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JournalStatementRemembering Blanche Lemco van Ginkel, 1923–2022

Remembering Blanche Lemco van Ginkel, 1923–2022

Category : Statement
Date : November 21, 2022

VANCOUVER: One of Canada’s leading modernist architects, Blanche Lemco van Ginkel, whose impact reverberated across the country over the course of her six-decade career, passed away on October 20th at the age of 98. An architect, planner, educator, author, and advocate for women in the design professions, van Ginkel’s work was deeply rooted in architecture’s duty towards social responsibility and in celebrating cultural and collective values. She was a forward-thinking pioneer in urban planning and in advocacy for the protection of heritage districts, championing pedestrian-focused design and encouraging the revitalization of districts such as Old Montreal. She leaves a modern design legacy that our urban environments are better for. We join the Canadian design community and abroad in celebrating the boldness and tenacity of her modern architectural vision, and the immeasurable impact she has had on the design disciplines.

Blanche Lemco van Ginkel was born in London, England, in 1923. She would be raised in the UK until the age of thirteen, relocating to Montreal with her mother and siblings. Among the first group of women to be accepted into McGill’s School of Architecture, she graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture in 1945, and later a Master of City Planning from Harvard University in 1950. Following her studies, she would take up a number of positions in municipal planning and architecture, most notably working in Le Corbusier’s atelier on the rooftop terrace of the iconic Unité d’Habitation in Marseille, France.

Blanche spent much of her career in partnership with her husband Sandy van Ginkel. The pair met in 1953, married in 1956, and would launch van Ginkel Associates in 1957. The firm’s notable achievements included saving the historical district of Old Montreal, a success that led to the creation of the urban planning profession in Canada. The firm was also involved in the preliminary planning for the 1967 Canadian World Exhibition in Montreal, a study of urban circulation in midtown Manhattan in 1970-72, and the preservation of Montreal’s Mount Royal. Other projects included designs for the town planning of Meadowvale, Bowring Park in St. John’s, and It Can be Done, a film for the US State Department.

In addition to her professional endeavours, Blanche Lemco van Ginkel was also a committed educator, taking up positions at the University of Pennsylvania (1951-1957), the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University (1958/1971/1975), the Université de Montréal (1961-1970), McGill University (1971-1977), and at the University of Toronto (1977-1993), where she would later become Dean. She was also an active member of the architecture community, serving on the board of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA), and various accreditation committees.

“Architecture is a cultural pursuit and those who practice it, or are allowed to practice it, reflect our culture, our mores, our attitudes, in Canada as elsewhere.” – Blanche Lemco van Ginkel [1]

Among her wide array of professional achievements, Blanche Lemco van Ginkel was also a champion for women in design, recognized for her many firsts: the first female dean of a North American school of architecture; first female fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC); first female president of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA); first female professor at the University of Pennsylvania; first female councillor of the Town Planning Institute of Canada; first female member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts. She was also afierce a dvocate for women in the design professions through numerous publications, speaking engagements, and exhibitions.

Blanche Lemco van Ginkel
December 14, 1923 – October 20, 2022

 

 

[1] Adams, Annmarie & Tanya Southcott (McGill University). Pioneering Women of American Architecture. Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation.

 

In Memoriam

  • An Ode to Blanche Lemco van Ginkel. Elizabeth Paglicolo. October 28, 2022. Azure Magazine.
  • Montreal architecture pioneer Blanche Lemco van Ginkel dead at 98. The Canadian Press. October 27, 2022. CTV News Montreal.
  • Blanche Lemco van Ginkel, saviour of Old Montreal, diest at 98. René Bruemmer. October 26, 2022. Montreal Gazette.
  • Blanche Lemco van Ginkel was a key figure in 20th-century architecture. Adele Weder. October 26, 2022. The Globe and Mail.
  • In Memorium: Blanche Lemco van Ginkel, 1923-2022. October 21, 2022. Canadian Architect.
  • Adams, Annmarie & Tanya Southcott (McGill University). Pioneering Women of American Architecture. Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation.
 
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We cannot thank enough all of you who joined us on We cannot thank enough all of you who joined us on November 28th for our ON THE BOARDS lecture at Inform Interiors, and a very special thank you to Susan and David Scott for sharing their thoughtful and inspiring work. You have no doubt captivated our design community! 

We are so appreciative for the community's enthusiasm towards our On the Boards series. This series, exploring the creative endeavours of our local designers, is now a regular part of our programming and will return again in the new year. Follow us on IG and subscribe to our mailing list for future event announcements.

ON THE BOARDS SPEAKER SERIES

The West Coast Modern League gratefully acknowledges the partnership and generous support of Inform Interiors and their entire team.

Link in bio for more information.

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#westcoastmodern #westcoastmodernism #westcoastmodernarchitecture #coastmodern #coastmodernism #coastmodernarchitecture #pnwarchitecture #vancouverarchitecture #vanarch #architecturelovers #archilovers #woodhouses #westcoastmodernhouses #modernhouses #iconichouses #architecture #design #moderndesign #artarchitecture #canadianarchitecture #canadianarchitect #architecture #modern #scottandscottarchitects #informinteriors #wcmlontheboards #ontheboards #westcoastmodernleague #wcmlvan
The League congratulates acclaimed artist Dana Cla The League congratulates acclaimed artist Dana Claxton on receiving the 2023 Audain Prize for the Visual Arts. ⁠
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"Dana Claxton is a critically acclaimed artist who works with film, video, photography, single/multi- channel video installation, and performance art. Her practice investigates indigenous beauty, the body, the socio-political and the spiritual. Her work has been shown at the Museum of Modern Art (NY), Metropolitan Museum of Art (NY), Walker Art Centre (Minneapolis, MN), Sundance Film Festival, Salt Lake City (UT), Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, Indianapolis (IN), Museum of Contemporary Art (AUS), Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art (AR), Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University (NC), Memphis Brooks Museum of Art (TN) and the Minneapolis Institute of Art (MN). Her work is held in public, private and corporate collections including the National Gallery of Canada, Winnipeg Art Gallery, Vancouver Art Gallery, Mackenzie Art Gallery, Audain Museum, Eiteljorg Museum, Seattle Art Museum, Henry Art Gallery, Forge Project, Minneapolis Institute of Art, University of Toronto, Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art and the Moose Jaw Museum and Art Gallery." – Audain Prize⁠
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The Audain Prize for the Visual Arts is one of Canada’s most prestigious honours. This annual prize is awarded to a senior artist in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the arts. Recipients of the Audain Prize are highly acclaimed Canadian cultural icons.⁠
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LINK IN BIO FOR FULL STATEMENT⁠
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[Image] Dana Claxton, “Paint Up #1,” 2009. Chromogenic print. Collection of the Audain Art Museum. Courtesy of the artist.⁠
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#audainprize #audain #prize #danaclaxton #visualarts #canadianarts #canadianartist #photography #performance #video #installation #finearts #indigenous #culturalicons #universityofbritishcolumbia #westcoastmodernleague #wcmlvan
TONIGHT the League continues our ON THE BOARDS ser TONIGHT the League continues our ON THE BOARDS series, at Inform Interiors, with Susan and David Scott of Scott & Scott Architects.

With a strong history of design here in Vancouver, this series is intended to turn focus on our local designers. On the Boards is an opportunity for us to come together and share in work being undertaken right here in our own backyard. 

The event is full and the waitlist long. We are so grateful for all of the interest in this lecture. 

See you tonight!

ON THE BOARDS SPEAKER SERIES

TUES • NOV 28 • 2023 | 5:00–7:00pm
Inform Interiors | 50 Water Street, Vancouver, BC

Reception at 5:00pm | Presentation at 6:00pm

@scottandscottca 
@wcm_league
@informinteriors 
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#westcoastmodern #modernarchitecture #modernlandscape #vancouverarchitecture #vanarch #canadianarchitecture #canadianarchitect #pnwarchitecture #westcoastmodernhouses #westcoastmodernism #architecturetalks #ontheboards #modern #architecture #landscape #design #architecturelovers #scottandscott #scottandscottarchitects #informinteriors #wcmlontheboards #westcoastmodernleague #wcmlvan
The jury citation for the RAIC's 2016 Young Archit The jury citation for the RAIC's 2016 Young Architect Award noted the work of Susan and David Scott as "a full investigation of the possibilities of design from building down to the smallest components that make up the environment." Their deep respect for craft and the process of building is evidenced in their designs by the inventiveness of the detail combined with the ease in which the materiality of their spaces appear to come together. 

Tomorrow, Susan and David join us for the latest in our On the Boards series.

ON THE BOARDS SPEAKER SERIES⁠
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TUES • NOV 28 • 2023 | 5:00–7:00pm⁠
Inform Interiors | 50 Water Street, Vancouver, BC⁠
Reception at 5:00pm | Presentation at 6:00pm⁠
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SOLD OUT

@scottandscottca 
@wcm_league 
@informinteriors 
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#westcoastmodern #westcoastmodernism #westcoastmodernarchitecture #coastmodern #coastmodernism #coastmodernarchitecture #pnwarchitecture #vancouverarchitecture #vanarch #architecturelovers #archilovers #woodhouses #westcoastmodernhouses #modernhouses #iconichouses #architecture #design #moderndesign #artarchitecture #canadianarchitecture #canadianarchitect #architecture #modern #scottandscottarchitects #informinteriors #wcmlontheboards #ontheboards #westcoastmodernleague #wcmlvan
The League congratulates this year's recipients of The League congratulates this year's recipients of the Architecture Foundation of British Columbia's 2023 Architectural Awards of Excellence. These awards, given out annually, acknowledge and celebrate the exceptional and unique works undertaken by British Columbia's architects.

@officemb.ca 
@perkinswill_van 
@hcma.ca 
@f2a_architecture 
@toad.design 
@leckiestudio 
@measuredarchitecture 
@kobayashizeddaarchitects 

LINK IN BIO FOR FULL STATEMENT

[Images 1, 6, 7, 8, 9] Ema Peter @emaphotographi 
[Images 2, 10] Andrew Latreille @latreillephotography 
[Image 3] Brittney Kwasney @britkwas 
[Image 4] Michael Elkan @michaelelkan 
[Image 5] Miguel Orellana @miguelorellana.eu 
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#architecturebritishcolumbia #architecture #design #architectureawards #afbc #afbcawards #architecturefoundationbc #designexcellence #bcarchitects #vancouverarchitecture #vanarch #canadianarchitects #canadianarchitecture #westcoastmodernleague #wcmlvan
Having built a number of their own projects, Susan Having built a number of their own projects, Susan and David Scott have been described as architects who like to get their hands dirty. Whether on a snowy mountainside, in a rural meadow, or an urban neighbourhood, they craft architecture with conceptual clarity, an intimate sensitivity to its surroundings, and deep respect for local, natural materials. 

On November 28th, we'll hear what this architect duo has been up to lately as they'll present recent works, On the Boards. 

ON THE BOARDS SPEAKER SERIES⁠
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TUES • NOV 28 • 2023 | 5:00–7:00pm⁠
Inform Interiors | 50 Water Street, Vancouver, BC⁠
Reception at 5:00pm | Presentation at 6:00pm⁠
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SOLD OUT

Link in bio to join the waitlist.
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#westcoastmodern #westcoastmodernism #westcoastmodernarchitecture #coastmodern #coastmodernism #coastmodernarchitecture #pnwarchitecture #vancouverarchitecture #vanarch #architecturelovers #archilovers #woodhouses #westcoastmodernhouses #modernhouses #iconichouses #architecture #design #moderndesign #artarchitecture #canadianarchitecture #canadianarchitect #architecture #modern #scottandscottarchitects #informinteriors #wcmlontheboards #ontheboards #westcoastmodernleague #wcmlvan

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