Guinness Tower

Mid-century modern buildings & art

Distinctive for its ocean green rectangular enamel panels that alternate with its glass facade, the Guinness Tower was designed by Charles Paine, circa 1967-69, and is one of the city’s finest examples of the International Style.

The 23-story tower is located in downtown Vancouver’s financial district and adjacent to the equally modernist Oceanic Plaza.

Its main lobby boasts a gorgeous mid-century ceramic mural by Spanish-born Quebec artist Jordi Bonet entitled “The Fathomless Richness of the Seabed,” a natural fit for this West Coast modern city.

Adjacent to the tower, at the corner of West Hastings & Thurlow Streets, is another piece of modern art; “Nike,” the Greek Goddess of victory, a contemporary abstract sculpture by Pavlos Angelos Kougiomtzis and a gift from the ancient city of Olympia in honor of Vancouver’s 2010 Winter Olympics.

Chewie’s Steam & Oyster Bar is also located in the Guinness Tower if you’re in the mood for Cajun.

Visited 7846 times, 5 Visits today

Tagged In Architecture,Building,charles paine,Guinness Tower,jordi bonet,MCM,Mid Century Modern,Modernism,modtraveler,modtraveler.net,office building,Retro,sculpture,The Fathomless Richness of the Seabed,Vancouver and Vintage

Related Listings

BC Binning Mural

586 Granville Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada

View More Details

Mid-century art/mid-century banks Tucked away above rows of greeting cards inside a busy downtown Vancouver drugstore at Granville & Dunsmuir streets endures a visually gripping mid-century mosaic mural by renowned Canadian artist &… Read more…

2400 Motel

604-434-2464

2400 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC, Canada

View More Details

Mid-century accommodations Opened in 1946 as the “2400 Court,” a reference to when Motor Courts proliferated Kingsway (the main route leading in and out of Vancouver at the time), the… Read more…