West End Architectural Walk

1150 Haro St

Built from a plan book in 1892 this house is typical of the Queen Anne style. It is asymmetrical with bay windows on one side and a porch. The siding shows extensive ornamentation and detail. In the early 1890s, this style became very popular in Vancouver. It was considered to be a picturesque home, and typical of the middle class. It is a level B Heritage building. It now serves as a seniors centre and has had an elevator installed.

Beaconsfield Apartments

This large geometric brick apartment building has some art-deco finishings. It was built in 1909 and has oriel windows, stained glass, exposed beams and a rusticated stone base. It is a Heritage level A building. At one time, it was a home for single women who would sleep six to an apartment.

Architect - J.S.D. Taylor

1323 Barclay St

This building was build in 1930 in the Queen Anne style. It was later “renovated” with the porches removed and the exterior wall stuccoed. Such renovated buildings tend to preserve the underlying wood finishes from the original buildings. In many cases, the stucco can be removed and the original Queen Anne look restored. Many West End homes underwent such renovations to create more interior space and became boarding houses.

Roedde House - 1415 Barclay St

The Roedde House was build in 1893 for Vancouver’s first book binders, the Roedde Family. It was designed by Francis Rattenbury in the Queen Anne style with Victorian themes and his trademark turret. It is an example of a modest elite home. In 1990, it opened as a home museum after being restored to its original colours.

Architect: Francis Rattenbury

Barclay Manor - 1447 Barclay St

In the 1890s, Vancouver’s first accountant, Charles Tetley, built this Georgian Revival style edifice with a wrap-around porch. It is an example of an elaborate elite home. After being sold it was used as a girls’ home, and later purchased by the City as a community hall. 

Architect: R.J McDonald

Corner Store - Nicola St and Barclay St

This building is still maintained as corner store. The old neon sign is reminiscent of a time when Vancouver was the neon capital of North America.

968 Nicola St

This art-deco rooming house has a stucco finish and interesting window coverings.

Queen Charlotte Apartments - 1101 Nicola St

Built in 1928 by Charles Bentall’s Dominion Construction Company, it is a blend of Edwardian and classical styles. It has a two storey front entrance, clay tile roof and symmetrical massing. Note the art-deco and arts nouveau finishing. The bathrooms have been retained in their original diminutive size and the original bird cage elevator is still in operation.

The Beaufort - 1160 Nicola St

This 1932 building displays cement carved to look like stone with front and side facades reflecting the heavy brown-beamed Tudor style. The apartments have large living rooms, and were the first in the area to have refrigerators and built in vacuums.

1419 Pendrell St

This apartment building was designed in the Georgian Revival style. It makes extensive use of brick work and has stained glass windows above the entrance.

1122, 1116 and 1110 Bute St

These three Queen Anne homes were scheduled for demolition, however community action helped preserve and restore them. The stucco was removed and they were painted in their original colors. This is the top of Mole Hill, the highest point in the West End.

Mole Hill Community Housing Society

1100 Block Pendrell St

The Mole Hill heritage housing community is situated in the block framed by Thurlow, Pendrell, Bute and Comox Streets. It is made up of many heritage Queen Anne houses that collectively have 170 rental units. This area was named after two of the first residents: Henry and Elizabeth Mole.

Each house in the Mole Hill community has between three and eight units. The individual units are between 200 and 1,600 square feet. The units are a mix of market and subsidized pricing. Notice the house at 1139 Pendrell Street, it has elegant wedding ring shingles and a second floor balcony.

1145 Pendrell St – The original building collapsed, but it was restored to the original row housing in 2003. This building contains eight units.

1147 Pendrell St – In 1996, the stucco was removed and the wrap around porch was redone.

1169 Pendrell St – The five Queen Anne homes on this block were originally built in 1898. They were eventually restored and updated with each house comprised of five suites.

Dr Peter Centre - 1110 Comox St

The Dr. Peter Centre moved its day treatment from St. Paul’s hospital to its new home in the West End in 2003. This new Centre assists the community and health care system to cope with the ongoing need for AIDS care. The Centre provides care, programs and services to approximately 50 residents and 300 Day Health Program participants each year.

Dr Peter Centre Admin Offices - 1122 Comox St

This is the administration building for the Dr. Peter Centre. It was donated to St. Paul’s Hospital by the Mole Hill Society. It is a striking house with unique and interesting architectural features which include a tower, veranda, oriel windows and a dormer.