Rebuilding the past for the future

By Dan Hilborn
Published June 10, 2006


When a devastating fire swept through the historic Picken House three summers ago, the massive arts and crafts-style home that had stood on the banks of the Brunette River for 77 years was very nearly destroyed.

The distinctive steeply pitched cross-gabled roof was completely gutted, the old-growth fir floorboards were weakened and the building's three massive brick and stone fireplaces were deemed a threat to the building's structural integrity.

Even the insurance company recommended that the grand old house should be torn down. But Frieda Schade, area manager for the GVRD parks department, which bought the Picken House in 1993 during an expansion of Burnaby Lake Regional Park, had a better idea.

With just a little prodding from Burnaby city hall, Schade was able to convince her superiors that this unique and historic home was well worth preserving.

And after three years of work that cost half a million dollars, Schade and the GVRD were well rewarded for their efforts when the restoration project received the 2006 Outstanding Achievement Award from the Heritage Society of B.C. June 3.

"When we bought the building, we realized its heritage value," Schade told the Burnaby NOW during a recent tour of the now completely refurbished home.

"This is a landmark location and, one day, this will be a major entrance to the park."

And while the GVRD does not expect to use the building as a park entrance for many more years - Schade says she has "a perfectly fine office" just one block away on Avalon Avenue - the GVRD is looking for a suitable tenant for the beautifully refurbished building.

Barry McGinn, the architect who led the restoration project, said whoever moves into the rebuilt home is going to be "one lucky person."

The large home was originally built by Stanley Boyd and Isabel Grace Frederique Picken, who ran the small dam, raised two children and operated a family business, Aintree Kennels, the first breeder of Irish Setters in British Columbia, on the site.

In 1932, Picken added the stately north wing of the home, using timbers taken from the the original Cariboo Road bridge across the Brunette River.

Among the architect's favourite features on the home are the 'barn doors' that separate the living room and dining room - "They have actual barn door hardware, which is pretty unusual," McGinn said - and the rebuilt mud room, which his now a bright breakfast nook suitably located in the southeast corner of the house, next to the renovated kitchen, with light pouring in from three directions.

Another change was the replacement of a rickety, spiral staircase that led up to the loft in the north-side addition. The clanky old metal stairs were replaced by a traditional Edwardian staircase with a thick bannister that complements the other wood features in the house, like the dark fir wainscoting.

The original diamond-leaded windows, which were blown out in the fire, have been replaced by diaper-pattern leaded windows that were purchased from a Burnaby company, and old-style fixtures were installed on all the windows and doors.

The upstairs bathroom still sports an historic clawfoot tub, with a modern, but old-fashioned faucet (including a hand-held shower attachment), while a more functional modern shower is in one of the two downstairs 'water closets'.

The old-growth 2x6 plank fir flooring on the main floor was in good condition and only needed to be refinished, however, much of the flooring on the upper level needed to be replaced.

And, of course, other aspects of the renovation work were more practical than stylistic, such as the installation of new steel girders in the basement that will help hold up the house, and a modern sprinkler system throughout.

McGinn, who has masters degrees in both architecture and heritage preservation, has no qualms describing the restored Picken House as one of the most significant heritage projects in B.C.

"This is a Shaugnessy quality house - it's a million dollar home. Together with the grounds, it's a bucolic setting - it's beautiful," said the architect who spent four months studying ancient engineering techniques in Rome as part of his master's program from the University of Oregon.

Jim Wolf, heritage planner at Burnaby city hall, is equally effusive. "I think the value of this home really comes down to its location in the regional park," he said. "It is such a rare survivor of that old lifestyle - the country estate lifestyle - that was prevalent early in the last century.

"The whole lake used to be ringed with these wonderful arts and crafts homes. We've lost so many of them. To have one within the park precinct that is so beautifully preserved and restored is a great asset for our heritage program."

Sometime in the next few weeks, the GVRD will begin the process of looking for a new tenant for the stately old building. While Schade believes the building would make a perfect headquarters for a community group such as the Burnaby Lake Park Association, she also recognizes that it makes more economical sense to rent it out to a residential tenant.

"Tenants will provide some much needed security for the building and bring it back to life," she said. "But my ultimate satisfaction will come when the building is put to public use in the park.

"But in the meantime, I'd be happy with somebody who's a quiet gardener," she said.