Second Art Deco Architecture Contest

Hullo!! We are beary pleased to announce the Second Art Deco Architecture Contest!! The first contest was a few years ago but... you know... we've had the whole pandemic thing soooo... here we are!

Little Fox has been asking for another contest for a while now... and while we were in Vancouver, we thought we'd visit a flagship building that is the creme-de-la-creme of Art Deco buildings (at least in BC)... Can you see it?? It's the Marine Building!

We read about it online and while we were scurrying around Vancouver, we thought we'd pop our heads into the building and see what it looks like inside.

This is the main entrance...

It's a Heritage Building... the sign says:

Marine Building

Architects: McCarter & Nairne

Once the tallest building in the British Empire (that's pretty impressive, don't you think, Beanie??), the Marine Building enjoys a special heritage status as an internationally acclaimed example of Art Deco architecture. Completed in 1930, the Marine Building's main lobby has impressive ceiling detail, ship's prows as lighting and a marble floor with the 12 zodiac signs, ships and whales. The Marine Building's terra cotta exterior depicts scenic landscapes, sea life, 1920s state of the art modes of transportation, and vessels significant to Vancouver's business and development history. The 1980s renovation program restored unique architectural features and upgraded the building's operation systems.

Right then... let's go in!

Ooohh... revolving doors!!! Old ones too!!

Whoaaa...

We see why it's called the Marine building... there are ship and ocean symbols everywhere.

There's a Canada Post mail slot and it's the fanciest one we've seen in a long while!

They have two phone booths too... with old phones! Like... seriously old... They don't work though, at least not for making phone calls. If you pick up the receiver, you hear a bit of history about the building.

We wonder if any of our readers remember a phone like this?? hehheh...

This is a radiator cover... beary fancy.

Stained glass windows too... that looks like an ocean and a rising sun maybe.

And here are the signs of the Zodiac in the floor...

And then there's the bank of elevators...

That display above the door shows the number of elevators (horizontal) and then a button lights up to show you which floor each elevator is on...

The doors are quite something!

And if it's really busy, you can sit here in this alcove and wait while the elevator comes...

This place is amazing!

Oh, and here, you can see the prows of boats sticking out of the walls. We tried to get up onto that walkway at the far end but... no luck.

The elevator finally came and... whoa... they are super fancy.

Look at the fancy wood inlay! They don't make elevators like this anymore...

There's an old clock here too...

Time to head out...

We checked out the outside of the main entrance... and those pictures going up the side are of ships from the early days of BC.

From people like Cook and Vancouver who were the first white explorers to land here.

Alright then! Now that you're all primed... contest details...

Second Art Deco Architecture Contest

Deadline: December 20, 2021

Details: One building per stuffie - send your photos and a brief write-up of the building and why you think it's a cool building (or a link to your blog about it).

Send to: littlecanadianbear (that little a in a circle sign) gmail (with a dot) com. 

Winners: Announced December 31, 2021 (First, Second and Third prizes available)

Sense does make?? Looking forward to seeing your entries!!

P.S. This link has some amazing close-up shots of the exterior and interior, from angles that we little stuffies couldn't reach.