Gastown Architectural Walk

Daily Province - 198 W Hastings St

1908-1909 - This neoclassic Edwardian commercial structure was designed to impress people with the prosperity and grandeur of the company. Original home to the News Advisor, it was purchased by the Southam family in 1923 and became the Daily Province newspaper until 1960. Note the nicely detailed brackets and cartouches over the ground floor windows.

Architect: Arthur Cox

Dominion Trust Building - 207 W Hastings St

1908-10 This Beaux Art building was designed like a five story Parisian home then stretched to 13 stories and 53m. It was Vancouver’s first steel-framed high-rise and was the tallest building in the British Empire went it was completed. It has a three storey mansard roof. The facade has Burmantofts terra cotta and polished red granite columns from Aberdeen.

Architect: J.S. Helyer

Unitel Building - 175 W Cordova

1968-69 - This modern building was part of Project 200. Several Vancouver heritage buildings were destroyed before local citizens stopped this poorly considered modernization project. 175 W. Cordova St.

Architect: Francis Donaldson

Masonic Temple - 301 W Cordova St

1888 - Built in the Italianate style it is painted in light pink with paired windows and brightly coloured mouldings. The original wraparound cornice deteriorated and was removed.

Architect: N.S. Hoffar

The Landing - 375 Water St

1905 - A typical 19th century warehouse design, owned by gold rushers.

Architect: T.W. Whiteway

Stone Building - 342 Water St

1899 - This Romanesque building has three entrance arches with carved capitols and grotesque keystone heads; said to ward off evil spirits.

Architect: W. Blackmore

Greenshields Building - 345 Water St

1901 - The brick façade includes carved sandstone capitols depicting Vancouver’s early settlers.

Le Magasin - 332 Water St

1910 - Before Gastown was designated as a Heritage district, this structure was completely redone in the 1960s, thus appearing distinct from the neighbourhood.

Architect: Stuart and White

Hudson Bay Warehouse - 321 Water St

1894 - Initially three storeys high, this Romanesque revival building was a warehouse for furs and liquor. It was the tallest structure in early Gastown. The top two floors were added in 1903.

Architect: W.T. Dalton

Leckie Building - 170 Water St

1908 - The Leckie Boot and Shoe Company was the original owner of this heavy timber framed structure. In 1992, the renovations retained the style of the building while adding unique seismic upgrades. Steel cross-bracings known as “Dywiducts” run diagonally from the ground floor to the roof. They function like giant rubber bands which enable the building to move during earthquakes.

Architects: Dalton and Eveleigh

Gastown Parkade - 150 Water St

This parkade was designed to provide much needed parking while blending with the overall Gastown architecture.

Architects: Henriquez and Todd

Gaslight Square- 131 Water St

1974-1975 - This tranquil courtyard off Water St. is the result of citizen opposition to the scope of Project 200. The initial shopping centre was scaled down to a stepped, low scale shopping area and outdoor plaza.

Architects: Henriquez and Todd

Dominion Hotel and Lamplighter Pub - 92 Water St

1900-01 - This Italianate style hotel was popular with commercial travellers. The ground floor pub commemorated John Clough, Vancouver’s first lamplighter, and was the first pub in Vancouver to serve alcohol to women.

Architect: E.G. Guenther;

Alhambra Hotel and Gassy Jack - 203 Carrall St

1886-87 - This Victorian Italianate commercial brick building was the most expensive local hotel, charging $1 per night. The chimneys on the roof are evidence that it was able to offer hot water.

Architect: Elmer H. Fisher

This 6'6" bronze figure standing on a barrel, prominently located in front of the hotel, commemorates the man for whom Gastown is named. Born in 1830, "Gassy" Jack Deighton was an adventurer who went to sea and was attracted by the gold rush in California and then in New Caledonia (now British Columbia). He didn't strike it rich and instead became a tax man and a steamboat pilot and later ran a saloon which is why he stands on a whiskey barrel. The Globe Saloon which stood on the site was reputedly built in 24 hours by the thirsty workers. (Vancouver Sun, April 7, 2001, H3) The nickname Gassy Jack came from the fact that he talked so much. (drawn from Old Vancouver Townsite Walking Tour, Footprints Community Art Project, 2001)

Dunn Building - 1 Alexander St

1898 - This building was erected by Thomas Dunn to house his ship chandlery and hardware business. It is on the site of the temporary “tent” city hall that was set-up after the great fire of 1886.

Architect: N.S. Hoffar

Europe Hotel - 41 Powell St

1908-09 - Built on a triangular plan, this flatiron commercial hotel was one of finest in Vancouver when it was built. Many of the original structures including the mosaic marble floor are still intact. The wide cornice is a signature of the architects. Between the pillars on each floor are common parlour rooms that face the square.

Architects: Parr and Fee

Van Horne Lofts - 22 E Cordova St

1996 - One of the first indicators that this area was becoming attractive to developers. The building is named after Sir William Van Horne General Manager and builders of the C.P.R.