Board member and founding director of the AEF, Liz Watts, had  just finished an interview with a journalist about Erickson and his house and garden. In striving to do it justice she was reminded of Phyllis Lambert's poetic and pivotal letter to Mayor Gordon Campbell in March of 1992, sent in the heat of battle when her ad hoc committee was striving to fend of the foreclosure and inevitable demolition of the property. Here is the letter, transcribed in its glory from the crumbling fax paper of 1992 technology (click thumbnails to see original pages). 

Canadian Centre for Architecture
Office of the Director
March 5, 1992

Dear Mayor Campbell,

I am writing to ask you to designate the house and garden of Arthur Erickson at 4195 West 14th Avenue in Vancouver as an Historical and Architectural Monument.

Arthur Erickson is internationally recognized as Canada's premier architect. On a worldwide scale, his architecture, landscape and planning have an innovative and widely influential. Through bold architectural forms, exploring contemporary materials coupled with highly sensitive landscape design, he has created dramatic institutional public and private buildings.

Erickson revolutionized campus design with Simon Fraser University (1963–1967) and again at the University of Lethbridge (1969–1974). His Museum of Anthropology, University of British Columbia (1970–1974) is a major contribution to museum building typology, and he has revolutionized the Court House as an urban building type with his Provincial Government Offices, and Law Courts, Robson Square (1974–1979). His houses in British Columbia have been extraordinary and embracing the landscape. Significant examples of his homes of wood construction are the Graham House, West Vancouver (1962); the Smith House, West Vancouver (1964) and the Craig House, Kelowna, B.C. (1967). His first concrete house is the Eppich house, West Vancouver (1974). His own house and garden (1957 to date) have been as widely published as has all Erickson’s work.

In addition to the formal excellence of each building and its landscape, and their superb detailing and use of material, each one is deeply respectful of site and of the people who use them. Each is wonderfully beautiful.

The house and garden at 4195 West 14th Avenue, Vancouver, have been the principal work–space and residence of Erickson since 1957. As the locus of work, thought, and experimentation of an outstanding Canadian, and the country's most renowned architect, it deserves the highest respect and must be preserved. In this converted garage and its attendant land, Erickson experimented with ideas of building and landscape that have been highly influential in architecture and garden architecture. The dry garden is of extreme interest in its own right. They are a demonstration of how to make the most of a standard city lot and to create a private meditative world within it.

Canada and Erickson have together reached a cultural maturity that now challenges the world. It is essential for the country, the province and the town that have nurtured such outstanding artistic expression, to assure the continuity of this house and garden as exemplar. Historic plaques on the houses of great architects, artists, and men and women of science and politics are found throughout Europe. Furthermore, the houses of great architects have become highly frequented museums –Sir John Soane's House, and Museum, London, Lord Burlington's Chiswick house and Gardens. In Montreal, the house of Ernest Cormier has been declared an historic monument both inside and out. In the United States, the Schindler House in Los Angeles, is an excellent example of an architect's house and garden preserved for the public. The three houses and studio of the greatest American architect, Frank Lloyd Wright are preserved and are meccas to visitors as are many of the houses by Wright. Can we expect less for our greatest Canadian architect (who alive has not yet reached the status of saint-hood)?

This is urgent. Please see to the protection of the house and garden of Arthur Erickson and their designation as historic site and monument.

Yours sincerely,
Phyllis Lambert, OC, FRAIC