiration for creatives. In fact much of what sets Vancouver apart from other cities is an architectural fascination with nature and the attempts made to capture the undefinable feel of the west coast.
Take for example, one of Vancouver’s most notable buildings, The Marine Building. Designed to appear as a “great marine rock rising from the sea’, this McCarter and Nairne art deco masterpiece not only features sea life carvings, but also takes its colour cues from the oceans. Copper patina adds a greenish hue to the terracotta exterior, along with touches of shimmering gold and bronze. The interior utilizes the warmth of our local hard woods and then repeats the green and gold aquatic scheme with marble and bronze finishes. The green and gold create an effect of being under water, with the luminescent surface of the water above you.
West Coast Modern, Vancouver’s take on Mid-Century Modernism, is also known for its strong design connection to nature. Where mid-century accent colours stride towards vibrant orange, turquoise, and green, hard finishes such as those found on floors, fireplaces (check out this amazing catalog), and built-ins, made use of natural locally sourced BC hardwoods and stone. Paired with walls of glass that allow an unobstructed view to nature, West Coast Modern design creates a seamless relationship with the outdoors. Current Mid-Century modern homeowners often update interiors with a skyline inspired palette of cream, grey and steely blues to further enhance this relationship. On the exterior, many of these homes are almost invisible from the street as their use of natural wood and lush landscaping allows them to blend in with surrounding hills.
Vancouver also has its own palette of historic paint colours. Over 14 years ago VHF embarked on a journey to take paint scrapings from a number of heritage homes to discover their original paint colours. This information led to the creation of the True Colours palette, a collection of historically accurate Vancouver paint colours. The True Colours palette boasts tones of evergreen, granite, mushroom, and ochre; all colours found while wandering our dense forests. Historic homes often utilize a number of these colours, sometimes up to 4 or 5 per house. The resulting palette mimics the forest floor with colours that blend harmoniously with the natural surroundings. When landscaping is comprised of local natives plants, the resulting façade is incredibly handsome and undeniably Vancouver.
So embrace the earthy tones of Vancouver’s heritage and celebrate our home-grown architecture as unique from the rest of Canada. Vancouver is truly a one-of-a-kind place and by embracing the aesthetics of our past, we can showcase our nature-loving roots.
For more on VHF’s True Colours Paint Palette click here
For learn about VHF’s Mid-Century Modern House Tour click here
