Events – A Passion for Heritage

The Grand Tour – or Two

Casa Mia driveway — At the grand entrance to Casa Mia

There are so many wonderful house tours every year in the lower mainland – from stylish new townhomes, to thoughtfully renovated Vancouver specials to lovingly restored heritage homes, I never tire of seeing different ways of approaching common problems: narrow hallways, an awkward kitchen layout,drafty bedrooms, how to accommodate multi-generational families – someone has an solution! Plus, the interaction with owners and knowledgeable hosts means tours are way better than a magazine, even on a rainy day! And occasionally, a tour a includes a gem like Casa Mia!

RIP – Another Family Home

An empty house was demolished in our neighbourhood yesterday, and while the tell-tale signs that the event was imminent were all there – gas cut off, trees around the house cut down, asbestos removal crews present the week before – it was still a shock to hear the excavator start up and begin banging at the building this morning. Somehow our lack of respect for older homes seems far more upsetting when it’s on my own street a few doors away.

Vancouver Specials – Special in All the Right Ways!

A few weeks ago, I spent the day touring “Vancouver Specials” – love ‘em or hate ‘em, this uniquely Vancouver home style has many variations, with its simple rectangular form and structural design.

The tour was organized by the Vancouver Heritage Foundation, who make a very good case for older homes from many eras being sustainable and worth keeping.

And yes, the ticket looks well worn, as I did a lot of visiting!