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NewsArticleThe Home Front: Architect shares soulful vision for SFU’s new art museum

The Home Front: Architect shares soulful vision for SFU’s new art museum

Category : Article

Date : April 2, 2025

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Our friends at @northshoreheritage have taken a de

Our friends at @northshoreheritage have taken a deep dive into West Vancouver’s 1967 St. Stephen’s Anglican Church designed by Dick Mann of Thompson, Berwick & Pratt. Among the many remarkable details to celebrate in this wonderful piece of modern architecture, the most surprising and joyful elements are the windows placed to dissolve the corners of the structure encircling the Nave. From a distance, these stained-glass mosaic “curtains of colour” in triangular form artistically represent the daily cycles of the sun (yellow in the east, red in the west). Up close, you realize that each colour in the mosaic is uniquely constructed using 1” thick gem-cut slabs of glass.

Recognized for its architectural importance in the West Vancouver Survey of Significant Architecture 1945-1975 and for its heritage value in the West Vancouver Community Heritage Register, rumours are afloat that this significant building is in danger of demolition to make way for a condo tower. That would be a tremendous loss to the built legacy of West Coast Modernism and to the community of West Vancouver as the historical epicentre of the West Coast Modern movement.

Few tickets remain for your chance to see this building up close during the “Facets of Modernism” walking tour presented by @northshoreheritage as part of this year’s West Coast Modern Week.

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St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, 1967
West Vancouver, BC
Designed by Richard (Dick) Mann
(Thompson, Berwick & Pratt)
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#westcoastmodern #westcoastmodernarchitecture #westcoastmodernism #modernheritage #iconicbuildings #vancouverarchitecture #vanarch #canadianarchitecture #pnwarchitecture #placesofworship #modernarchitecture #modern #architecture #design #stainedglass #glassmosaics #slabglass #thompsonberwickpratt #modernwestcoastplaces #westcoastmodernleague #wcmlvan

Meet pre-eminent Canadian architect John Patkau.

Meet pre-eminent Canadian architect John Patkau.

Founded by John and Patricia Patkau in 1978, Vancouver-based Patkau Architects is one of Canada’s most celebrated architecture firms. Their recent designs include the Audain Art Museum in Whistler, Polygon Gallery in North Vancouver, and Arbour House in Victoria. John’s contributions to the practice of architecture have been recognized by numerous awards including the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada Gold Medal for lifetime achievement and Membership in the Order of Canada for significant contribution to Canadian culture. Internationally, he has also been made an Honorary Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and an International Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects.

John joins the West Coast Modern League on July 9th, with the West Vancouver Art Museum and The Polygon Gallery, for a talk exploring the works of Patkau Architects and the creation of architecture and design through unconventional material practice.

More tickets available soon!

LINK IN BIO

Part of West Coast Modern Week 2025.

@wcm_league
@westvancouverartmuseum
@polygongallery
@patkauarchitects
@pacificartstone

[Images] James Dow & Patkau Studio

[Event Sponsor] Pacific Art Stone
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#westcoastmodern #westcoastmodernism #westcoastmodernweek #modernarchitecture #westcoastarchitecture #westcoastmodernarchitecture #pnwarchitecture #woodhouses #coastmodern #midcenturymodernarchitecture #midcenturymodern #modern #westcoastcontemporary #vancouverarchitecture #vanarch #architecture #design #landscapearchitecture #modernism #westvancouver #northvancouver #britishcolumbia #canadianarchitecture #artarchitecture #architecturelover #westvancouverartmuseum #thepolygongallery #modernwestcoastplaces #westcoastmodernleague #wcmlvan

West Coast Modern Week is an annual celebration of

West Coast Modern Week is an annual celebration of West Coast Modernism, a distinct architectural movement with deep roots in West Vancouver. Surrounded by forested mountains, an expansive ocean, and a lush rainforest, this natural setting presents unique challenges and opportunities that are reflected in the local architecture.

Presented by the West Vancouver Art Museum, the fourth annual West Coast Modern Week runs July 8–13 with events including talks, exhibitions, socializing, and a unique Modern Home Tour offering access to local, architecturally significant homes.

The League is thrilled to be a presenting partner in the festival, this year joined by pre-eminent Canadian architect John Patkau on July 9th at The Polygon Gallery. John will give a talk exploring the work of Patkau Architects and the creation of architecture and design through unconventional material practice.

Check out the full schedule of events and register for all that the festival has to offer.

LINK IN BIO

@westvancouverartmuseum
@wcm_league
@polygongallery
@patkauarchitects
@pacificartstone
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#westcoastmodern #westcoastmodernism #westcoastmodernweek #modernarchitecture #westcoastarchitecture #westcoastmodernarchitecture #pnwarchitecture #woodhouses #coastmodern #midcenturymodernarchitecture #midcenturymodern #modern #westcoastcontemporary #vancouverarchitecture #vanarch #architecture #design #landscapearchitecture #modernism #westvancouver #northvancouver #britishcolumbia #canadianarchitecture #artarchitecture #architecturelover #westvancouverartmuseum #thepolygongallery #modernwestcoastplaces #westcoastmodernleague #wcmlvan

The League congratulates Vancouver-based D’Arcy

The League congratulates Vancouver-based D’Arcy Jones Architects on receiving the 2024 Prix de Rome in Architecture – Professional awarded by the Canada Council for the Arts.

“D’Arcy Jones is the principal of D’Arcy Jones Architects (DJA), a Vancouver practice recognized for design excellence. DJA’s responses to contemporary conditions have earned awards and publications nationally and internationally. Their work focuses on arts, residential and commercial projects. Previous practice honours include an Architectural Institute of British Columbia Emerging Firm Award, a Royal Architectural Institute of Canada Emerging Architectural Practice Award and the Ronald J. Thom Award for Early Design Achievement from the Canada Council for the Arts.

By reconsidering historic construction methods and rethinking contemporary attitudes to wood, the firm’s proposed study will advance Canadian architecture by analyzing wood construction through fresh eyes.” – Canada Council for the Arts
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#prixderome #prixderome2024 #darcyjonesarchitects #canadianarchitecture #canadianarchitect #vancouverarchitecture #vanarch #pnwarchitecture #modernarchitecture #architectureaward #westcoastmodernleague #wcmlvan

On July 9th, pre-eminent Canadian architect John P

On July 9th, pre-eminent Canadian architect John Patkau joins the West Coast Modern League, with the West Vancouver Art Museum and The Polygon Gallery, for a talk exploring the creation of architecture and design through unconventional material practice.

Founded by John and Patricia Patkau, Vancouver-based Patkau Architects is one of Canada’s most celebrated architecture firms. Their recent designs include the Audain Art Museum in Whistler, Polygon Gallery in North Vancouver, and Arbour House in Victoria.

In 2010, following 30 years of conventional material practice, Patkau Architects initiated a formal research program into using commonly available construction materials with modest but unconventional construction methods to produce buildable, expressive forms with inherent structural capacity and evocative identities.

Now 15 years on, this investigation has produced numerous innovative projects, and the Princeton Architectural Press publication Patkau Architects: Material Operations. The journey of this investigation will be the focus of John’s presentation.

JOHN PATKAU: MATERIAL OPERATIONS

JULY 9 • 2025 | 7:00–9:00pm
The Polygon Gallery | North Vancouver • BC
Part of West Coast Modern Week 2025

TICKETS REQUIRED with suggested $25 donation
Doors/Reception at 7:00pm | Presentation at 7:50pm

LINK IN BIO FOR TICKETS

Generously supported by Pacific Art Stone

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@patkauarchitects
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Scenes from the League’s On the Boards with Juli

Scenes from the League’s On the Boards with Julian Carnrite and Bruce Greenway at the Design Victoria Festival.

Thank you to everyone who came out to Design Victoria and joined us on May 3rd at Gabriel Ross for the League’s ongoing series delving into the creative works of our local design talent. A very special thank you to Julian Carnrite and Bruce Greenway for their time and effort in sharing with us their diverse experiences, influences, and incredible projects.

The League gratefully acknowledges the generous partnership of @designyyj and @gabrielrossshop

[Images] @_andywang

Follow the League on IG, subscribe to our mailing list, and check out WESTCOASTMODERN.ORG for future event and project announcements.

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The West Coast Modern League is based on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Coast Salish peoples – Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.
© 2013-2025 West Coast Modern League. All rights reserved.

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