Paul Merrick

Category : Architect

Paul Merrick conceived and directed much of the work of Merrick Architecture’s practice for 25 years, and remains a respected mentor and inspiration for all of the practice’s staff. Since his retirement from practice ownership in 2010, he has continued to provide a value contribution to the ongoing work of both studios as a Senior Design Consultant.

Paul’s widely-acknowledged reputation as a gifted and collaborative architect and urban designer was first established early in his career, as Practice Chair of the acclaimed Vancouver firm of Thompson, Berwick & Pratt, which led to work throughout Canada, in Britain, and in the Middle East during the 1970s. A co-founder of the practice known now in full as Merrick Architecture-Borowski Sakumoto Fligg McIntyre, Paul’s recognition locally has continued to be strengthened by his contribution to a wide range of projects in every sector, including such acclaimed projects as Vancouver’s Cathedral Place, City Square, George Killy Residence, and the renewal and repurposing of the BC Electrical Building (The Electra). Projects which have benefited from his visionary approach in Victoria include Shoal Point, Swallows Landing, St. Ann’s Academy Restoration, Sussex Place, and five projects at SMUS.

Paul’s planning talent and his ability to address the articulation of public spaces has been recognized by such commissions as the Royal BC Museum redevelopment (in collaboration with the UK’s John McAslan & Partners), the Victoria Legislative Precinct Planning program (Victoria Accord), the initial concepts for Vancouver’s False Creek, and “The Village on False Creek,” Vancouver’s Olympic Village for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

The recipient of multiple awards, Paul is a Fellow of the Royal Architecture Institute of Canada and in 2014 was awarded the Architectural Institute of British Columbia’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Paul Merrick.
The League’s ‘Masters of West Coast Modernism,” October 4, 2018. Photo by Illijc Albanese.

In 2018, for the League’s “Masters of West Coast Modernism” series, we asked Paul to select mementos of personal and professional significance. These are the items he selected.

Chundee

Chundee, Untitled, c. 1980s
Juniper Root Sculpture

“This sculpture was created by “enhancing” a natural juniper root. Carved by a “draft dodger” squatting on the land of Paul’s brother on Chilco Lake in the 1980s. The “draft dodger” was as close to a man in nature as one could get–wore no shoes all year round, lived in a yurt-like structure he had built himself, and hiked overland from Chilco to Lillooet to visit a sister, in his bare feet of course.

Take a close look at some of the fine details that nature left him to work with.” – Paul Merrick

Bud Wood

Bud Wood, Untitled, date unknown
Blown Glass Vessel

“Blown by Bud Wood, I believe at Dale Chihuly’s studio in Washington State. Bud was one of the very few truly great mentors I had in life. He came from a wonderful family with a Mormon background, went through architecture at the University of Oregon at a time when they were doing some interesting things, and of course was a key part of the faculty at UBC for three decades.

More than anyone perhaps, Bud saw the joy in man’s hands in his work, at every possible level.” – Paul Merrick

Sunray

Paul Merrick, Sunray, c. 1952
Ink on paper

“The home and homestead of my great uncle, on 300+ acres at Cape Cockburn, Nelson Island, BC. His name was Louis Harry Robert; we called him “Unky.” He was probably the single greatest influence on my life and views of the world.

One of his principle observations was “never fear for being an “odd-ball” – in other words, remember that you have a mind of your own, try not to forget to use it.

The sketch was done the first year I spent the summer here, at 14 years of age. I went home that year with a boat I had spent the summer building.

This home he called “Sunray.” It had many of the qualities I could see at the time in Ron Thom’s work, and subsequently Frank Lloyd Wright. “Unky” had never heard of either of them.” – Paul Merrick

Ship’s Wheel

“Made for Blackbird, a 28-foot Lyle Hess cutter modified to a Ketch Rig and Pilot arrangement. I have always dabbled in naval architecture as an avocation along with working with wood. This vessel is a late realization. Another story.” – Paul Merrick

Wingback Chair

“Design for furnishing the common room of The Electra, the residential “adaptive re-use” of Ron Thom and Ned Pratt’s B.C. Electric Building for Dal Grauer.

An unusual opportunity to address this level of detail in what was after all a private initiative speculative development. The upholstery of the chair photographed was not the original.” – Paul Merrick