The architects of B.C. - Canadian Architecture News

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The architects of B.C.

Archiseek / Canada / News / 2004 / March 12

In 1860, John Wright and George Sanders formed an architectural partnership in Victoria, a city the richer today for their admirable and eclectic work. The men designed several commercial buildings in what is now called Old Town, as well as private homes and houses of worship, before heading south to San Francisco to make their fortune. They won many commissions in that city, although several of their buildings were destroyed in the earthquake and fire of 1906. Their legacy can best be seen in the British Columbia capital, where a handful of their projects enjoy heritage protection. One of their the best known is the Temple Emanu-El (1863), a synagogue described in Building the West: The Early Architects of British Columbia as "a substantial and sophisticated essay in the Romanesque Revival." Another is Point Ellice House (circa 1862), a popular tourist attraction.

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