Blurring Public and Private - Part 1

I've been intrigued by how we seem to be blurring the concepts of "private property" and "public space" in our cities. I will be exploring this idea in several posts.

First I will look at the idea of public use of private property. My first example is the private development Capital Park, and how public use has been enabled in it. In 2013 the BC Government, under Christy Clark, put a chunk of land near the BC Legislature on the market, attempting to generate revenue to balance government books. 

Guidelines for redeveloping the land had been prepared years before that, and included public use, and integration with the James Bay neighbourhood. There was to be a public plaza, a library, commercial streetfront development, substantial underground parking, as well as extensive bicycle storage. When the guidelines were developed, according to one Victoria councillor, some people said "you'll never get a developer to honour these; you'll never see this developed". 

Jawl Developments and Concert Properties purchased the land in 2013. Their plan, which Council approved in 2015, met or exceeded the guidelines developed two decades earlier. The first phase opened in 2017, and the last phases were completed in late 2021. 

Capital Park concept that was approved by Council in 2015.The design was developed by Endall Elliot Associates Architecture Urban Design. Note the detail of the plaza facing the legislature, the triangular shaped building with waterfall which I featured in my January post on "Eternal Triangles". These have been replicated, although the plaza is much more open than depicted here. Source: https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/victoria-approves-capital-park-project-near-legislature-4620239

The plaza at Capital Park, in front of the Good Earth cafe. 

One of the striking features of Capital Park is the amount of public access throughout the development. I've been exploring the relationship between the public space and private residences.

One of many public pathways through Capital Park. The photo shows how the heat dome and drought of last summer were hard on landscaping plants.

Both the preceding photo and the one below show how water features have been used alongside the public pathways in a creative way. They not only provide interest to the walker, and to residents, but they also serve as "moats", separating the private spaces from public ones. These are far more aesthetic than fences, and just as effective.

Some of the interior public pathways, showing sitting benches which have been created as part of the landscape design. Visible also are some of the extensive water features in the development which separate public and private space. 

Another public pathway through Capital Park, with one of the old heritage buildings on the left. In this case a fence was the design solution to separate public and private.

A view of two of the heritage houses which have been renovated as part of the development, and are now being rented. Note the use of the wood fence to demarcate the private space. For the newer buildings on the right hand side of the photo, the separation is created by a low concrete berm, then a  landscaped bed, with the black slatted fence in the background. 

One of the locked accesses to the development's private parking. This is in the interior of the development, off a public pathway.

Protecting the residential quality of Michigan Street was an important goal in the Capital Park plan. I think it's been achieved, although personally I find the whole development concrete-heavy.

Another view showing how the water feature is used to separate areas used by the public from private space of residents.

The new development in the foreground, with tree-lined Michigan Street in the background. This image illustrates how the black slatted fence looks straight-on. The fence separating unit decks is more opaque.

Public space showing relationship to some of the renovated James Bay houses.

One more view with the parking garage access in the background.

I walk through Capital Park frequently, whenever I head towards downtown. I appreciate the public access through the development. Being able to shortcut through it saves me walking time, and also provides an interesting experience because of the contrast with other streets of James Bay. 

As vegetation matures, I expect that Capital Park will begin to feel less "stark", and some of the rather sterile concrete features will be softened.

My next post will continue this exploration of "public and private" use of space.

Oh! Fountains!

A few years ago, in a post about silence and its opposite, noise, I mentioned how the sound of running water can help mask urban noise. (See https://shuswapreflections.blogspot.com/2019/08/listening-to-silence.html)

I doubt that the designers of fountains thought about the possibility that fountains can distract us from the sounds of vehicles. Their focus was on design, aesthetics, and function. And, as I am discovering, there are many beautiful fountains in Victoria. Many of them are near busy streets, where they do indeed help us live with urban noise.

I'll start with one of my favourites, the Centennial Fountain:

The Centennial Fountain is at the "back" of the Legislature. It was unveiled in 1962 to honour British Columbia's Centennial. The fountain was designed by landscape architect Robert Savery, and constructed by the Department of Public Works.

The Centennial Fountain was designed with sculptures of animals representing the Indigenous peoples who lived on this land at the time of European colonization. Much of the public art around BC's colonial history pays little attention to the First Peoples who were here; one of the reasons I like this fountain is because of its recognition of Indigenous Peoples, and its use of their languages for the Wolf, Eagle, Bear and Raven..

One of four animals representing Indigenous Peoples at the Centennial Fountain. 

The more well known fountain at the BC Legislature is the Centre Fountain, north of the Legislature. 

Centre Fountain on the BC Legislature grounds, built in 1905. Originally there were three upper basins but these were removed in 1921. For many years the fountain was unpopular. Apparently residents disliked its design and location, with some expressing the opinion it was not impressive enough for its position in front of the ceremonial entrance of the legislature. (Source: https://www.leg.bc.ca/dyl/Pages/Centre-Fountain.aspx). Note the photo is also from this source.

Moving from the Legislature grounds to Centennial Square near City Hall, I have been intrigued by the Square's fountain  and its unusual ceramic pieces. I couldn't understand the white surround which seemed an odd contrast to the earthy tones of the ceramic. I learned the fountain was a gift to the citizens of Victoria from the citizens of Oak Bay, Esquimalt, and Saanich on Victoria's 100th birthday. The fountain was designed to be the focal point of the Square, which was intended for use by the public, and for recreation. The Square was considered ahead of its time in terms of design when it was developed in the 1960s. The three ceramic monoliths were carved with symbols representing human stages of life.

When built the fountain was intended as a place for people to sit and relax around it. However, councillors at the time were upset that young people (one councillor said "hippies") were lolling about the fountain, and voted to erect a stucco surround to make it more uncomfortable for people to use. Now, apparently, the stucco cannot be removed without serious damage to the fountain.

The fountain just before Christmas during a cold spell. Somehow the white stucco around the fountain looks more appealing in winter. The white wire structures in the background are part of a Christmas light display in the square.

Another prominent fountain in the downtown area is outside the Bay Centre. I have not been able to learn anything of its history, although I have learned that portions of the facade of the Bay Centre were salvaged from the Driard Hotel. Built in 1892, this was Victoria's most prestigious hotel before the Empress was built. Perhaps some of the work around the fountain dates back to the Driard. 

As a complete aside: The now-demolished Driard was designed by John Teague, an architect who was also mayor of Victoria from 1894 to 1895. I have learned more about Teague while wandering Victoria and will have to feature some of his buildings in a future post. Some of the beautiful houses he designed are still standing on Vancouver Street.

The ornate fountain outside the Bay Centre.

The fountain from a different angle.

Some detail 

The fountain theme is continued indoors at the Bay Centre.

Bay Centre indoor fountains and pools

So far I've included images of the Centennial Fountain (BC's 100th birthday), and the fountain in Centennial square (Victoria's 100th birthday). There is also a fountain celebrating Canada's centennial in 1967, in Confederation Garden Court. 

Confederation Garden Court Fountain. The Court was built to honour Canada's centennial in 1967.

As with so much about Canada's colonial history, images of the "Crown" abound with the Confederation fountain. The provincial coats of arms which appeal to me the most are those without the Union Jack.

Nunavut coat of arms - I liked the simplicity of the elegant design.

North West Territories coat of arms - another simple design.

The attractive waterfall at the back of the garden court. I suspect this might be often overlooked by visitors, because of the prominence of the fountain.

With the name "Confederation Garden Court", it was inevitable that the maple leaf would appear as a thematic element in the design. I liked the unobrusive, elegant way this was achieved in the trellis work below.

Maple leaf design, Confederation Garden Court

Besides the Bay Centre fountain I have found others on private property. A couple of examples follow.

Fountain at the Chateau Victoria entrance

A sculpture, "Shaker" forms part of the fountain installation, depicting a fisherman and his dog. According to the CRD entry on its public art website, this sculpture is a "rezoning amenity". I take this to mean that one of the stipulations for granting the rezoning was that the City required the public amenity to be installed. A plaque states that "Shaker", by sculptor Nathan Scott, was installed in 2004, although I found references online to the fountain dating back to the early '70s. 

Detail, "Shaker", outside Chateau Victoria

Another hotel provides the next example of a fountain on private property; this one is the Parkside, which features fountains both outside and in.

The exterior water feature is understated, but attractive, with considerable mature landscaping. Inside, though, the ponds, fountains and waterfalls are a major asset of the hotel, giving the lobby a peaceful serenity where visitors can enjoy the energy of water.

Part of a pond in the lobby of the Parkside Hotel

Interior pond and exterior waterfalls, Parkside Hotel

Courtyard of Marifield Park apartments. While this is on private property, the sound of the waterfall can be enjoyed while walking up Simcoe Street, amidst its verdant greenery.

I've mentioned the water features at the recently constructed Capital Park development in James Bay in a previous post. Here is one more image, to remind us that fountains do need maintenance.

The pools in Capital Park require frequent clearing of leaves and other debris.

Parks often have ponds with fountains; I suspect these are functional, as well as aesthetic, to help aerate the water.

Government House grounds

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Waterfall, part of a circulating system in a pond at Beacon Hill Park

One of many ponds with fountains at Beacon Hill Park

Another pond, Beacon Hill Park

After the public fountains of Beacon Hill Park, I will finish my brief overview of fountains with another favorite. Again, this is located on private property, in this case, the Royal Quai Condominiums on the Songhees Westsong Walkway. This sculpture and fountain were unveiled in 1990. As with "Shaker", the CRD public art website indicates that this was a "rezoning amenity".

Victoria Pacifica, by sculptor John Barney Weaver (no relation). I enjoy the flowing motion of this sculpture, at the same that the artist has created a circular unity to the piece. 

I could not leave this brief tour of some of Victoria's fountains without including the image of the terra cotta "Frozen Fountain". This section of brickwork, with the inlaid terra cotta art, was salvaged from the former Kresge's Department store which was built in 1931 in an "art deco" style. The building was demolished in 1989 when the Victoria Eaton Centre (now the Bay Centre) was constructed.

"Frozen Fountain", terra cotta art salvaged from the former Kresge's Department store, built in 1931. This can be found on Pandora Street, near MEC and Market Square.

I am sure there are many more fountains to discover further afield from downtown Victoria. Perhaps a future post will take another look at them.

Eternal Triangles

One of the first things I noticed in moving to James Bay was the striking Capital Park development. Its architecture and design are so different from the rest of James Bay, it's hard not to pay attention to it!

Capital Park sprawls over several blocks. While numerous elements intrigue me, one of its most noticeable features is the use of the triangle, evident in the photo below.

One of the buildings at Capital Park in James Bay. The prominent triangle is repeated many times in the development.

A few examples of the triangle theme follow.

This building, which houses the Good Earth cafe, repeats the design feature of the triangle on the corner, but cuts it off below the roof, which also has a prominent triangular "prow". The unique fountain in the walking area serves as a conversation piece - and as a summer play area for children.

This is the back of the Good Earth cafe. The triangular cascade of water on the left repeats the architectural theme - as does the reddish triangular piece of iron. Iron is used several times in Capital Park in decorative ways. I've seen it used as building cladding elsewhere in Victoria. 

Capital Park juxtaposes modern buildings against those of historic James Bay. The two buildings in the background are owned by the development, and have been renovated and converted into upscale rentals. Notice the repetition of triangles in the concrete barriers separating patios between units, and in the design of the pool.

The use of triangles in Capital Park helps break up the rectangular look of the residential "boxes". 

Triangles are used in subtle ways in this landscaping, in the interior of the development. The triangular concrete berms are a theme used throughout the development's landscaping. 

The extensive open sitting area outside the Good Earth. This photo was taken before the construction of the buildings in the background was completed. I've included it here because even the chairs have a triangular motif.

Another view of the pool beside Good Earth, showing the relationship of the modern architecture with that of the Legislature in the background.

One final shot showing the triangular feature of the cascading waterfall.

Once I noticed the angles throughout Capital Park, I began noticing them in other places.

The sculpture "Mountains within Mountains" by Kent Laforme, outside the Oswego Hotel.

I've always found houses that are angled away from the road to be an attractive layout; perhaps it's due to the triangular frontage areas created when this is done. Here is an example, from Michigan Street.

The brick building, the house, and the church in the background are all angled away from the sidewalk, creating a dynamic flow to the street. amd triangular front yards.

This is James Bay Square, another example of how the "boxiness" of a rectangular building shape can be broken up, in this case by the triangular balconies, and the triangular planters.

I've encountered a variety of bicycle racks in Victoria. Here's one that repeats the theme of this blog post.

A second example of the triangular bike rack design, in use, at the Legislature, where the red contrasts wonderfully with the grey stone.

Entrance to condos on Dallas Road. Although I'm not an engineer, it makes sense that the triangle would be used for structural support. According to all things Google, the triangle is the strongest geometric shape and is common in engineering.

Another example, from downtown (the "Royal Mall"), of triangles in use for structural support.

The structural support provided by the triangle is used to strengthen buildings, and improve their ability to withstand an earthquake. 

Buttresses added after the fact at James Bay Community School. The decorative touch is one of those small features that I love about walking in Victoria: tiny details which make all the difference to my enjoyment of the landscape!

The triangular banner, also from the Royal Mall, changes the boxiness of the straight lines.

These deck chairs on the Dallas Road walkway have a triangular feel to them!

Mural downtown which breaks up a blank wall on a walkway in Old Town.

I'm intrigued at this creative way of introducing greenery into a high density area, and the way the wall is broken up by the dynamic triangle theme.

My last image is from the redevelopment site of the original Hudson's Bay building. These are curvilinear triangles, not rigid - but I liked the creative way of working the original colours of the Bay blanket into the public art.

I've enjoyed my brief tour of eternal triangles... from building design to neighborhood layout, from art to engineering. I am sure there are many more to discover.