The New Spirit: Modern Architecture in Vancouver, 1938-1963

James A. Love is an associate professor of environmental design at the
University of

Calgary.

Rhodri Windsor Liscombe is an architectural and art historian with the
Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of British Columbia. His intimate
knowledge of Vancouver’s architectural development and of its
relationship to other currents is evident in this book, a testimony to
the cultural significance of academics who generate value through a
priceless commitment to exacting knowledge. Although the book focuses on
architecture in Vancouver, the developments are well situated within the
context of Canadian and international thinking in architecture in the
20th century, thanks in significant part to the introduction by Adele
Freedman.

The body of the book is organized around four themes: the place of
modernism in Vancouver’s architecture, issues related to architecture
for the entire populace, community facilities, and efficiency in design.
The critique is thoughtful rather than dogmatic. The discussion, while
certain to be enjoyable and enlightening to scholars, is sufficiently
clear, detailed, and free of jargon to help the lay reader develop a
better understanding of the concerns of architects. Each section may be
digested as a self-contained and edifying essay on architecture.

The New Spirit is a treasure that should be included in the collection
of every significant library in Canada.