EDW 2024: Garden Court Walking Tour

Ever wondered about the people who designed the building you live in, and why they made it that way? On October 19, join ECAMP for a public walking tour of Spruce Avenue’s Garden Court townhome complex, designed in the 1950s by Edmonton architects Mary Imrie and Jean Wallbridge. These two trailblazing women started Edmonton’s first all-female architectural partnership – and were romantic partners too. We’ll learn why they added brick fins onto the patios, big shared green spaces out back, and other little features in these two-story homes.

This tour will be led by local architect Greg Whistance-Smith, contributor to a new book about Imrie and Wallbridge. Join us after the tour at Guuto Mothers’ Cafeteria across the street for free coffee, tea, and light snacks. We’ll also give you a behind the scenes scoop about a new exhibit on Imrie and Wallbridge at MacEwan University’s Mitchell Art Gallery. This event is open to anyone.

This event is presented by the Edmonton City as Museum Project (ECAMP) in partnership with MacEwan University’s Mitchell Art Gallery and Centre for Sexual and Gender Diversity. ECAMP is an initiative of the Edmonton Heritage Council. Greg Whistance-Smith is an architect and writer rooted in Edmonton. His work explores how technology and culture shape built environments, and how people find meaning in places. He is currently working with Dr. Sarah Bonnemaison on a book exploring the architecture of Wallbridge and Imrie, to be published by the University of Alberta Press.

Host or Publisher MADE (Media Architecture Design Edmonton)