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".)

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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.