VANCOUVER — A public foundation is raising the roof for a landmark from a genteel era and a century-old villa dubbed the hobbit house.
The Architecture Foundation of B.C. is lauding the winners of its Best Buildings Contest, saying it received more than 450 nominations from around the world.
The organization asked people to vote online to determine the top 25 buildings in four regions across the province, which were then narrowed to three in each region by a panel of judges.
In B.C.'s southern region, the marine building in Vancouver was awared the number one spot, followed by the Museum of Anthropology and hobbit house.
First place in the north went to the Dawson Creek Art Gallery building, constructed from a converted grain elevator, with judges saying they were impressed the region's options included an igloo, police barracks and a shed over hot springs.
On Vancouver Island, Victoria's Empress Hotel took the top spot, while Seabird Island School in Agassiz got the premier nod in the Interior.
