In 1993, the directors of the Portland Hotel Society, a Vancouver social housing group, went to court to challenge a bid to evict their organization. During the proceedings, they greatly admired the law courts, designed by Arthur Erickson. The evection never came to pass - but Mark Townsend, the society's executive director, managed to persuade Erickson to design a new Portland Hotel facitlity. "Anyone who has been to court knows it can be an aggressive, nasty experience," says Townsend. "But we felt very relaxed and at peace (in Erickson's court). The building felt gentle, and I think our new building has that feeling as well."

The directors needed to house 87 individuals with chronic mental or physical health and addiction problems, and they knew that their $7 million allotment fell far short of the typical budget for an Erickson project of this size. But the architect, enthused by the group's spirit, accepted the task.

The new building occupies a site on Vancouver's downtown east side. Generous landscaped areas accessed from the main and second floors - a familiar Erickson motif - create an oasis of calm in one of Canada's poorest, most crime-ridden areas. Erickson designed a cost-efficient ten-storey structure with 87 independent suites. Many of the suites are as small as 25.5 square metres, but feel much larger, in part due to their brightness. "My main concern is with light," says Erickson. "The last building these people lived in was dark and quite depressing." Natural light, drawn into the suites with oversize windows, is carried into the hallways trough translucent glass panels.

Along the hallways, Dutch doors (with upper and lower panels that close or open independently) allow residents to see other residents passing by, while providing a measure of privacy. "I wanted to help develop a community of people who care about one another," says Erickson. To further encourage social interaction, there are common areas on each floor, and the building's recreational facilities include a cinema, ballroom and library.

Although the new Portland Hotel has only been open since August, a funeral has already taken place in its courtyard. As a measure of the sense of community already developing, twenty of the residents attended to honour the life of their neighbour.

The Portland Hotel is seeking $250,000 to complete furnishing and comon areas. Please contact Mark Townsend at (604) 720-3050 to make contributions or help with fundraising efforts.

Top photo: Triangular common areas on each floor jut out from the building's rear facade. A well-lit stairwell occupies the tower to the right.

right photo: A raised patio, also at the back, leads down a set of stairs to an open courtyard.

left photo: A view inside one of the suites.