I'm not a native of this city, and like many others, I came chasing a star over the horizon. Westward-ho! A new world with new adventures! The frontier where I could roll up my sleeves and get it done. Whatever it was! A new form of being. A new way of thinking. IT, man. The bing and bang! The rock and roll. A r-evolution! Dig it? One thing was for certain, I wasn't going to get bogged down in the past. The old ways of being and thinking. How much I disliked old architecture back then. It reminded me of antiquated behaviors and ideas. I wanted the new. I wanted the flashy. The bold and forbidden. To hell with the past that was already done and dusted in the rear-view mirror. Good riddance! Give me novelty. Give me light!
Years later, after experiencing so much under these Pacific skies, I stand looking at the old building on the corner of Thurlow and Robson streets with a glint in my eyes. I try to imagine what the place looked like back in the 19th century when the city was incorporated (1886). The horse carriages, the people dressed to impress with the styles of their era. In the early days of Vancouver, the use of brick was not common because it was difficult to bring from the east, given no suitable railroad line connected the province with the rest of Canada. Besides, timber was abundant in the forests, which worked great until its flammability was exposed a few months after the city was incorporated and then burned down during that blistering hot summer of 1886. Afterwards, the citizens rolled up their sleeves and got building again. Blood, sweat, and tears. Wow, what a time!
I feel nothing but admiration for those people who founded this place. They are the solid trunk of this urban oak. I've tried to learn more about them, their lives and lifework. I wasn't born here, but here I am. Their history is my history. Their story, my story. The least I can do is honour their memory by remembering.
I look at the old building with its antiquated architectural forms and realize I still don't like old buildings. My reptilian brain feels trapped, and just looking at so much brick accelerates my heart rate. As some street philosophers like to say, "you can take the cyberpunk out of Night City, but you can't take Night City out of the cyberpunk."
This old building still has a nice earthy colour that I find pleasing, and there is a Starbucks cafe there, giving it a cozy atmosphere that is particularly charming at Christmas.
I notice the newer building across the street and see the prominent use of glass. Much more modern and hip. Ah, now we're talking! says my reptilian brain.
In spite of its modern look, this building nicely compliments the historic style of the place. Some aspects have the semblance of old-fashioned designs, particularly the clock tower. I don't know if this was intentional, but this building almost appears like an extension of its older counterpart across the street. It's as if the architects closely studied the character of the area and incorporated it into the design of this newer building. I wish more architects would do this. Take the best elements of the past and blend them with modern visions of form and function.
Now, about those white twin towers in the background...
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