Almost Nothing – Details, episodes & analysis

Almost Nothing · Episode 2

The Museum of Anthropology at UBC is probably the most important building in Vancouver — and one of the most quietly radical. In this solo episode, we get into how Arthur Erickson translated the logic of Northwest Coast post-and-beam construction into concrete and glass, why the site carries more history than most people realize, and what it means that the Great Hall was just demolished and rebuilt from scratch. A building about permanence that had to be taken apart to survive.

Shaniff Thawer spent four years saving Ron Thom's Fells House. Built in 1958, this West Vancouver home could have been torn down — instead, Shanif took it on and brought it back. In this episode, Patrick and Shanif sit down to talk about what that process actually looks like. The patience, the decisions, and what it means to fight for a building worth keeping.

Last year, Steven Bailey purchased Arthur Erickson's Perry Residence (1963), a house that had fallen into a significant state of disrepair. Rather than seeing a problem, he saw an opportunity.

In this conversation, we discuss the realities of taking on an important piece of architectural history, balancing preservation with practicality, and what it takes to make a project like this financially viable.

Released one day after what would have been Arthur Erickson's 102nd birthday.