Selwyn Pullan Exhibition

The West Vancouver Museum is featuring an exhibition of work by critically-acclaimed architectural photographer Selwyn Pullan. Titled Selwyn Pullan: Photographing Mid-Century West Coast Modernism, the exhibition coincides with the release of a book by the same title. Pullan’s photography played a crucial role in popularizing the bold and innovative West Coast Modernism style that arose in the lower mainland during the 1950s and ‘50s.  He photographed projects for British Columbia’s leading architects of the era including Barry Downs, Arthur Erickson, Fred Hollingsworth, Ned Pratt and Ron Thom. His pictorial archive forms a crucial record of this definitive architectural movement. The exhibition is on view until December 15, 2012. For more information, visit http://westvancouvermuseum.ca/.

In Passing: Kon Uyeyama

Retired architect Kanau “Kon” Uyeyama passed away on September 20, 2013 at the age of 79. Born in Kelowna, Kon graduated from the University of British Columbia School of Architecture in 1957. He then worked for Arthur Erickson Architect and H.N. Semmens Architect before spending three years in Japan under architect Junzo Yoshimura. Upon returning to Canada, Kon worked for the Vancouver firms of McCarter Nairne & Partners Architects and Engineers  and Underwood McKinley Cameron Wilson Smith Architects. In 1972, he established his own firm, Architectron. An award-winning designer, Kon was proud to have contributed to such notable projects as the Granville Street Bridge, Filberg House, Grauer’s Cabana, The Salvation Army’s “Homestead”, UBC’s Osborne Centre, and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Kon once chaired the AIBC’s Educational Facilities Design Committee, served on the City of Vancouver Design Panel, and was also a member of the Council for Educational Facilities Design Panel for Canada and the United States. First registered with the AIBC in 1964, in 2008 he was granted Life Member status with the institute, recognizing 30 years of continuous membership. He is survived by his wife Mary. Those wishing to make a donation in Kon’s name are invited to do so to the charity on one’s choice.

New Accessible Design Standard

The Canadian Standards Association has published a new standard for accessible design. CSA B651-12 Accessible Design for the Built Environment contains the technical requirements for making buildings and other facilities accessible to persons with a range of physical, sensory or cognitive disabilities. This document was developed to fulfill an expressed need for a national technical standard that covers many different types of buildings and environmental facilities, and can be referenced in whole or in part by a variety of adopting agencies or jurisdictions. Significant changes to this edition include revised information on:

• rights-of-way;
• tactile walking surface indicators;
• standard and universal washrooms;
• residential accommodation; and
• references for accessible outdoor recreational environments.

The new standard applies to the design and construction of facilities as well as the modification of existing facilities. Architects should also take into account local and provincial standards of accessible design, which may be more detailed and more restrictive than this national standard. To acquireCSA B651-12 Accessible Design for the Built Environment, visit http://shop.csa.ca/en/canada/accessibility/b651-12/invt/27021232012/.