Big Trees and Lots of Glass

 March 7 2022

We started at the coffee shop at 8:30, getting ready for the packed day ahead. Most of us got breakfast sandwiches and coffee, and we headed to the bus stop that would take us to the Capilano suspension bridge. We walked on the bridge, taking all of the routes the boardwalk offered us whilst enjoying the breathtaking views of the evergreen trees and the steep drops of the cliffs. Jake and Yasmin both got Beaver Balls from the park cafe which tasted like little pancakes! We also hit the gift shop later on. We then took the bus back to the city and then went to our lunch spot, a compact space with amazing tacos and burritos.

This picture is of a non-invasive platform that was constructed for walking. The clamping system does not hurt the tree and it is also adjustable (with screws on the side) in order to compensate for the growing tree.

 

After fueling up we took the Aquabus to Granville Island where we explored the markets. There was a fine selection of fruit, fresh cuts, and vegetables, with tea shops, doughnut places dotted around the corners. Outside of the market was a concoction of niche artist shops, including but not limited to: a broomstick shop and a hammock shop.

The picture below was at the market on Granville island. It showcases how the city changed a warehouse for industrial purposes into a multipurpose market that both provides for residents of the area and the tourists. It creates a bustling environment with its open space while also bringing continuous fresh air in from its huge industrial fans.

We then headed to Gastown to check out the famous steam clock, and watched the clock play a tune at 4:30. 

This picture is of Gastown, a historically relevant district of Vancouver with a unique style of building. Most of their buildings, unlike in other areas, are constructed with red brick. The variation of colour and texture one can see in Vancouver almost symbolises it’s welcoming and diverse community, with many of its members coming from different places in the world.

When we were returning to our hotel, I noted the architecture on the Hotel Vancouver. The Hotel Vancouver is one of the prime examples of Canadian chateau architecture, combining European architecture styles such as neo-Romanism and baroque with a Canadian sense of space and power. This hotel was constructed with the purpose of weary travellers needing a fancy place to stay after they got off their fancy trans Canadian railway.

This picture shows how glass is used in Vancouver, especially in the downtown area to promote an idea of modernism and light into a city that usually has a temperate and foggy climate. Paired with unique layering and shapes, these buildings give the city skyline a certain texture that cannot be found in other cities.

For dinner we went to a dumpling place with Captain Hughs’ friends. We had xiaolongbao and other traditional Chinese food for dinner, with a tart egg dessert topping it off. I also had a great conversation with Captain Hughs’ friends about urbanisation and how many North American cities lack the ease of transportation many European and Asian cities boast about. We touched upon the history of urbanisation, which started in Barcelona and how that influenced other cities to rethink urban planning and make their cities more accessible to all instead of being accessible to one type of person. We connected architecture to public policy; there is a height limit on buildings so that people can see the mountains in the background. Little things such as this can add up to a lot, making Vancouver one of the most aesthetic and easy to transport cities in North America. This also alludes to where British Columbia is going in terms of architecture: a more eco friendly design that fits the wants, needs, and aesthetics of a modern person.

Today was a great day, we covered all of the bases of Vancouver, hopping from the concrete jungle to the evergreen forests, getting a great lay of the land. Tomorrow we will be diving deeper into our topics as we explore the Anthropology Museum at UBC.

--Robert Wang