Description of Historic Place

The Van Houten Block is a two-storey Edwardian style building situated at a key intersection in downtown Nanaimo. The historic place is confined to the building footprint.

Heritage Value

Built in 1909, the Van Houten building is a good example of the type of modest, vernacular Edwardian era commercial building that once predominated in the downtown core. It is the sole surviving example of this style on this block of Commercial Street. This classic, symmetrical style was very popular after the exuberant eclecticism of the Victorian era.

In 1992, an extensive and sympathetic facade rehabilitation was completed in an effort to restore the building's general Edwardian era appearance. During the renovation, some elements such as the stucco panels above the doorway and new heritage-style doors and windows were added. Although not historically authentic, the new facade treatment speaks to contemporary concerns about heritage revitalization and ever evolving trends in historic interpretation.

The building's corner location gives it a prominent street presence along both Commercial Street and the Island Highway.

Source: City of Nanaimo, Development Services Department, file #6800-20-H01-20/16 Commercial Street

Character-Defining Elements

Character-defining elements of the Van Houten building include:

-All of the elements of the surviving original Edwardian style as expressed in the simple form and massing of the building, the symmetrical brick facade and the pressed metal cornice.

-All of the elements of the later interpretation of the Edwardian style including the stucco panels and cornice above the storefronts and the store windows and entry doors.

-The location at a prominent downtown corner.