Centennial Project – Part 1

January 20, 2017 BuiltHalifax

Canada celebrated its 100th birthday 50 years ago, in 1967. To commemorate the event, the Federal government offered funding for civic projects across the country. The result was a legacy of centennial arenas, museums, and even a UFO landing pad built across the country to commemorate Canada’s birthday. In August 1964 the City of Halifax’s… Read More

Mulgrave Park

February 25, 2016 BuiltHalifax

Mulgrave Park was one of the direct results of the Central Redevelopment Area land clearance scheme. It was specifically developed to house the displaced people from this area. Mulgrave Park itself began as a large estate in the north end. It was destroyed in the Halifax Explosion and sat as vacant land, until it was… Read More

Gordon Stephenson and the 1957 Redevelopment Study of Halifax

August 6, 2015 BuiltHalifax

Gordon Stephenson was brought in by Halifax Council in 1957 to develop a plan for slum clearance. Stephenson was considered to be an expert in urban renewal and, as advocated by modernists like Corbusier, used scientific rigor to justify his findings. Stephenson was well educated, having studied at the School of Architecture, University of Liverpool,… Read More

Doors Open Halifax 2015

June 8, 2015 BuiltHalifax

This year marked the third for Doors Open Halifax. While the venue list seemed smaller to me this year, lacking many of the downtown ecclesiastical structures that were open in previous years, there was still a wide variety of buildings available to see. I went on Saturday, during the rain. This had the effect of… Read More

The Bridges of Halifax Harbour

May 26, 2015 BuiltHalifax

The first bridge spanning Halifax Harbour was a railway bridge constructed by the Intercolonial Railway at the Narrows. It was constructed between 1884-85 and was 650 feet long. Intercolonial Railway engineer P.S. Archibald designed the bridge in a concave form with the convex facing Bedford Basin… Read More

The Martello Towers of Halifax

May 25, 2015 BuiltHalifax

The Prince of Wales Tower is a well known monument in Point Pleasant Park. It was one of 16 similar towers built in Canada. Of the 16 built, five were built at Halifax; one at Saint John, New-Brunswick; four at Quebec City: and six at Kingston. The Kingston towers are the newest, built 1846-48. The… Read More

The Blockhouse

May 19, 2015 BuiltHalifax

The blockhouse was the basic British defensive position. Hundreds of them were built in Canada, and Halifax's early defences consisted of numerous blockhouses. A series of 3 defended the peninsula from the mainland (approximately along the modern Joseph Howe Drive). The original fort at the Citadel was a blockhouse, and others were located at the… Read More

Sambro Island Lighthouse gets $$

May 11, 2015 BuiltHalifax

The Government of Canada announced on the 9th that it is making a two-year investment to rehabilitate the Sambro Island Lighthouse. The Sambro Island Lighthouse was established in 1758 and is the oldest operating lighthouse in the Americas. The project, valued at more than $1.5 million, will include concrete renovations, rehabilitation of the original lantern… Read More

Jane’s Walk – Architectural History of Halifax

May 1, 2015 BuiltHalifax

On May 3, I lead a Jane's Walk covering basic architectural history From a Halifax perspective. The walk begins at the Grand Parade. This post is basically my speaking and routing notes. Architectural History of Halifax 101 will aim to educate the walker on the built history of Halifax from 1749 to present times. The… Read More

Scotia Square – Centennial Square

April 28, 2015 BuiltHalifax

On April 30, 1965, the city announced another call for proposals for the Central Redevelopment Area. Things in Halifax had changed, and the Cornwallis Centre was no longer seen as the idea scheme. The city settled with Provinces and Central Properties for breaking the agreement. The April 1965 call for proposals brought 3 responses. Provinces… Read More