The Causeway

Although the curvature caused by the fish-eye lens is quite pronounced in this photo I like this view of the Empress Hotel from the small square at the northern end of the causeway.

The Belmont Building

The Belmont Building is probably Victoria's oldest Office Building, though it was originally planned as a hotel when it was built in 1912. I always enjoy the mural on the side though I have been unable to find out anything about it. There is another similar mural on the eastern side. The Belmont Building has a prime location on the corner of Government and Humboldt Streets, facing the Inner Harbour and the Empress Hotel.

Belmont Building

While we're downtown I thought we might take a look at another interesting building in the downtown core, the Belmont Building. It was opened in 1912 and briefly, at 8 stories, was the tallest building in Canada. But that was the beginning of the skyscraper era and it was soon topped. It sits opposite the Empress Hotel on the northern corner of Government Street and Humboldt and, despite its age, continues to contribute to the Inner Harbour Causeway ambience.

The Belmont Building

Before Christmas I posted a photo of the Belmont Building from the corner of Government and Humboldt Streets. Above is another photo of this historic building taken from the corner of Humboldt and Gordon Streets. This building was originally constructed to serve as a hotel butnever opened as such due to an economic slump. It opened later as an office building. Below is another photo (from 2011) of the Government/Humboldt Street corner with a line-drawing treatment I like. The Belmont Building has some interesting features not visible in these photos that we will look at later in the week.

The Belmont Building

Here's a building most of us pass without a second glance although it is nearly a century old. The Belmont Building was the first reinforced concrete structure erected in Victoria and though 8 stories might not seem like much now, it is worth remembering that the 17 story World Building (the Sun Building) in Vancouver, erected the same year was then the tallest building in the British Empire. The Belmont Building is located at the corner of Government and Humboldt Streets overlooking the Inner Harbor Causeway. The architectural drawing effect applied to this photo is from a GIMP plugin called G'mic.