The architectural critic and artist Robin Ward discusses the new book he’s co-written Exploring Vancouver: Ten Tours of the City and Its Buildings (Fifth Edition) (Harbour Publishing, 2023), with Joseph Planta.

Exploring Vancouver: Ten Tours of the City and Its Buildings, Fifth Edition by Harold Kalman & Robin Ward (Harbour Publishing, 2023). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Exploring Vancouver

Text of the introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.

When Hal Kalman came on this program eleven years ago when the fourth edition of Exploring Vancouver was published, I spoke about how special those first two editions were. I also spoke about them a year ago on CKNW, when Eric Chapman did a piece on the various collections here in my office. Exploring Vancouver is essentially a guidebook to the city and the unique architecture therein. A fifth edition of the book was recently published, and I’m joined now by Hal’s collaborator on this edition, as well as the last two, Robin Ward. His name will be familiar to many who remember his long running architecture column in the Vancouver Sun. I’ll ask Robin about working with Hal, and how they determined which buildings in Vancouver are worth seeing, which add to the social story, and history of this place. This edition also looks at areas outside of Vancouver, like UBC, Richmond, Surrey and other notable buildings in Metro Vancouver. We see through this book and its excellent photographs, how the city has changed, what’s left of our past, and reminders of how remarkable landscape is shaped by the buildings in it. I’ll also ask Robin to look to the future, as major developments involving the First Nations communities are either proposed or underway, important projects directed by the Squamish Nation, as well as the Musqueam, and Tsleil-Waututh. Robin Ward is an architectural critic, writer, photographer, and graphic artist. He is the author of several books including Robin Ward’s Vancouver, and Robin Ward’s Heritage West Coast, as well as guides to Glasgow, Bangkok, and Edinburgh, where he joined me from last week. This new book is from Harbour Publishing. Hal will join me later this week. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Robin Ward; Mr. Ward, good morning.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (26.3MB)

Subscribe: RSS