If we don鈥檛 preserve 50-year-old architecture, our descendants won鈥檛 be able to celebrate 100-year-old architecture. But not every 50-year-old structure is worth preserving.
That鈥檚 the dilemma faced by Victoria city staff as they prepare a report on the fountain in Centennial Square, and particularly on the implications of historical designation for the fountain.
Councillors asked for the report as they consider whether to protect the fountain as a heritage feature or replace it with a children鈥檚 spray park. The council is not looking at the fountain in isolation, but in the context of other possible improvements to the square.
That鈥檚 important 鈥� Centennial Square was designed to celebrate Victoria鈥檚 100th anniversary of incorporation, and to be the attractive heart of the city. From the outset, it has had difficulty living up to that expectation. There wouldn鈥檛 be much point in refurbishing the fountain if it continues to sit amid bleak surroundings.
Is the fountain worth preserving as a historical structure? That鈥檚 a question worth pursuing.
It should not be assumed that we should preserve everything we build, because not every structure is worth preserving. Some are poorly built; others are of mediocre design. Some deteriorate to the point where they are unsafe, or to the point where the cost of preservation far outweighs their value.
And yet, we need to pause and ponder before letting development wipe out historical buildings and neighbourhoods. We should not be rushing so hastily into the future that we erase important traces of the past.
Centennial Square was opened in 1965 to much enthusiasm, and its innovative design won awards. The fountain at its centre was a gift from the neighbouring municipalities of Esquimalt, Saanich and Oak Bay.
Coun. Pam Madoff believes the fountain deserves historical designation.
鈥淭he entire Centennial Square was a very cutting-edge development when it was created in the 1960s,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really useful to understand the elements that make it important in terms of the mid-century design itself.
鈥淪ometimes, when things have been around for a long time, you tend to not appreciate them or just ignore them because they鈥檝e always been there.鈥�
It鈥檚 not easy to appreciate the fountain 鈥� Centennial Square is not an inviting place, a problem that plagued it almost from the start. Within a couple of years of the square鈥檚 opening, the city began receiving complaints of vandalism, loiterers and 鈥渂oorish behaviour,鈥� as one council member described it, that interfered with the enjoyment of the space.
In 1969, city council received a letter and petition from merchants who complained of the 鈥渄eplorable and disgraceful deterioration of what once was an attractive and productive commercial area and a thing of joy and beauty to our citizens and visitors.鈥�
鈥淟ong-haired hippies鈥� came under particular condemnation. Their habit of lounging around on the fountain resulted in the structure being covered with ugly, pebbly stucco, the sole purpose of which was to make it too uncomfortable for sitting.
The square鈥檚 reputation has not improved much with time. It is a useful venue of concerts and other events, but people are far more likely to stroll along Victoria鈥檚 fabulous waterfront than through Centennial Square, which is more desert than oasis.
Coun. Ben Isitt suggests a kids鈥� spray park could replace the fountain, but until the surroundings are more conducive to children鈥檚 activities, parents are not likely to be persuaded to bring their kids there.
The planners of Centennial Square had a vision that wasn鈥檛 realized. It鈥檚 still a place of much potential, but it needs a makeover.
If the fountain is to be refurbished and preserved, it should be part of a fresh vision for all of Centennial Square.
