Tuesday, March 26, 2024

In Search of "Funky"

"Unconventionally stylish; fashionable in an unusual and noticeable way; odd or quaint in appearance and feeling." These are all definitions of the terms funky. It's a double-edged adjective.

As I walk around James Bay, I've been intrigued by what I see as funky elements in people's yards. They make for interesting walks, and definitely add to the richness and variety of the pedestrian's experience.

Of course, "funky" is a matter of taste! What is funky to one might be ugly to another, kitschy to a second, and attractive to the third. Here are a variety of things I've noticed on recent walks. See what you think...

Display on the top of a stone wall beside a sidewalk. 

There's a lot of crafstpersonship in this elegant house number.

The James Bay Teacup Tree. This is located on the boulevard between sidewalk and road. It's become so well known that there is now a laminated explanation of the tree's genesis, pinned on the trunk..

Fairy gardens seem to be popular; this is one of a number I've discovered.

The skeleton often has a seasonal touch, as can be seen by the shamrock. 

Another seasonal theme. I have not gone back to check out this Forsythia, but I imagine more eggs might have appeared since I took the photo.

A unique front lawn piece.

And, a different kind of front lawn sculpture.

I appreciated the creativity and artwork in this set of steps.

I'm not sure who this represents; it's a one of a kind, however, in James Bay! Perhaps a reader will know who it is?

A front yard dedicated to a passion!

A colourful Little Library for children's books. I like several things about the design -- the three primary colours, the unique door, and the curved entryway into a world of imagination.

A feast of garden ornaments, bookended by two birds, one real, one not.

I will close with one image from the February event hosted in James Bay, "Window Wanderland".  There were dozens of illuminated windows in the neighborhood, over two nights. Here's one that caught the flavour of unique.

A window lit up from the interior of an apartment building in James Bay during "Window Wanderland".


So there you have it... a quick tour of James Bay funk! Diversity and variety... the spice of life.






Friday, February 23, 2024

Intersecting Curiosities

This is a post directed by curiosity. As a result, I've learned a little about a piece of sculpture that many Victorians notice downtown. And, I've discovered the rabbit hole of Victoria's history, where one interesting tunnel leads to another and then to another. 

My curiosity started when I first noticed this striking sculpture on Douglas Street downtown. The colour of the metal stood out for me, and I noticed several other uses of what I assumed to be iron in the vicinity.

With a little research, I learned the name of the sculpture -- "Contours", and its creator, Bill Porteous.

Contours Sculpture by Bill Porteous in front of the Rotunda on Douglas Street, across from City Hall. Porteous describes the piece as "eight gestural arcs — intersecting contours giving rise to arches — mirrored and animated by water."

I watched an interview with Porteous at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCoXs9tBW4A

Porteous describes the close working relationship he had with the building architect, engineers, and fabricators, in order to create this artwork. That relationship gave him flexibility of design, and also allowed him access to the engineers for detailed drawings. The total weight of all the metal arcs is over 11,000 kg (25,000 pounds)!

During the interview Porteous mentioned the material he used -- Corten steel. I'd never heard of it before: my assumption that the material was iron was incorrect. This is a patented steel that is corrosion resistant and has tensile strength -- hence the COR (corrosion) and TEN (tensile). When exposed to oxygen, the steel develops a rust-coloured sheen. However, it is not rusting. As well as sculpting material, it is also used as a building cladding.

"Contours" sculpture from the distance. Note the planter box on the left, finished in what I now think is probably Corten steel. I like the complementary colours of the rust red and bright yellow-green of the tree.
So now I wonder -- how many other buildings in Victoria contain Corten steel? 

Here's an example.

The exterior of the Ironworks building on Store Street is Corten steel. 
The name Ironworks was chosen as homage to the Old Town area of Victoria and its long post-colonial historical association with iron. 

Two buildings on Store street from the mid 1860s are central to this history. There is a photo of the two from the 1890's at  https://search-bcarchives.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/victoria-roller-flour-and-rice-mills-store-street-at-foot-of-chatham-victoria-later-became-capital-iron

I don't have BC Archives permission to reproduce the photo here; you can click on the link to see the original stone work and arched windows. These buildings had an early history of use for importing rice and flour from southeast Asia. Their lower levels opened directly onto the water. As well as grains, I'm sure that other supplies would have been imported and distributed from here. 

The longest use of the buildings was in their role in the decomissioning and scrapping of ships. When a ship was scrapped, the iron was salvaged (as well as other metals). "Capital Iron", a name well known in Victoria today, originally started in the salvage business, and only later moved into retail.  The photo below shows the two Capital Iron buildings.

The two Capital Iron buildings, most likely in the 1950s. By this time Capital Iron was in the business of salvaging ships, including several Canadian Navy warships from the second World War. Both of these buildings were built in the 1860s.The finishes as seen in this photo are not the original finishes of the two buildings. The lower parts of the buildings opened to the water, but now the area behind them has been filled and paved, so the water is 77 m (250 ft) away. Source of this photo is from an article in Victoria Buzz. See https://www.victoriabuzz.com/2023/01/iconic-return-capital-iron-slated-to-reopen-under-new-ownership-this-spring/

As part of its business of iron salvage, Capital Iron supplied materials to the logging and marine industries. The two Capital Iron buildings were extensively restored in the 1970s. This led to the company receiving an award of merit from the Hallmark Heritage Society of Victoria, and a letter of commendation from the City of Victoria.

The Capital Iron building as it looks today. The site has been proposed for redevelopment (saving the facade). Capital Iron now has a new owner who is planning to repurpose the building as an appliance outlet, at least in the short term. Its long term future undoubtedly holds change.

The Capital Iron building in the background. Notice that the patio in the foreground is surrounded by what is most likely Corten steel.

Detail of window in the Capital Iron building. At some point, as the earlier 1950s photo shows, much of the windows and stone were covered over, and not revealed until the restoration of the 1970s.

The second of the two original Capital Iron buildings in the foreground, now being used by Valhalla Pure.
Intricate design in the brickwork of the Valhalla Pure building
Victoria's history with iron is broader than the decomissioning of ships. Albion Iron Works, which became the Victoria Machinery Depot, was located close to Capital Iron. The business manufactured a range of machinery, steam engines, stoves and storefronts. 

A Wikipedia article about the Victoria Machinery Depot (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_Machinery_Depot) describes how businesses like this were encouraged by James Douglas, who became Governor of the Colony of British Columbia in 1858. He did this to encourage autonomy in the colony, rather than having to depend on imported supplies from California for the Fraser and Cariboo gold rush miners.  

Built close to the original site of the Albion Iron Works, the Ironworks building gives a nod to this history with its name, as well as its building cladding of Corten steel (what the architect refers to as "weathering steel".)
Your blogger's hat is reflected in the glass. If you don't see it, check "R O N W"

Planters at the Ironworks building across the street from Capital Iron
Lady Justice mural on the Ironworks building, with the Corten steel cladding evident. The Ironworks was designed by Christine Lintott Architects for LeFevre and Company. The mural was created as a joint project of the Downtown Victoria Business Association, and Victoria's Community Courts. It is comprised of 120 two foot square panels, each painted by a client or friend of the Community Courts, and all directed by artist Steve Milroy whose name I have seen on several Victoria murals.
Corten steel (or what I assume is Corten steel!) can be found elsewhere in downtown Victoria.
Sculpture at the front of the Atrium, Douglas and Yates. I believe this uses Corten steel; I've been unable to find the name of the sculptor.

These planters at the front of the Atrium are very similar to those of the Ironworks building. The Atrium was designed by D'Ambrosio Architects for Jawl Properties.

Planter at the Sherwood Restaurant in the Atrium

Planters and patio enclosure using Corten steel at the Atrium. A portion of the Contours sculpture is visible in the background.

Corten steel used in landscaping at the Capital Park development near the Legislature.
In this post I've sketched some of what I've learned about Corten steel and its use in buildings in Victoria. 

As I mentioned at the outset, the human history is much more complicated... much too complicated to include here. 













Friday, December 15, 2023

Festive Windows

My last post was on the tranquility of nature at this time of year. For Canadians, though, the time around the solstice is one of merriment and cheer. I'm drawn to look at the season through the eyes of shop-keepers and passers-by. These are a few scenes of windows from downtown Victoria.

This is about as colourful as a window can get! 

From the same store... festive without red and green

A jewelry store with all the sparkle of Christmas, again without the traditional red and green.

This jewelry store has chosen traditional colours in its display, but has built an attractive design based on the hexagon.

One last store jewelry store window, this one monochromatic and elegant .

Murchies has used some heritage toys... of course, with a teapot in the scene.
The teapot is the clue... another scene in Murchies' window.

I liked the emphasis on peace in this store.

Ornament on the Chrismas tree at my optometrist's.

An indigenous themed window

Part of the Rogers Chocolate display. I like the attention to detail in the custom printed ribbon on Rudolph.

Another part of the Rogers window display...an heirloom Santa.
I've featured window displays from the Tuscan Kitchen before. I enjoyed the restrained appeal of this one, with the bright reds and shiny stainless steel complementing the dark greens of the boughs.

The Bay calls this theme "stripes". Soon the original Bay blanket stripes might be forgotten as they become incorporated into many other products.

Hanging over the "stripes" collection is this mannequin in a canoe.

While not a window, the Bay Centre's magic has to be included. I have to think that a child would be captivated by this scene.

A closer view of the Bay Centre's Christmas tree

Wishing you all a festive season rooted in love and friendship.

Tuesday, December 5, 2023

The Tranquil Season

It's the time of year when nature is resting. There's a calmness and hush to the earth. Here in Victoria skies are muted, and so are colours.

Part of the Christ Church Cathedral complex

Another scene of monochromatic colours, along Vancouver Street

Late November foliage adds some colour to this James Bay house

At this time of year, with the trees barren of leaves, it's easier to appreciate the architecture of trunk and branches, and the texture of bark.

The thicket of conifers at the top of Beacon Hill. The trail winds through the trees so the walker can enjoy the bark close up.

The delicate bark of a birch tree. Birch bark naturally peels off, exposing new bark underneath.

With its leaves gone, this multi-branched, large canopy tree at Beacon Hill Park becomes even more dramatic.

Another Beacon Hill Park tree, devoid of foliage and showing its mossy branches.

Muted colours of a Garry Oak meadow with lichen and moss covered rocks in the foreground. The mosses green up with the fall rains. These were brown in  August.

Burls on a tree in Beacon Hill Park encourage the passer-by to stop and examine the trunk. Burls seem to be associated with some sort of stress on the tree.
 
Bark of the Giant Sequoia has a reddish tone when illuminated by light
In November and December colours are muted in the intertidal zone, as well as inland.
Kelp at the end of its growing season, washed ashore in a late fall storm. This is part of nature's cycle; another season of growth will soon begin.
Amidst the tranquility of late fall's monochromatic colours, nature still gives us small hints of colour.
The bark of an arbutus shines with moisture after a rainfall. Arbutus trees naturally shed the outer layers of bark. Apparently this helps the tree rid itself of mosses, lichens and insects that might harm the tree.

Early morning sun casts an orange glow on this clump of trees along Dallas Road

It's a time of year to slow down, and find stillness in this season when the light is limited. I am ever grateful to be living in this place of quiet streets, abundant trees and kelpy sea.