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View of stairs on the central block, 2012.

View of terraced gardens along Hornby St., 2012.

View of terraced gardens from the central block, 2012.

Photo: Nicole Valois

Photo: Nicole Valois
Photo: Nicole Valois

Name
Robson Square

Location
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Designer
Cornelia Hahn Oberlander (1921-) and Arthur
Erickson (1924-2009)

Area
120,774 m2

Date of construction
1974-1983

Works of art
Spring, Alan Chung Hung, 1981;
Bird of Spring, Abraham Etungat, 1979;
Primary No. 9, Mike Banwell, 1981
Principal transformations:
restoration of skating rink and cupola in 2009.
Canada Research Chair on Built Heritage, udem

Robson Square
Description
In the downtown core of Vancouver, Robson Square is built over
three city blocks in the form of public spaces, gardens, and roof terraces at different levels. The Vancouver Art Gallery, University of
British Columbias Robson Square
campus and the Law Courts Building (housing the B.C. Supreme
Court and the Court of Appeal) are
the principal buildings that make
up the ensemble and whose interiors link with the exterior spaces.
On the Law Courts Building, the
garden and its vegetation cover
much of the glass roof and pools
of water cascade from one level
to another. Since its construction,
Robson Square has served as a
meeting place for Vancouverites.
The diverse spaces offer different

uses and activities

throughout the year,
most notably the
public skating rink
open in the winter.
Historic
significance
Robson
Square
results from an urban
mega-project
conceived as revitalization for this sector of the city
in the 1970s. It is a very good
example of the urban revitalization movement of that era which
influenced massive government
projects integrating public spaces,
gardens and squares - Les Terrasses de la Chaudire in Gatineau
and the Complexe Guy-Favreau
in Montreal are others. Over the

course of its history, Robson

Square has received many prizes
and awards in recognition of the
innovative character of its urban
public spaces that bring together
nature and architecture. Among
its awards are the 1979 Presidents Award of Excellence from
the American Society of Landscape Architects, the Massey Me1/4

5
4 Site plan, extract from Progressive Architecture, Vol.
62.
Source: ARCH 82143 / 17.12, Canadian Centre for Architecture (CCA),
cf. references p. 4.

Aerial view, 1986.

Section of building with landscape in foreground.

Detail of stairs, 2012.

Photo of presentation model.

Source: City of Vancouver Archives (ref. CVA-784-115).

Source: ARCH 82143 / 17.12, Canadian Centre for Architecture (CCA),
cf. references p. 4.

Photo: Nicole Valois

Source: Canadian Centre for Architecture (CCA), cf. references p. 4.

dal for Architecture in 1982 and parate out the work of the archithe 2011 RAIC Prix du XXe sicle. tects from that of the landscape
architects, so entwined are the
gardens, public spaces and builArchitectural and landscape
significance
dings. The ensemble has great
Robson Square is a very good aesthetic qualities expressed by
example of multi-disciplinarity to the good use of materials and in
the point of it being difficult to se- the equitable balance between
Canada Research Chair on Built Heritage, udem

open and closed spaces, between

hard and soft landscaping. Using
concrete for the planters, lamp
standards and trash cans and
wood for the benches are both
uses typical of the urban furniture
materials of that period. Vegetation is varied in texture and colour,
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and its composition makes the

transitions between interior and
exterior very fluid. Plants were
also used with great care to retain
slopes, to create spaces protected from the street and to embellish the low concrete walls. There
is continuity both in aesthetics and
in circulation as three monumental concrete stairways allow one
to move from one level to another,
from the terrace gardens of the
public spaces at ground level to
the skating rink below grade. The
same shift of levels applies to the
shallow pools of water where the
water falls from one level to another. The terrace gardens include

9
10

11
12

Detail of stairs, 2012.

Photo: Nicole Valois

10 View of garden terraces from central

block, 2012.
Photo: Nicole Valois

11 View towards north block from

shallow pools of water, 2012.

Photo: Nicole Valois

12 View of vegetation on garden

terraces, 2012.
Photo: Nicole Valois

alcoves with benches for rest and is a very real compatibility between
contemplation.
the buildings, the exterior spaces
and the ways in which they are
This space is a landmark in the city used, most particularly between
of Vancouver. It contributes signi- the spaces of UBC Robson Square
ficantly to the social life of the city and the skating rink located below
as a venue for events, for pro- grade. All have been well presertests and demonstrations. There ved through the years. n
Canada Research Chair on Built Heritage, udem

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Robson Square, Vancouver, British Columbia

Selected references

B.R. 1980. Vancouvers Robson Square. Urban Design International 1(5), p. 34-35.

Cornelia H. Oberlander fonds - 75, Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montreal.

Oberlander, C.H. 1981. An Oasis in the City. Landscape Architecture Review 2(2), p. 6-15.

Polo, M. 1994. Robson Square and Law Courts. The Canadian Architect 39 (3), p 44-45.

Robson Square. ArchINFORM. http://eng.archinform.net/projekte/9397.htm accessed March 4, 2014.

Rosenberg, A. 1986. Robson Square. North Vancouver, Capilano College.

Stinson, K. 2008. Love Every Leaf: The Life of Landscape Architect Cornelia Hahn Oberlander. Toronto, Tundra
Books.

Whiteson, L. 1983. Modern Canadian Architecture. Edmonton, Hurtig Publishers Ltd.

Williams, R. 1994. Series presents top landscape architect. The Gazette, Montreal.

References for rendering, drawing and photo page 2:

Image 4, page 2
Arthur Erickson Architects, Daryl Plater architectural firm, draftsman
Three Block Project, Robson Square, Vancouver: plan from 1973 to 1981
Photomechanical representation, 45.7 x 116.8 cm ARCH82134
Arthur Erickson fonds, Collection Centre Canadien dArchitecture / Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montreal.

Image 6, page 2
Cornelia Hahn Oberlander, landscape architect, Arthur Erickson Architects, Daryl Plater architectural firm, draftsman
Robson Square Provincial Government Complex, Vancouver: transverse section from 1973 to 1982
Photostat, 21.6 x 28 cm AP075.S1.D003.P002.001
Cornelia Hahn Oberlander fonds, Collection Centre Canadien dArchitecture / Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montreal:
Gift of Cornelia Hahn Oberlander Cornelia Hahn Oberlander.

Image 8, page 2
Arthur Erickson Architects, architectural firm.
Three Block Project, Robson Square, Vancouver: view of model 1973 to 1981
Silver gelatin proof mounted on foamcore, 92 x 92 cm ARCH268536
Arthur Erickson fonds, Collection Centre Canadien dArchitecture / Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montreal
preuve argentique la glatine monte sur carton-mousse, 92 92 cm - ARCH268536.

To cite this article:

Valois, N., C. Dom and C. Cameron. 2014. Les valeurs patrimoniales vues par le public: tude de cas Phase 1
Robson Square.
Rcupr de http://www.patrimoinebati.umontreal.ca/fr/projets-de-recherche/projets-en-cours/les-valeurspatrimoniales-vues-par-la-public-etudes-de-cas/

Canada Research Chair on Built Heritage, udem

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