Building optimism
We live in a city rich with Chicago School high rises, mid-century modernism and much more. And, for the past three decades, Paul Clerkin has amassed arguably the most comprehensive archive of this architecture.
Great Big Sea frontman Alan Doyle described Winnipeg's downtown as home to Canada's most visually appealing structures. The city boasts a rich architectural heritage, including Chicago School highrises, mid-century modernism, and more. For the past three decades, Paul Clerkin has compiled arguably the most comprehensive archive of this architecture, known as Archiseek.
The archive, accessible to the general public at archiseek.com, marks its 30th anniversary. Clerkin, an Irish-born Winnipegger, is particularly captivated by Winnipeg's postwar architecture, which embodies the city's optimistic spirit of the 1950s and 1960s. This era, often referred to as the Golden Age of Capitalism, witnessed rapid economic growth, the rise of the middle class, and ambitious nation-building projects like the Centennial Concert Hall, Manitoba Museum, and numerous public amenities.
Clerkin's archive also highlights lost buildings and incomplete projects from this period, such as a proposed city hall design that would have altered the city's layout. He expresses delight in the rebirth of the Hudson's Bay department store as a mixed-use community space. Clerkin's interest in Winnipeg architecture was initially sparked while working on his thesis at Dublin's university in 1996.
The printer's frequent jams led him to surf the internet, discovering the lack of online architectural resources. He soon became enchanted with documenting architecture worldwide, though he remains deeply engaged with Winnipeg's architecture, hoping his archive will inspire residents to envision a progressive future.
Written by urgent.news from Winnipeg Free Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
