Zigzag & Wave Roofs Calgary (Part 1)

We’ve passed by many of the buildings seen here time and again but never really gave them much thought. Then one day while stuck in traffic and within view of a couple, a seed was planted. What’s the story with those crazy dated rooflines and how many buildings like them are there in town? And now we’re down a rabbit hole of which there is no escape. Today, we’re looking at zigzag (sawtooth) and wave roofs in Calgary and we’re itching to get started.

This is just a causal inventory and it’s likely there’s a few stragglers we missed. If you know of one, let us know in the comments, but wait till the second instalment, as there’s more we’ve yet to post. As usual this project has become bloated and there’s just too many photos for a single article.

A roof in either form was not just stylish (for the time anyway) but structurally sound. A group of peaks or arches connected side-by-side is a rigid form and this allowed for a large unbroken space inside devoid of intermediate supports. Such an arrangement came in handy in commercial, warehouse or institutional applications and so it’s these types of buildings where most were applied.

Still, for a number of the buildings seen in this series the zigzag or wave elements are strictly decorative. We thought of excluding the latter, but in the end, they’re close enough that we kept them. If they have it, they’re included, simple as that.

During research we found references to other buildings in the city made in these styles that are now long gone. But that’s another story.

Both styles are well represented here with the wavy roof versions (keep wanting to type rooves for some stupid reason) more elegant verses the over the top and in your face zigzag style. Either way, it was at the time considered cutting edge and futuristic architecture. Today most people would say they look old fashioned. Some of the zigzag peaks are very pronounced where as others more subtle. A few buildings we visited had been renovated on the street-side with the roof only visible from the back.

These roof styles were only popular for a brief period in the late 1950s to early 1970s period and this narrow range of dates made the job of finding the ones seen here (those unknown to us that is) quite simple. All we had to do is cruise suitable neighbourhoods of a specific era and we knew by the numbers we’d find some. This was done in person (mostly walking) or via Google’s handy map tools – isn’t technology wonderful!

In the end the search worked well and when done we’d document perhaps a couple dozen such structures. Interestingly, some were found within close proximity to each other.

We can’t help think the added complexity of these deigns, over traditional flat roofs, made them more costly to construct and no doubt limited their appeal.

Limited space and resources means we’ll only touch on a little back story of the buildings seen. Now let’s get on with it. Remember this is part one of two, so we’re not done yet.

1) This wave roof building is from 1965 and present day houses an antique place and furniture store. Since industrial parks are not always the most photogenic (what, powerlines are ugly?) we choose to shoot them around sunset to add a little drama to the scene. You know, soften the hard edges.

2) This colourful one dates from 1964 and houses a number of miscellaneous businesses (with some vacant sections too). Later, in the follow up post, it’d be the backdrop for some Stampede Fireworks but here in the sunset our only company was a disproportionate number of bunnies. These were not those wild rabbits (or are they hares?) commonly seen in Calgary but suspect former pets that went feral (and then bred like crazy). They were everywhere!

Flashback to that Holy Grail sketch! Sure, they might look cute, but don’t turn your back on a bunny! Just ask Sir Gawain.

The distracting powerlines in the background were removed in post for one photo in this group, as an experiment. It worked well, but we’re not sure it’s not our thing.

3) Across the street, this large building dates from 1965 and houses many mixed businesses. The front facade had been redone, so only in the back is the wave obvious.

4) This first zigzag example houses the Costume Shop and was constructed in 1961. There was a bank here before going back to when the structure was built but they moved out a few years back. While presently listed as being along Blackfoot Trail, back in the day the address was actually along 6th Street SE which presently serves as a frontage road.

5) This two story warehouse structure was built in 1966. It looked vacant on this visit (spring 2020) but in the 1990s at least, housed an oilfield supply place for a time. Your author used to deliver into it although at that point the zigzag/wave roof obsession that’s overcome us today was as yet in the future.

6) This stand out zig-zagger is from 1966 and houses a hot tub/spa place and a kitchen cabinet supplier. The blue accents and those “right-at-home-in-a-tiki-bar” palm trees add a real ’60s flair and all that’s missing is Draper’s Coup de Ville out front for the scene to be complete. Speaking of cars, this piece was shot during the height of the first pandemic wave and with no one about made the job easy.

Incidentally, all the buildings seen so far and a few to follow later can be found in the side-by-side neighbourhoods of Highfield and Manchester Industrial.

7) Moving north, we’re now off 16th Ave NE at a place near and dear to Team BIGDoer’s heart. You might even say to us it’s sacred ground. This structure houses a furniture store (with a car dealer in the lot) but in times past Calgary’s Crossroad Flea Market operated here. Sure we have fond memories of that venue, but it’s the building’s purpose before that has us saying what we do. You see it was once used to build 17 foot Bolers. What? This make of camper is an obsession with us, as our regular readers know and this connection makes it a special place. Still not sure what we’re talking about? Go here: Boler!. Yes, we have a “little” problem.

The building dates from 1968 and for decades they used to produce mobile homes here and for a time in the late 1970s/early 1980s also Bolers. But only the longer ones, or so research suggests. So if you have a seventeen foot Boler with a Neonex sticker, it was probably made here.

If you were witness to us snapping that photo, you’d see us overcome with emotion and a little tear form in our eye. This is where is all happened…and it’s so beautiful. An earlier visit to the “temple”: Holy Ground.

8) The front side of #1 seen earlier. We’re not sure why we neglected this angle on the initial visit, yet here we are. Note the radius of the wave and other details and it appears other roofs in this series are similar in form and dimension suggesting the same builder or roof manufacturer. It’s not clear what the waves are made of but these ones almost look like they are of formed concrete. Anyone care to chime in on the construction details? And what about the zigzag ones? Some of those with steeper peaks also appear similarly made.

9) Calgary Cycle on Bow Trail (formerly Banff Coach Road) is housed in a former Safeway built in 1959. While the grocery firm built a lot of outlets around that time using their iconic arched Marina Roof, smaller footprint stores often got a different treatment (but still progressive for the time). We’re not far from BIGDoer HQ here. And what’s this? Is that a Big Doer-mobile photobomb? Truth is we sneak it into photos all the time but don’t always mention it to see if anyone notices. And no one does!

10) This industrial building is the oldest of the bunch and dates back to 1958. We’re back in Highfield Industrial here, but then again we like to hang around factories and such, so it’s not a strange environment for us. Weird, eh?

11) A random find in the Manchester area, a less pronounced zigzag-ish roof, only visible from the back (and in our case, via a random glace in the rear-view). The front facade had been redone at some point, so only from this angle is the old roof line clear. The structure dates from 1961.

12) Not far away and we think the last to be found in the area, it’s a building from 1965. This one houses a water filtration company and like #11 above has quite a subtle roof line.

13) There’s a couple churches in the mix and here’s the first, Holy Trinity Catholic in Forest Lawn. The building dates from 1963 and the arches when viewed from above radiate out in a fan shape while tapering inward. It almost takes on the the shape of some type of seafish shell. The resident (?) cat didn’t like us hanging around and soon left…and so that’s where shoes go to die? There’s another wave roof church waiting in the wings for the next instalment, by the way.

14) We’re at the University of Calgary and seen here is the Dining Centre built in 1965. The building’s laid out in the shape of an octagon and “the Landing” a main eating area on campus. Here it appears the zigzag roof is more decorative than functional but still, it looks the part, so it’s in.

15) Also at the UofC, the entrance way to the Kinesiology Building is marked by a wave-roof with the rest of the structure otherwise flat in form. From 1971 it’s the newest and the only example from that decade found by us. Kinesiology is the study of human movement and function, with an emphasis on sports here. The Olympic Arch makes an appearance in one of our photos and once marked the entrance to the Athlete’s Village during the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary.

The Dino? That’s in reference to the Calgary Dinos, the name given a group of multi-disciplined athletes operating out of the University. The members play just about every sport imaginable but the name is most connected to the UofC football team. We looked for a kegger while on campus but found none (sadly). They happen all the time in movies, right?

16) Lastly, and just south of and within sight of the University, it’s Foothills Pool. Dating from 1968, the venue was not in use the time of our visit and wouldn’t reopen until recently. Thanks Covid!

So ends part one but the second shouldn’t be too long in coming (yeah, you’ve said that before!). There’s more industrial buildings to see, a church, some commercial and retail blocks, a visit to the Stampede, another pool, a lowly pumping station and others. Either way, prepare for a zigzag and wave roof overload. We can’t be the only one who’ve gotten the bug?

Till next time…

Know more about that bunny reference: Killer Rabbit of Caerbannog.

They’re saying…

”The wonderful out-of-the way locations and the photos of them are pure gold. These are surely future movie locations to be sure. Keep up the good work!” William Gibbons.

Wave & Zigzag Roofs Calgary (Part 2)

You might like…
Retro Motels: Medicine Hat Alberta – Neon!
Stettler, After Hours – Exploring small towns in the evening ROCKS!
Midfield Park Massacre – listed under the “other fun” heading but in truth a sad story.

Something to say and no one to say it to? Go here: contact us!

Date of Adventure: April-May 2020.
Location: Calgary, AB.
Article references: City of Calgary Land Records, Old phone books @ Calgary Public Library plus the Medicine Hat and District Genealogical Society.

1) Like most seen here, it’s from the 1960s.

1) They matched up the fence.

2) A colourful place.

2) Of the two styles wavy seems more elegant.

2) Yeah, we watched Holy Grail…

3) Had to go around the back for this view.

4) The Costume Shop.

4) The zigzag (sawtooth) form is more in your face.

5) The two styles enjoyed a brief popularity…

6) …But might seem dated now.

6) Shot mid-lockdown with no one about.

6) It’s unapologetically 1960s!

7) On sacred ground.

8) Reflections of downtown.

8) The front of #1 we earlier forgot to shoot.

9) Once a Safeway.

10) The oldest of this group.

11) Only the back-side reveals the roof profile.

12) A less pronounced example.

13) There’s a church in the mix.

13) The parish kitty soon disappeared.

13) Where old shoes go to die.

14) At the UofC.

14) This is the Dining Centre.

15) Dino power!

15) The Kinesiology Building from the Olympic Arch.

16) Foothills Pool near the University.

16) Unused during Covid.