Landmark Building
DOWD RESIDENCE
6013 – 53 Avenue, Red Deer
Built in 1947
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The design of this interesting little house is derived from the International Style. It is a frame structure, with a flat roof and simple horizontal lines, which imitate concrete construction typical of this style. It also has a uniform finish, with no ornamentation and the windows are flush with the walls, which gives the building a very modern “machine-like" feel. It was not possible to build the house with the horizontal bands of connected windows characteristic of the International Style because the studs in the walls create spaces between the window frames. However, the window on the south-west is situated very close to the corner to give the effect of windows wrapping around the corner, another feature typical of International Style houses. A parapet and columns hide the shed roof on the attached carport on the north side. There are pent eaves over the entry door and several windows, which imitate the cantilevered steel and concrete awnings so often found on International Style houses.
The Dowd Residence is an example of design derived from a style originating in Europe and brought to North America, where it was executed in local materials, and scaled down to the meet the needs of its occupants. The International Style of architecture was symbolic of optimism for the future, since it parallelled the new streamlined designs found in the industrial technology that Alberta adopted with enthusiasm after the Second World War. The house was built in 1947 for Richard and Elsie Dowd. Interestingly, Dowd was a radio technician who opened Dowd's Radio in the Central Block in Red Deer for service and sales in 1945.
The Landmark Buildings and Places Database draws on the series of walking and/or driving tour booklets produced by Alberta Culture (now Alberta Culture and Community Spirit). The Heritage Community Foundation gratefully acknowledges the support of the Ministry through permission to reprint these materials online. Extracted from North Red Deer: Historical Walking Tours. Alberta Culture and Multiculturalism, 1992, with permission from Alberta Culture and Community Spirit. Visit the Alberta Culture and Community Spirit for more information. Visit the Alberta Culture and Community Spirit for more information.