A New Look at Downtown Calgary

Ken and I just returned from spending a few days in Calgary. As someone who prefers parks and natural areas, I generally avoid its downtown.  However, because of construction on other roads, we found ourselves driving west on 6th Avenue late one afternoon.

I caught glimpses of public art that intrigued me, so at the next opportunity, we made the downtown our walking destination. It was Sunday morning after the excitement of a late spring storm the previous day. We spent a stimulating few hours exploring the city streets, navigating slushy gutters and ice covered sidewalks, and avoiding icefalls from office towers.

Seen just after we started our walk. Shortly after we went for coffee to warm up!

I was intrigued and enchanted by the imagination and aesthetics I saw reflected in the buildings downtown. Here is just a small sample.

Alberta sky, big buildings, and snowy trees. 6th Avenue looking south

Bow Building, 6th Avenue`

Suncor Energy (left) and Bow Building (right)

The curved lines of the Manulife Building on 5th Avenue

Heritage Buildings

Calgary's original downtown has been declared one of only three "National Historic Districts" in Western Canada.

According to the City's heritage directory, over 30 buildings along Stephen Avenue have been restored.  A walking tour and map can be downloaded from the city's website.

I was impressed at how many fine old buildings the city has managed to preserve, given the amount of construction that the central area has experienced. Somehow, despite the incongruous comparison of scale, the old buildings maintain their dignity.

100 6th Ave SE, the old Calgary Chamber of Commerce Building.
Tenants are being sought for the building.

Old Fire Headquarters building, now "repurposed"

Hudson's Bay Building. As a child I loved this store and the dreams of the wide world that it symbolized; my parents let me take the bus downtown just to wander the store. 

Bankers Hall tower with historic Canada Life Assurance (Hollinsworth Building)
in foreground, Stephen Avenue

Alberta Block / Hull Block

Colour

Splashes of colour are appreciated - especially on the drab slushy morning when we were walking.

Stephen Avenue Mall - The Arts Commons is a multi-venue theatre complex. 

Our walk down Stephen Avenue took us through Olympic Plaza and past multiple theatres. On this quiet Sunday morning, I had to imagine the life of the street.

A new office condo on 6th avenue, with vacant office space

Calgary's new Public Library with two of three "Drinking Bird" sculptures outside.
These move freely in the wind like a pendulum.

The new library building is worthy of its own blog post, so I will feature it in a future separate entry. We were both truly impressed.

Public Art

Apparently downtown Calgary alone has over 100 public artworks. It has been called "one of the world's largest art parks". I did not know this when I caught my first sightings of a few of these pieces, viewed through the window of a moving vehicle.

Family of Man, from Expo 67's British Pavilion, by Sculptor Mario Armengol.
When this was installed outside the Board of Education offices, its nude figures were controversial. It is a reflection of how the city has changed, that this is now part of downtown Calgary's identity. 

The Conversation, Sculptor William McElcheran, 1981.
I love the substantial feel of this piece, its placement, the animated feel of the conversation, and the contrast of the bronze with the arcade of the Bay in the background.

Mural celebrating the oil industry. This is one of many murals throughout the city.
The artist is Doug Driediger, a Calgary-based mural artist.

The Calgary Tower in the background used to be the city's tallest structure. In the foreground is Olympic Plaza, dating from the 1988 Winter Olympics held in Calgary.

"Wonderland" in front of the Bow Building, by Barcelona-based sculptor Jaume Plensa.
I felt the head's network of pathways symbolize the power of the human brain,
amongst the technological marvels of downtown Calgary. 

The sculpture creates a surreal image
juxtaposed with surrounding buildings.

Sadko (red) and Kabuki (yellow) were created by Sorel Etrog in 1972.
As well as the colour these two sculptures add, I liked the contrast between their shiny finish, the building facade, the trees and the black vertical fencing. 

Detail from the Famous Five Sculpture by Barbara Paterson. Suffragette Nellie McClung holds the 1929 newspaper declaring that "women are persons" This is in Downtown Calgary. A similar sculpture stands on Parliament Hill which is where I first encountered it. Standing with this sculpture still gives me shivers, when I consider the efforts of women before me who fought for my right to vote.

Streetscapes

There is much diversity and variety to keep a pedestrian interested. This image shows the variety of buildings, human scale of the street, the sidewalk cafe, colourful banners, and interesting street lights.

Stephen Avenue Mall looking westward

Further to the west down Stephen Avenue is the Galleria Trees installation. Besides the impressive artistic contribution the trees made, they perform the function of reducing wind tunnel effects amongst the downtown buildings.

Stephen Avenue Mall - "Galleria" Trees public art.

Century Gardens. The city is engaged in a redevelopment plan for this park.

I found trees tucked away in pocket parks, and as part of landscaping in many different areas. I especially appreciated them in parking lots.

Another parking lot edged with trees and sculpture

I have captured only a taste of Calgary's public art and architecture. The next time I visit the city, I will be spending much more time exploring its substantial body of art and urban design.