THE RESURRECTED BRICK: 1904 TO THE OUTLOOK

The story behind the Brick

A story of fire, salvage, and the intentional preservation of the King Edward legacy.
"Some see a house as a collection of materials. We see it as a collection of moments. Our story doesn’t begin in 1989 when the foundation of this 'Outlook' was poured; it begins in 1904, on a bustling corner in Edmonton, Alberta.
The bricks that form the shell of our home are the literal remains of the King Edward Hotel. Once heralded as the grandest hotel in the West, the 'King Eddie' stood for nearly eighty years before it was claimed by fire in 1982. But the story didn't end in the ashes. Seven years later, those bricks were salvaged and brought here, to the Jasper foothills, to begin a second act.
The Beauty in the Imperfect If you look closely at the masonry of the Ridge, the history is visible. Some bricks still bear the faint strokes of original paint from hotel suites long since gone. Others carry charred edges—permanent shadows of the 1982 fire.
Even the 'sloppy' mortar was a deliberate architectural choice. The original general contractor, brought in specifically from Edmonton, insisted on a rough-hewn finish to honour the brick’s weathered character. It wasn't about perfection; it was about provenance.
A Philosophy of Reverence Learning the truth of these bricks sealed our vision for the last twelve years. We chose to renovate with reverence—ensuring every update remains in a sophisticated conversation with 1904.
There will be no trendy whitewashing or stripping of character here. We are not just homeowners; we are the guardians of a 120-year-old legacy. This blog is the record of that stewardship—a journey of turning a 'new old house' into a curated estate that respects the fire that forged it."

Below:
Left – The King Edward Hotel, Edmonton (exterior c.1904)
Middle – The DNA of the King Edward Parlour (1904) informs the silk and scale of the Ridge today
Right — The Bricks proudly supporting our frame centre foyer 

"Update: Twelve years into this journey, the bricks feel more like a part of us than ever. They have weathered Jasper winters and summer sun, standing as a reminder that the best things in life—and architecture—are built to last."

1904: THE LANDMARK

The King Edward Hotel is completed in Edmonton. Known as the "Grandest in the West," it defined Edwardian luxury for eighty years.

1982: THE FIRE & FATE

A tragic fire claims the "King Eddie." From the ruins, the historic clay bricks are salvaged—each bearing the patina of a lifetime in the city.

1989: THE RESURRECTION

The bricks arrive at the Outlook. A master mason begins the "Boomerang," hand-laying the charred and painted bricks with intentional, historical mortar.