Castle House
Here’s one of Calgary’s more unique dwellings. Located in the old and prestigious community of Mount Royal, just south of downtown, it’s known as the Castle House. It’s this strange over the top design, very kitschy and stand out-ish, and for those with eclectic tastes, it something quite drool-worthy. My Mom would have loved it! She had these strange ideals when it came to decorating you know.
Inside it’s equally as retro with oak wood tones, deep red carpets and drapes, some a dark blue, robin’s egg blue tiles, metallic trim and features a number of spiral staircases and stone/marble fireplaces. And it comes with a snooker table, with red felt that matches the overall decor. Hmmm, where’s the gold-flake mirrors? Or the sea-scape wallpaper mural?
The house was empty and for sale on our visit – $1.75 million – I guess it’s since sold as the listing is now gone. Willing to bet the new owners will ditch the interior and do a full on reno.
The house was built in the 1940s. Over the front entry, the address in Roman Numerals: MCVIII.
You author tried to negotiate to get into the Castle House while it stood empty, to do a full on BIGDoer documentary, but failed at it. We were told to go to a beach and pound something. To those that think we get into every place we make a request to, here’s proof that even we get turned down. It happens more than you think in fact. We’re a bit sad we couldn’t know it better – it’s so up our alley – but hey things happen.
Here’s a single shot of the building, in all its strange majesty, late one cold cloudy evening back while the city was still in winter’s grip. Nothing stirred, no signs of life on the street, the building dark and empty, the mood foreboding. One long exposure and we say our good byes. Then on getting into the nice warm car, turn and give it one last look…
Unique dwellings…
The Humble Miner’s Cottage.
Dome Home and the Boneyard.
1915 Cement House.
Short Subjects: reports that for any number of reasons are brief in nature. They might be updates to older articles, previews of posts planned or not yet published, brief snippets of things that don’t fit in anywhere else or subjects that are so obscure that information on them can’t be found. Or sometimes we just ramble on about Lord knows what.
If you need any more information on what we talked about here, by all means contact us!
Date of adventure: March, 2018.
Location: Calgary, AB.
Our shot was taken from public property.
The kitschy Castle House in Mount Royal Calgary.
Cool!! I have never seen this place before..but then I never had any reason to be on that side of the tracks. haha
It’s one of the more, how shall we say, unique homes we’ve seen. Only those dome houses we visited (still working to get into that one we spoke of, BTW) outdo it for over the top weirdness.
Quite unusual, to say the least. Thanks for sharing this interesting piece of Calgary history.
You are most welcome! Unusual…that sums it up!
Whoever bought it will probably tear it down and build something more modern.
Hard to say what may happen. I hope it won’t get levelled. It’s far too unique. We’ll keep an eye on this.
The interior is…unique.
Amen to that!
What a beautiful building!
Either you love it or hate it – seems there’s no middle ground! Everyone can agree on one thing though…there’s nothing else like it.
Ummmm nope nope nope.
Tell us, how do you really fell about the place? Haha!
Too much wood panelling makes you feel like you’re inside a coffin lol!
Interesting comparison!
I saved a bunch of pictures of when it was listed on MLS…There are about 15+.
Saw them – eye opening for sure!
There were interior photos on the realtors site when it was listed. All I could say when I viewed them was YIKES!!!!
Yikes! Yup, that about sums it up.
Walked by there daily .loved that place . Inside is/was hideous.
Strange tastes!
I would have loved this place!
My Mom would have too! She loved over the top stuff.
Wow! And for less than a bachelor suite condo on the outskirts of Vancouver!
Oh yeah housing sure is expensive on the coast and it makes Calgary real estate look like a steal.
Did it sell?
My understanding is yes.
Can’t say I care for the choice of green but cool building.
Yes, the choice of colours…what were they thinking? But I still like it, for the kitschy value.
Apparently the interior hasn`t been upgraded or renovated in many years, and would need a lot of work. Regardless, I am sure not a fan of the exterior!
It’s one of a kind!
There were a lot of photos in the real estate listing. Really really interesting interior.
I saw them too. Yes, ahem, it’s unlike any other. So dated! But cool all the same!