▁international ▁recognition ▁for ▁its ▁" high ▁amen ity ▁and ▁' liv able ' ▁development ". ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 6 , ▁the ▁city ▁launched ▁a ▁planning ▁initi ative ▁entitled ▁E co D ens ity , ▁with ▁the ▁stated ▁goal ▁of ▁expl oring ▁ways ▁in ▁which ▁" dens ity , ▁design , ▁and ▁land ▁use ▁can ▁contribute ▁to ▁environmental ▁sust ain ability , ▁afford ability , ▁and ▁liv ability ". ▁ ▁Architecture ▁ ▁The ▁V ancouver ▁Art ▁Gallery ▁is ▁hous ed ▁dow nt own ▁in ▁the ▁ne oc lass ical ▁former ▁cour th ouse ▁built ▁in ▁ 1 9 0 6 . ▁The ▁cour th ouse ▁building ▁was ▁designed ▁by ▁Francis ▁R atten bury , ▁who ▁also ▁designed ▁the ▁British ▁Columbia ▁Parliament ▁Build ings ▁and ▁the ▁Em press ▁Hotel ▁in ▁Victoria , ▁and ▁the ▁lav ish ly ▁decor ated ▁second ▁Hotel ▁V ancouver . ▁The ▁ 5 5 6 - room ▁Hotel ▁V ancouver , ▁opened ▁in ▁ 1 9 3 9 ▁and ▁the ▁third ▁by ▁that ▁name , ▁is ▁across ▁the ▁street ▁with ▁its ▁co pper ▁roof . ▁The ▁Goth ic - style ▁Christ ▁Church ▁C athedral , ▁across ▁from ▁the ▁hotel , ▁opened ▁in ▁ 1 8 9 4 ▁and ▁was ▁declared ▁a ▁her itage ▁building ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 6 . ▁ ▁There ▁are ▁several ▁modern ▁buildings ▁in ▁the ▁dow nt own ▁area , ▁including ▁the ▁Har bour ▁Centre , ▁the ▁V ancouver ▁Law ▁Cour ts ▁and ▁surrounding ▁pla za ▁known ▁as ▁Rob son ▁Square ▁( des igned ▁by