A Colourful City

Blogging took a back seat to other pursuits over the summer, but I have no shortage of photos from which to draw—nor any shortage of ideas!

My last post in May was on the joy of colour, and I continue to be enchanted by vibrant colour throughout Victoria. I constantly encounter numerous splashes of joyful shades, along with good examples of aesthetic design, while walking the streets of James Bay, Fairfield and downtown. 

And so... I had to do another post on colour!

Here are a few images that have stood out for me over the past several months.

I loved the tones of the paint on the window trim and house, contrasted with the foliage of the vegetation.

As well as the attractive warm yellow, the splash of burgundy paint, and the complementary tones of the stonework, I enjoy the intimate space that has been created in the front of this house.

Intricate detail on the house, and a variety of shades and textures of vegetation add to the appeal of this unique house.

This James Bay house has been recently repainted in these bold colours. The rich variety of paint choices in James Bay adds to the neighbourhood's appeal. 

A building that cannot be missed. This is on Quadra Street, heading north towards Quadra village. I like its striking boldness which has transformed a drab institutional look. 

I continue to find multiple examples of well crafted murals painted in bold pallettes of colour. Here are a few examples.

Part of the mural on the wall of the washroom at Gonzales Beach

Mural on the fence of a private home in North Park

More of the same North Park mural

Mural on a store in Quadra village. It used to be a drab cinderblock building with a fence.

Detail from a dynamic mural, newly painted along the Dallas Road seawall. I've been searching for information about the artist(s), but so far have only come up with "Fua Collective".

Details from the the four legs of the deer, from above mural.

One more image from the mural. I found an artists' statement describing the mural as "Ocean of Consciousness”, about the "felt experience of nature within us."

Detail from mural by Nichole Majcher, View Street and Quadra

Moving on from murals to unusual colour in private yards. I have featured many examples in past posts, but here are a few more that have resonated with me: 

Intricate hand-painted design on a fence with a mailbox built into it.

Another intricate - and creative - design on the same fence as above.

I enjoy discovering splashes of colour in unusual places - like these Dalmatian Bellflowers in a stone wall.

An attractive stone wall contrasts with the green of foliage and the silvery white of the tree bark. This photo was taken earlier in the summer, when grass was still green!

An intimate entrance to a street level apartment on Simcoe Street

The difference a door makes!

The red of the brick is repeated in the flower pots, with the green, black and cream of the private space adding a nice complement.

Attractive outdoor sitting space beside James Bay United Church.

Walking the Colquitz River trail, I found unusual colour provided through an art installation project that a teacher at Colquitz Middle School initiated several years ago.

One of the designs that makes up the student-driven interpretive display of "RiverSong", along the Colquitz River. 

Another piece of the art installation along the river. These were created by Middle School students in 2014.

Moving from the nature world of RiverSong to downtown, I enjoy the complementary reds and greens of Chinatown.

Window in Chinatown

Doorway in Chinatown

Fantan Alley, Chinatown

Public spaces often contain splashes of colour:

I like the colourful way that the street has been transformed from a vehicle space to a people place. Note the bicycle lock-up stands which are appearing in many similar installations as part of Victoria's bike lane expansion project.

An urban contrast - a futuristic playground with the gothic inspired Christ Church Cathedral in the background.

Bright colours at the Victoria Convention Centre

And commercial establishments also contribute colour in aesthetic ways to the urban landscape:

Colourful entrance of a Mexican restaurant on Quadra Street

Back to community "unconscious" design: some more examples follow.

I liked the elegant curved staircase that reminds me of adobe, with the foxglove spires adding some simple colour

A lamppost in Fairfield - the "Linden Avenue Love and Gratitude Lamp Post"

Another image from Fairfield; this is one of a number of decorated planters outside the community centre.

This image is from a community centre further afield than my normal "wallking" radius, in Cedar Heights Recreation Centre. The pop of colour, and window treatments, appealed to me.

This intriguing window is from Fairfield Bicycles

This tour of some colourful urban scenes would not be complete without a nod to the colours of nature which are present throughout urban Victoria. If it were not for the integration of nature into the streets of Victoria, the city would be far less rich in its appeal.

Detail, arbutus bark

Camas meadow, near Dallas Road.

I have highlighted but a few of many scenes which strike me as I wander on foot. 

Thank you for being a part of my walkabouts!