The results of a major two-year makeover on one of Vancouver’s oldest surviving buildings were unveiled Tuesday.
The Fairview House on 1151 West 8th Ave. now boasts an Edwardian-meets-contemporary-flair design after a much-needed facelift.
The iconic heritage building was built in 1892 for Dr. John Reid, honorary physician to Queen Victoria, and his wife Lady Georgina Hill Reid, founder of the Vancouver Council of Women.
Sir Walter C. Nichol, 12th lieutenant-governor of British Columbia, then called it home from 1900 to 1910.
The 120-year-old building is now ready to tackle a new era.
“In most beautiful cities around the world, much of the city’s beauty is because of the buildings,” said David Kaplan, owner and Revenue Property Group president. “This is a piece of art. It’s a beautifully built building but the inside was not at all reflective of the outside. The objective was to make it feel as though the inside and outside are one.”
Kaplan says they didn’t touch the exterior of the house, which was last renovated in 1980, and concentrated on restoring the “badly mistreated” interior.
Newly refurbished and outfitted with executive offices, the house now features walnut flooring, ornate wainscoting and views of downtown Vancouver, False Creek, the Burrard Inlet and English Bay from every office.
Local news from metronews.ca/vancouver
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