Capital Modern – Edmonton Architecture and Urban Design 1940 - 1969 Modernism Takes Hold in Edmonton Edmontonʼs citizens were interested in the new modern styles. In 1936, the “The Home of Tomorrow”, now located at # 1 St. Georgeʼs Crescent, was built through the sponsorship of the Edmonton Bulletin to give homeowners a glimpse at modern construction, styles and decoration. It was built by local contractor Ernest Litchfield from the award-winning plans of a competition sponsored by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada. The architect was not identified. The home was considered the “last word” in a modern low-cost Canadian residence and was Edmontonʼs first model home. This public display of modern architecture help to set the stage for architectural commissions that followed soon after. th
Some architects from the earlier part of the 20 century continued to practice through the 1930s and in the post WW2 period. Most started to shed their Beaux Arts design traditions in the 1930ʼs. Brothers William Blakey and Richard Blakey, having practiced since before WW1, introduced modernism as early as 1935. William Blakey was hired as the local architect in 1938 by Manitoba architects, Northwood and Chivers, when the Moderne Eatonʼs store was designed. In the same year he also designed St. Johnʼs Separate School using Streamline Moderne Style influences and in 1940, the Garneau Theatre, more in the International Style. In 1946 he built a showcase home for himself in Glenora following the modern practice of flat roofs, corner windows and no basement. His strongest competitor, George Heath MacDonald, also a leading architect of the pre-war period, designed a modern home in 1946 across the alley from Blakeyʼs residence for Justice Hyndman. In 1938, John and Peter Rule, with Gordon Wynn, formed their notorious architectural practice Rule Wynn Rule. In the early years the practice included the design of modern movie houses. The now demolished 1940 Varscona Theatre was Edmontonʼs premier example of the Moderne Streamline Style. In the late 30s, architects still had trouble gaining commissions because of the not yet recovered economy. For example, Rule Wynn Rule accepted smaller commissions such as the Foster & McGarvey Funeral Home and the Bonnyville Convent, in revival styles, and later the neo-Georgian U of A Rutherford Library. These commissions responded to the clientsʼ conservative interests. Such was also the case with Glenora School for the Edmonton Public School Board in 1940 (Tudor Cottage Style), which was designed to reflect the earlier character of Old Glenora. Many of these early commissions were not reflective of emerging interest in modernism.
The Second World War During the 1940s many young architects left for Europe to serve in the Second World War. The older architects served the wartime situation by lending their expertise to the Federal Government. William Blakey returned to Ottawa (he had worked in Ottawa during the First World War) to work with the Standards and Measurements Branch. John Rule and Gordon Wynn joined the Navy and the Air Force, respectively. Peter
David Murray and Marianne Fedori
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