Have you ever found yourself wandering the streets of your neighbourhood, admiring the homes, both old and new, only to wonder what style of architecture a certain home might be? Well, we at North Shore Heritage are here to help! In Part 2 of our architecture series, we will be looking at the rare Moderne style.
Moderne, also known as “Streamline” because of its smooth linear features, was inspired by the Machine Age from 1880 to 1945 with its peak between WWI and WWII. This era was marked by electric motors, assembly lines, skyscrapers, low-cost appliances like the vacuum cleaner and washing machine, and fast and comfortable long-distance travel by aircraft. It comes as no surprise that the streamline effect of Moderne architecture was inspired by the speed and technological advances of the time such as ocean liners, aircraft, and automobiles. The style was a response to a new era that rejected ornamentation and traditional designs and embraced the technological age.
Moderne is closely related to the Art Deco style but is not as heavily decorated. Based on simple geometric forms, it provided a more economical architecture than Art Deco. The style was rarely used for houses and was more commonly used for commercial buildings, skyscrapers, theatres, and institutional plants in the 1930’s and 40’s.
Moderne architecture was first promoted at the Chicago World Fair in 1933. The fair was designed as a showcase for modern living and hoped to stimulate the economy after the Great Depression. Popularity of the style increased again at the New York World’s Fair in 1939 with the theme “The World of Tomorrow.” The fair featured the General Motors “Futurama” pavilion, a large-scale model of an American city in 1960 that showcased forward-thinking skyscrapers, complex superhighways, and helicopter landing pads. We recommend you do an internet search for '“Futurama Pavilion Images” - you will be amazed!
There are few examples of Moderne architecture in the Lower Mainland with one located in the City of North Vancouver.
The Logan Residence, 508-510 St. Georges Avenue, North Vancouver. Photo courtesy of Grant Stuart Gardiner.
The Logan Residence at 508-510 St Georges Avenue was built in 1941 and is a Protected Municipal Heritage Site. Robert Logan (1882-1971), a foreman at Burrard Dry Dock, commissioned this residence for himself and his wife, Hester Winifred (née Thornton, 1882-1954) during World War Two. Hal Norman was the designer for the Streamline Construction Company and the contractor for this house. The Logan Residence has subsequently been modified for use as a duplex and is now part of a condominium complex. The restoration of the house won a City Heritage Award in 1999.
I Spy with my Little Eye
Here are the common elements of the Moderne style:
Asymmetrical façade
Box-like form, sometimes with rounded corners
Undecorated concrete or smooth stucco walls, usually white
Horizontal emphasis
Flat roof with shallow or no eaves
Multi-paned fixed or casement windows that meet or wrap around at corners
Pipe or metal railings and other nautical motifs
Horizontal banding and balcony railings to simulate streamlining
Octagonal or round feature windows like portholes
We encourage you to go and see this unique building in person! It’s truly one-of-a-kind … at least in the CNV! And let us know if you are aware of any other Moderne buildings on the North Shore.