Royal Sweet Diamond, a bronze sculpture by Canadian artist Joe Fafard, is the name of this life-size bull at the corner of Georgia and Richards Streets in downtown Vancouver. Viewing the bull, it does seem to exhibit a sweet disposition. It would seem more natural in a pastoral situation rather than in the bustling scene in which it finds itself. Looking across the street at the new Telus Garden, one wonders if it is focusing on the red lights displayed and will become provoked. This, of course, is part of the beauty of the bull in this setting. It makes us focus on the stark contrasts of the pastoral versus the metropolis.

Telus Garden is also displaying green. This photo was taken around Christmas time, hence the red and green. But green has a special meaning for the new Telus Garden that would have us believe they have brought the pasture to the city. In many ways they have made a valiant attempt.

The Telus complex takes up nearly a whole city block between Georgia and Robson and Richards and Seymour Streets. It was a cooperative effort between Telus, Henriquez Architects, and real estate developer Westbank. There are 24 floors of office space facing Georgia St. and 54 floors of a residential complex on the Robson St. side, as well as retail space on the street level.

For environmental sustainability, it features 300 solar panels, the largest number on a Vancouver building. Its energy efficient system reduces demand from conventional sources by 80 per cent and reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 1 million kilos a year. There are 10,000 square feet of outdoor garden space on various upper levels, some of which grow produce. Rainwater is recaptured, recycled and used to irrigate these spaces. Of special note is a system that provides fresh air rather than recycled air, which is a great health benefit for office workers. These features and others have gained Telus Garden Leed Platinum certification. All this should put a blush on Royal Sweet Diamond’s face, knowing the large amounts of byproducts resulting from raising cattle like methane, carbon dioxide and massive water use.

There are also some unique architectural features like the beautiful 300-foot steel and beetle wood canopy that extends a whole city block on Georgia St. It has been likened to a blue whale’s spine and ribs. It provides a unique public space that begins inside the lobby of the main office building and extends outside in front of that part of the building that houses the Glowbal restaurant. The canopy roof features 302 panes of curved blue glass from Spain, each unique and etched with a leaf and branch motif. The inspiration for the canopy was Emily Carr’s Cathedral.

Another unique architectural feature are two cantilevered office spaces that extend 6.5 m over Richards St. and 7.3 m over Seymour St. Some feel this is a dangerous usurpation of public space. Telus leases this air space from the city of Vancouver for about $9,600/year.

All in all, it’s a unique architectural achievement with a lot of positive environmental features. It’s an expensive prototype and this is reflected in what have become typical high-end market prices for the project’s condos. What would be wonderful to see in the near future is affordable housing with all these green features. And Royal Sweet Diamond would love to see some pasture he could access outside on the street level.

To learn more about Royal Sweet Diamond’s creator, see www.joefafard.com