Wayfoong House

This addition to the heritage area of Chinatown is the flagship branch for the Hongkong Bank of Canada. Its location at a prominent intersection and bold architectural features define it as a landmark in this area. Its unique second floor banking hall and generous atrium add an interesting commercial space to Chinatown’s historic fabric.

The classical tripartite design incorporates a number of familiar Chinatown architectural elements and updates them to current functions including recessed balconies, bay windows, gridded mezzanine glass and small scale brick and terra cotta details. With the Chinatown fabric being largely made up of small frontages with rhythmic structural bays, the facade of Wayfoong House was divided with individual bays and window groups with variations on the Chinatown theme anchored by the prominent corner drum element.

Photography by Gavin Mackenzie