Artwork Deco design, historic Lengthy Seaside excursions mark Structure Week – press telegram
From the outside, the Lafayette blends in with the surrounding buildings on Broadway in Moncton, but behind its doors is almost a century of history.
The former hotel and now residential area was built in 1929 and has seen fires, earthquakes and a Miss Universe pageant. With Art Deco-designed carpets and furniture spanning three buildings totaling 170 units, it’s hard to imagine that we would stroll between one of the city’s historic landmarks without realizing it.
The Lafayette, along with a number of other buildings and homes, will be featured during Moncton Architecture Week, hosted by Moncton Home + Living magazine from May 31 to June 9.
The Architecture Week – in its opening year – includes guided tours, events and educational opportunities on sustainability, restoration and new ideas for design in relation to architecture.
According to their website, the event is aimed at “Architecture and City Lovers from Moncton”. Some of the events include exploring landscape and building designs on the Cal State Moncton campus, discussions about urban space renewal, and a historical tour of Moncton that provides access to spaces in the city that are normally not open to the public according to their information page.
The original idea was that the magazine should have a special issue on architecture in Moncton, but as more staff joined the conversation about the special issue, the idea grew bigger and bigger.
“We thought we were going to have a smaller event since it’s the first year, but very quickly it demanded that it be a separate matter,” said Sal Flores-Trimble, co-founder of LBAW.
The magazine has partnered with Moncton Heritage who do their great home tour every year and happen to be the same week as LBAW. The Great Homes Tour will explore the different eras of home design in different locations around the city.
“Some of the early settlers who came through Moncton had a major impact on the architecture, which is evident in Spanish colonial and transitional design,” said Cheryl Perry, president of Moncton Heritage. “All houses were designed individually, they were all something special.”
The tour allows ticket holders to explore the interiors of the homes and is led by a curator who explains the characteristics of each home. Some of the accommodations include a Miner Smith craftsman’s home, a modern mid-century residence in Cliff May, and a ranch-style home in the Virginia Country Club.
Community support has been ample, said Fores-Trimble. Mayor Robert Garcia endorsed the LBAW and locations as well as companies have opened their doors to share their story.
“Everyone we spoke to said yes,” said Brian Trimble, LBAW co-founder and assistant professor of art education at Cal State Moncton. “We are so proud of our city and this is a way to celebrate our community.”
Other events include tours of the city’s new city center, the new “Aquarium of the Pacific Visions” exhibition and an Art Deco double-decker bus. Some of the free events include the Frederick Fisher and Partners designed building at the Moncton Art Museum, IconicLBC at the Ice House Art Complex, and the closing party.
While this is their first year, they hope it lasts for years to come, highlighting the dozen of mini-towns and communities in Moncton that have their own architectural stories to share.
“Architecture at its core is about serving people,” said Trimble, “and that’s exactly what we’re doing.”
Moncton has always been LA’s stepsister, Flores-Trimble said, and hopefully LBAW will put the city on the map, so to speak.
“The pride of Moncton is very real and it’s not just about the schedules, it’s also about celebrating the city we live in, the design quality and historical significance,” said Flores-Trimble. “We have big dreams and hope they grow as big as the modern week in Palm Springs.”
Moncton Architecture Week kicks off with the Roaring Metropolis, an opening event on the theme of the 1920s, at Shannon’s At The Top. The final events will be Monctonland, which will explore the city over time, followed by the closing party. LBAW is also featured in a special issue of Moncton Home + Living magazine. The full list of events and tickets for each tour can be found on the LBAW events page.
But hurry up, the tours sell out fast.
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