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Vancouver Heritage Foundation Weekly: Meet Joe Wai

Vancouver Heritage Foundation is a registered charity supporting the conservation of heritage buildings and structures in recognition of their contribution to the city’s economy, sustainability and culture. Demolished land in Strathcona 1967.

Vancouver Heritage Foundation is a registered charity supporting the conservation of heritage buildings and structures in recognition of their contribution to the city’s economy, sustainability and culture.

Demolished land in Strathcona 1967. photo credit: History of Mau Dan. MauDanCoop.ca

In 1968 Strathcona was under threat of complete demolition as public housing and a freeway on-ramp were set to replace blocks of homes. When Mary Lee Chan and SPOTA took up arms against it, they successfully changed the future of one of Vancouver's oldest neighbourhoods. While many Vancouverites are familiar with the Strathcona story and the impact Mary Lee and SPOTA had on our city, they may not have heard of the man who helped rebuild the neighbourhood.

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Architect Joe Wai designed 51 units with Thompson, Berwick, Pratt and Partners in the 1960s and 70s, and an additional 120 with Spaceworks in the early 1980s. Dubbed the 'Joe Wai Special' the homes Wai designed have a similar appearance and function to the traditional Special, but were only built in Strathcona. Wai gave due course to the uniqueness of Strathcona and the Joe Wai Special reflects that.

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As seen in this video interview, Joe Wai is a strong believer in architecture for  community versus commodity. His Specials in Strathcona were built to meet the needs of a neighbourhood that was reclaiming its place in Vancouver, and with it build strong community ties. Joe has also been outspoken about his vision of where Chinatown should be heading, and how that development should appear. In this article for The Tyee from 2011, Joe speaks to what makes Chinatown valuable, how it is changing, and how to keep its architecture on a 'human scale'.

Joe Wai offers a different take on architecture, one that responds to the people that make up a city, not just the infrastructure or topography that already exists. VHF is honored to welcome him to the pre-tour lecture for the Vancouver Special House Tour where he will speak to the Strathcona story and his unique way of viewing architecture.

More on VHF's pre-tour lecture 'Special' Insight: Two Distinct Perspectives on the Vancouver Special. April 16th 7:30pm/ $12.

VHF will also be opening a renovated Joe Wai Special on April 26th at the Vancouver Special House Tour.