Robson Square Vancouver BD
Robson Square Vancouver BD
Robson Square Vancouver BD
Name
Robson Square
Location
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Designer
Cornelia Hahn Oberlander (1921-) and Arthur
Erickson (1924-2009)
Area
120,774 m2
Date of construction
1974-1983
Works of art
Spring, Alan Chung Hung, 1981;
Bird of Spring, Abraham Etungat, 1979;
Primary No. 9, Mike Banwell, 1981
Principal transformations:
restoration of skating rink and cupola in 2009.
Canada Research Chair on Built Heritage, udem
Robson Square
Description
In the downtown core of Vancouver, Robson Square is built over
three city blocks in the form of public spaces, gardens, and roof terraces at different levels. The Vancouver Art Gallery, University of
British Columbias Robson Square
campus and the Law Courts Building (housing the B.C. Supreme
Court and the Court of Appeal) are
the principal buildings that make
up the ensemble and whose interiors link with the exterior spaces.
On the Law Courts Building, the
garden and its vegetation cover
much of the glass roof and pools
of water cascade from one level
to another. Since its construction,
Robson Square has served as a
meeting place for Vancouverites.
The diverse spaces offer different
5
4 Site plan, extract from Progressive Architecture, Vol.
62.
Source: ARCH 82143 / 17.12, Canadian Centre for Architecture (CCA),
cf. references p. 4.
dal for Architecture in 1982 and parate out the work of the archithe 2011 RAIC Prix du XXe sicle. tects from that of the landscape
architects, so entwined are the
gardens, public spaces and builArchitectural and landscape
significance
dings. The ensemble has great
Robson Square is a very good aesthetic qualities expressed by
example of multi-disciplinarity to the good use of materials and in
the point of it being difficult to se- the equitable balance between
Canada Research Chair on Built Heritage, udem
9
10
11
12
alcoves with benches for rest and is a very real compatibility between
contemplation.
the buildings, the exterior spaces
and the ways in which they are
This space is a landmark in the city used, most particularly between
of Vancouver. It contributes signi- the spaces of UBC Robson Square
ficantly to the social life of the city and the skating rink located below
as a venue for events, for pro- grade. All have been well presertests and demonstrations. There ved through the years. n
Canada Research Chair on Built Heritage, udem
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B.R. 1980. Vancouvers Robson Square. Urban Design International 1(5), p. 34-35.
Oberlander, C.H. 1981. An Oasis in the City. Landscape Architecture Review 2(2), p. 6-15.
Polo, M. 1994. Robson Square and Law Courts. The Canadian Architect 39 (3), p 44-45.
Stinson, K. 2008. Love Every Leaf: The Life of Landscape Architect Cornelia Hahn Oberlander. Toronto, Tundra
Books.
Williams, R. 1994. Series presents top landscape architect. The Gazette, Montreal.
Image 6, page 2
Cornelia Hahn Oberlander, landscape architect, Arthur Erickson Architects, Daryl Plater architectural firm, draftsman
Robson Square Provincial Government Complex, Vancouver: transverse section from 1973 to 1982
Photostat, 21.6 x 28 cm AP075.S1.D003.P002.001
Cornelia Hahn Oberlander fonds, Collection Centre Canadien dArchitecture / Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montreal:
Gift of Cornelia Hahn Oberlander Cornelia Hahn Oberlander.
Image 8, page 2
Arthur Erickson Architects, architectural firm.
Three Block Project, Robson Square, Vancouver: view of model 1973 to 1981
Silver gelatin proof mounted on foamcore, 92 x 92 cm ARCH268536
Arthur Erickson fonds, Collection Centre Canadien dArchitecture / Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montreal
preuve argentique la glatine monte sur carton-mousse, 92 92 cm - ARCH268536.
Valois, N., C. Dom and C. Cameron. 2014. Les valeurs patrimoniales vues par le public: tude de cas Phase 1
Robson Square.
Rcupr de http://www.patrimoinebati.umontreal.ca/fr/projets-de-recherche/projets-en-cours/les-valeurspatrimoniales-vues-par-la-public-etudes-de-cas/
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