Day 6 - Buckingham Pond

Searching for a spot nearby to enjoy an end-of-summer-stroll this evening? Pop Buckingham Pond and the surrounding neighbourhood on your list. Located just off Western Ave this quiet enclave offers city dwellers a visual feast of mid-century modern buildings to admire, as well as a peaceful city pond to amble around.

The History

The majority of homes in this eclectic neighbourhood are single-family and were built between the years of 1941-1960, so expect to see a lot of the angular details and asymmetry that screams mid-century modern style. The development of this neighbourhood correlates with the economic ‘boom’ that characterized a post-war America. Middle and upper-middle-class families now had more money to spend on housing than ever before. The suburban, contemporary lifestyle that Buckingham Pond area offered tapped directly into that trend.

Albany architects Henry Blatner and Leon Einhorn filled in the gaps between the brick and clapboard clad Colonial Revivals with strikingly modern Prairie and Ranch-style houses, creating the most modern of all the city’s neighbourhoods that you see today!

Things to Do
> Enjoy the short trail around the pond. If you’re feeling energetic this is a favoured spot for local joggers, if you’re feeling more contemplative take a moment to appreciate the flowering foliage.
> Relax on the benches dotted throughout the park, and see if you can spot any of the wildlife that calls this place home.
> Get your mid-century modern on by exploring the residential area nearby. There are some wonderful specimens of style to see; start from the pond and work you way around the calm, tree-lined streets (highlights include Holmes Dale, Colonial, and Milner). Take a moment to admire the cool, sophisticated, fun architecture and unique architecture that this charactetizes this area.

Photo credit- all over albany

Photo credit: Buckingham Pond Conservancy - Home | Facebook