Vancouver in Focus: The City's Built Form

From the moment the Burrard Bridge becomes Burrard Street, towers preside. More than any other street in the downtown area, Burrard mixes architectural styles from each era of Vancouver’s history in grand fashion. Iconic buildings include the Wall Centre, the Electra and two historic churches.

This young community was formerly an industrial area and working harbour. Coal Harbour was primarily a CPR railway yard until the mid-1980s. The transformation took place in the 1990s and continues to this day with the construction of the new trade and convention centre.

The downtown core is the very heart of Vancouver. Here, architectural styles represent every decade. The core is ever changing - buildings that have outlived their usefulness are torn down and replaced. Some heritage buildings are preserved while others have new ones built behind their facades.

As one of the city’s oldest communities, Chinatown contains some of Vancouver’s most historically significant structures. City officials and residents recognize Chinatown as a unique area that should be excluded from massive redevelopment.

False Creek is the jewel of Vancouver; an overwhelming success story of modern urban planning. One can’t help but be impressed when walking through the area, enjoying the public spaces, strolling the seawall or gazing up at the highrise residential towers.

Formerly part of the city’s industrial landscape, the Waterfront area is now a place primarily for visitors and office workers. The graceful sails of Canada Place capture attention, as does the flying saucer-shaped top of Harbour Centre.

Proximity to beaches and Stanley Park, with its many attractions, also make the West End a popular destination for tourists. This ambience helps make it a vibrant community.

West Georgia is a vehicle-oriented thoroughfare, bringing people in and out of the downtown core. Still, there is much for pedestrians to see and accommodations for foot traffic increases with each new development.