Bloedel Conservatory, Vancouver (must see)

Situated atop Little Mountain within Vancouver's Queen Elizabeth Park, the Bloedel Conservatory stands as a dome-shaped edifice. Its roof comprises triangular plexiglass bubbles resting on a concrete foundation ring. Within its walls thrive luxuriant tropical flora and avian inhabitants, all encircled by an expansive open plaza.

The Bloedel Conservatory holds immense significance across historical, symbolic, cultural, technological, and social dimensions. Notably, it embraces pioneering technologies and construction methods to craft a futuristic architectural design in tandem with an exotic ecological habitat.

As a visionary project aligned with Canada's 1967 Centennial celebrations, the Bloedel Conservatory assumes symbolic importance through its avant-garde geodesic structure. This distinctive architectural style gained renown that very year through Buckminster Fuller's Expo '67 dome in Montreal. While projecting a futuristic aesthetic, the Conservatory's location and civic role are equally pivotal, embodying the ideal of connecting City Hall with the civic haven of Queen Elizabeth Park.

With its housing of tropical flora and avian life, the Conservatory serves as a cultural extension of the city's early horticultural heritage. Throughout Vancouver's history, parks, including Queen Elizabeth Park, have served as revered repositories for showcasing exotic plants and animals, offering both entertainment and education to the public. The building's open skeletal framework pays homage to the pioneering metal and glass exhibition structures of the 18th and 19th centuries, which served as platforms for horticultural displays.

A testament to Modernist enthusiasm for innovative building techniques, the Conservatory notably adopts the geodesic form and molded plexiglass glazing. These innovations enable the creation of a voluminous, sunlit enclosure. Moreover, the building exemplifies the use of contemporary materials and finishes that were characteristic of its era.

The Conservatory bears the name of Prentice Bloedel, a benefactor whose support facilitated its construction. This spirit of philanthropy was emblematic of the 1960s, an era witnessing expansion in resource extraction industries post-World War II. Visionary business leaders sought to align their names with the cultural advancement of the city through such endeavors.

Why You Should Visit:
The building appears a lot bigger on the inside than from outside besides having an interesting history (do a little research or else find out when you visit).
Lots of flora & fauna inside and some handy bird feeding stations so that you can get a better look at some of the venue's inhabitants and get better photos of such.
All in all a really good stopping point and just for a few dollars extra.

Tip:
The toilets inside are so much better than the public ones outside.
The surrounding gardens are just stunning, and you can have a very nice coffee & cake (reasonably priced) at the restaurant nearby.