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Dr. William & Ruth Baldwin House

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/landmark534

Repository: Burnaby Heritage Planning

Description: The Dr. William & Ruth Baldwin House is a two-storey modern post-and-beam structure, located on the southern shore of Deer Lake in Burnaby's Deer Lake Park. The site is steeply sloped, and the main entrance of the house is at the top of the slope facing onto Deer Lake Drive.

Associated Dates: 1965

Formal Recognition: Community Heritage Register

6 images

Repository: Burnaby Heritage Planning

Geographic Access: Deer Lake Drive

Associated Dates: 1965

Formal Recognition: Community Heritage Register

Enactment Type: Council Resolution

Enactment Date: 26/05/2003

Description: The Dr. William & Ruth Baldwin House is a two-storey modern post-and-beam structure, located on the southern shore of Deer Lake in Burnaby's Deer Lake Park. The site is steeply sloped, and the main entrance of the house is at the top of the slope facing onto Deer Lake Drive.

Heritage Value: The Baldwin House is valued as a prime example of Burnaby’s post-Second World War modern heritage and progressive architectural style, as well as for its personal connections to internationally-acclaimed architect, Arthur Erickson. Inspired by the modern domestic idiom established earlier in the twentieth century by Frank Lloyd Wright and Richard Neutra, Erickson conceived his architecture as responding directly to the site. A cohesive expression of simple orthogonal lines and ultimate transparency, this structure reduces the idea of post-and-beam West Coast modernism to its most refined elements. A fine example of the evolving talent of Erickson’s earlier work, this house is a landmark modern house in Burnaby and is unique in terms of siting and context. Having just won the 1963 competition for the new Simon Fraser University in Burnaby with his partner, Geoff Massey, and having built fewer than half a dozen homes previously, Erickson’s reputation was growing and his skill as a designer of modern buildings was in great demand. The same year that Erickson/Massey Architects designed SFU, Dr. William Baldwin and his wife, Ruth, personal friends of Erickson, commissioned him to design this house. Erickson was already familiar with the site; as a child he had spent time at this spot when his family visited friends who lived on Deer Lake. Both the Baldwin House and the university were completed in 1965. SFU became internationally famous; the Baldwin House was also considered an architectural success and was recognized in publications of the time. Only a single storey of this two-storey house is visible from the road, as it is built into the hillside in response to its steep site and proximity to Deer Lake. Like many other Erickson designs, this structure was conceived as a pavilion. Constructed of glass and wood, its transparency facilitates visual access to the lake’s edge, acting as an invitation, rather than a barrier, to the landscape. The house blends into the natural surroundings and the site includes other man-made landscape features such as a reflecting pool. As a reaction to the often grey quality of light in the region, Erickson exploits flat planes of water as a source of borrowed light. The refined and purposeful design, transparency, openness of plan and adjacency to the lake combine to give the house a floating appearance at the water's edge. The concept of a floating house set within an accompanying garden was inspired, in part, by the palaces and house boats of Dal Lake in Kashmir and the famed nearby Mughal Gardens. Although Erickson never visited Dal Lake, he travelled extensively throughout India, and specifically mentions the Kashmir reference in relation to this house. There is a rich complexity of other allusions worked into the fabric of the house, unified by a feeling for the conjunction of light, water and land at this special location. Widely renowned as Canada’s most brilliant modern architect, Erickson’s reputation is important to the development and growth of modern architecture in Canada and North America.

Defining Elements: The elements of the Baldwin House that define its character are those materials and details which respond to the location of the building and determine the relation between landscape and building, combining to create a single cohesive site. These include its: - close proximity to water - orthogonal plan and massing, with flat tar-and-gravel roof - stepped down massing orienting the house towards the water - post-and-beam construction, with the width of the beams matched to the width of the posts - wood and glass used as primary building materials - transparency and light achieved by the abundant use of glass - large undivided sheets of single glazing - butt glazed glass corners - abundant and generous balconies, which blur the transition from interior to exterior - horizontal flush cedar siding - use of salvaged brick for chimneys - use of chains as downspouts - built-in rooftop barbeque - built in furniture and fittings dating to the time of construction, such as original hardware, benches, bathroom vanities and kitchen cabinets - landscaped site including reflecting pool, plantings and a dock protruding into the lake

Locality: Deer Lake Park

Historic Neighbourhood: Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Morley-Buckingham Area

Function: Primary Current--Single Dwelling; Primary Historic--Single Dwelling

Community: Burnaby

Cadastral Identifier: P.I.D. No. 011-946-032 and P.I.D. No. 011-946-067

Boundaries: The Baldwin House is comprised of two municipally-owned lots located at 6543 and 6545 Deer Lake Drive, Burnaby.

Area: 6,070.20

Contributing Resource: Building; Landscape Feature

Ownership: Public (local)

Other Collection: Canadian Architectural Archives, University of Calgary, Collection: Original Plans No. ERI 4A/76.13

Documentation: Heritage Site Files: PC77000 20. City of Burnaby Planning and Building Department, 4949 Canada Way, Burnaby, B.C., V5G 1M2

Street Address: 6543 Deer Lake Drive

Images

Exterior view of the Dr. William & Ruth Baldwin House, 2008.. North Elevation. thumbnail

Entrance to the Dr. William & Ruth Baldwin House from Deer Lake Drive, 2013 (South elevation. Exterior Photo). Copyright: City of Burnaby. thumbnail

Arthur Erickson at the Baldwin House, 2003 (Interior view. Other). Copyright: City of Burnaby. thumbnail

BBY-6543-Deer-Lake-Dr-1966-357-004 thumbnail

Interior view of the Baldwin House, 2008 (View of dining room. Other). Copyright: City of Burnaby. thumbnail

Interior view of the Baldwin House, 2008 (View of living room. Other). Copyright: City of Burnaby. thumbnail

Interview with Kanwal Singh Neel

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19607

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1973-2023] (interview content), interviewed 5 Jul. 2023

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 video recording (mp4) (50 min., 32 sec.) : digital, col., sd., stereo ; 30 fps

Scope and Content: Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Kanwal Singh Neel conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar, Rajdeep. The interview was conducted and recorded on the Zoom platform. 00:00 – 00:06:47 Kanwal shares some of the mentors that influenced him in his life, education and …

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Series: Museum Oral Histories series

Subseries: Many Voices Project Interviews subseries

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 video recording (mp4) (50 min., 32 sec.) : digital, col., sd., stereo ; 30 fps

Material Details: Interviewer: Rajdeep Interviewee: Kanwal Singh Neel Interview Date: July 5, 2023 Total Number of tracks: 1 Total Length of all Tracks: 50 min., 32 sec. Recording Device: Zoom video communication platform

Scope and Content: Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Kanwal Singh Neel conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar, Rajdeep. The interview was conducted and recorded on the Zoom platform. 00:00 – 00:06:47 Kanwal shares some of the mentors that influenced him in his life, education and career, how his three-year grandson has been an inspiration and how important it is to educate yourself in different ways. 00:06:48 - 00:19:02 Kanwal talks about the diversity in the schools that he’s encountered over the years as a student and as an educator and shares his experiences getting hired as an educator on public television and being known as "the math guy". 00:19:03 - 00:46:39 Kanwal talks about the “Friends of Simon” tutoring out-reach program and his involvement. 00:26:40 - 00:30:24 Kanwal shares his experiences officiating the Canada Summer Games, the Harry Jerome Track Classic, the Commonwealth Games and other world class sporting events. 00:30:25 - 00:38:58 Kanwal describes a typical day while working at Simon Fraser University as Associate Director of Professional Programs, as a sports official and his involvement with Friends of Simon. Kanwal speaks about the importance of finding a balance between staying connected, finding your purpose and carrying on the passions that you enjoy. Kanwal talks about some of his favourite places in Burnaby including Simon Fraser University, Burnaby Mountain, Deer Lake and Central Park. 00:38:59 - 00:43:31 Kanwal talks about the changes that he’s seen in the lower mainland over his life time including; diminishing agricultural land, the fishing industry, public transportation, housing and retail infrastructure and homelessness. 00:43:32 - 00:50:32 Kanwal talks about his involvement with the Punjabi Cultural Association, the introduction of Punjabi language courses in public schools and his involvement in a Bhangra event. Kanwal imparts a final message to youth of today emphasizing the importance of, building relationships, giving back to your community, learning through education and being respectful of your own journey and others.

History: Interviewee biography: Kanwal Singh Neel was born in Mombasa, Kenya in 1953 and immigrated with his family to Canada in 1969. For the first few weeks after immigrating the family stayed at the Sikh Temple on Second Avenue before moving into a house which they rented. Kanwal attended Kitsilano Secondary School and later transferred to Steveston High School when his family moved to Richmond. In 1972, Kanwal and friends formed a bhangra group "Punjab Cultural Association" and in 1974 they performed at the World Exposition in Spokane, Washington. The group performed at various venues including the Pacific National Exhibition and other cities in the Province. In 1973, Kanwal was an officiate during the Canada Summer Games at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby. Kanwal obtained a Bachelor’s of Science Degree from University of British Columbia in computer science and mathematics and got his first teaching job in 1977. In 1978, he was an officiate of the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Alberta. Over the next ten years he devoted himself to becoming an educator and during this time he became more involved with the B.C. Math Teachers Association. Kanwal and his wife Nancy married in 1982 and have two daughters. In the early 1990's, Kanwal joined Simon Fraser University as a faculty associate to work, train and mentor student teachers. Kanwal became President of the B.C. Math Teachers Association and travelled throughout the province to help solve issues being faced by students. In 1993, he co-hosted a TV show "Math Shop" on The Knowledge Network and he later co-authored a textbook series titled "Math Makes Sense". Kanwal continued to advance his knowledge in the field of mathematics obtaining a Doctorate from Simon Fraser University in 2008. Kanwal developed his doctoral work in Haida Gwaii, studying the mathematics that the Haida peoples used in day to day life, applying the applications and integrating the mathematics concepts with their cultural knowledge. Kanwal also worked with the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nation and the Stó:lō Nation in helping to develop resources for them. Kanwal has been recognized with various awards and honours including being awarded an honorary doctorate by Kwantlen Polytechnic University and in 2017 as an inductee in the Sports Wall of Fame in Richmond for his outstanding contribution to amateur sport as an International Athletics Official. Since retirement, Kanwal continues to be involved in a project at Simon Fraser University "Friends of Simon" where university students go out and mentor and tutor immigrant and refugee children from South Asia and Africa and other countries. Interviewer biography: Rajdeep was born and raised in the Lower Mainland and is of Punjabi (South Asian) descent. She has an Associate of Arts degree in Asian Studies from Kwantlen Polytechnic University, a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) in Anthropology from the University of British Columbia. She is a student in the Restoration of Natural Systems program at the University of Victoria. Rajdeep works at Simon Fraser University as a Program Assistant and as a researcher with the City of Burnaby. At Burnaby Village Museum, Rajdeep contributed to the exhibit “Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby”.