The Listening Room at Design Victoria

Presented during Design Victoria, The Listening Room transformed the heritage Chairman’s Office of the BC Power Commission Building into an immersive environment centered around sound, architecture, and craftsmanship. Created in collaboration with Reliance Properties, the office of mcfarlane biggar architects + designers inc., and Zechariah Inkster of Plank and Saw, with lighting provided by Above90  and A-N-D Light, and furniture & accents from Gabriel Ross, the installation invited visitors into one of Victoria’s hidden architectural gems — a remarkably preserved late Art Deco interior completed in 1950.

The Chairman’s Office, defined by elegant inlaid woodwork and warm blond unstained paneling, reflected the refined modernism and craftsmanship of the era. Through carefully curated musical selections played on high-fidelity audio equipment, guests were encouraged to slow down, listen deeply, and experience the relationship between sound and space.

Pictures by Guy Ferguson

The installation also highlighted the future vision for the BC Power Commission Building. Reliance Properties and OMB Architects have been developing plans to rehabilitate and designate the building as a heritage structure as part of a mixed-use redevelopment that will include a 124-room hotel, public café, and rooftop addition. The proposal aims to preserve and celebrate the building’s mid-century character while opening the site to a new generation of visitors. As part of Design Victoria, The Listening Room demonstrated how thoughtful collaboration between architects, designers, and makers can reactivate historic spaces in meaningful and contemporary ways.

LISTENING ROOM - FEATURED ITEMS