Tag: monuments

Studio Visit – Dan Bellan Design

During an epic Vancouver downpour last week, monument maker Dan Bellan hosted the LEES+Associates team at a tour of Dan Bellan Design, his company’s Union Street studio.

Dan offered an overview of his philosophy and approach to designing cemetery monuments, outlining the different ways he works with clients to take their ideas from concept to reality. The highlight of the visit was a demonstration of sandblasting technologies.

Starting with the digital layout, Dan walked the team through the process of laying out and cutting the mask, installing it on the stone, and completing the engraving in the shop’s sandblasting booth. Everyone had a great time and came away with a much better understanding of how modern cemetery monuments come into being.

Dan Bellan Studio

Dan Bellan Studio

Dan Bellan Studio

Dan Bellan Studio

Dan Bellan Studio

Last Post Fund Monument at Mountain View Cemetery

Last Post Fund Monument

Last Post Fund Monument

In spite of last week’s cold and rain, crews at Vancouver’s Mountain View Cemetery installed a long-awaited new monument in the Abray South Veterans Section.

Designed as a two piece gateway feature for a future pedestrian precinct, the new monument includes interpretive signage in both official languages. They tell the story of the Last Post Fund, and recognize the role of this organization in ensuring that all Canadian veterans receive a proper and dignified burial.

LEES+Associates worked with Mountain View and the LPF on this project. The monument features Dibond panels installed on custom precast concrete elements, pinned into locally quarried and fabricated granite bases.

Last Post Fund Monument

Last Post Fund Monument

Last Post Fund Monument

Last Post Fund Monument

Photographs courtesy of Wayne Worden.