Wallbridge and Imrie House

Although an atypical bungalow, the Imrie House, or Six Acres as the architects called it themselves, reflects the light open concepts, simplicity, and economical use of space that typified the other work of Wallbridge & Imrie. The Canadian Encyclopedia states that "their designs are characterized by simple 'modern' lines, ease of interior circulation and unpretentious yet elegant finishes. Most of the firm's houses have modest front elevations and are oriented toward the back yard rather than the street." Wallbridge & Imrie designed Six Acres in 1954 using influences from the International and Prairie architectural styles; they even built much of it themselves. Originally a weekend getaway situated down a long driveway on six acres of woodland on the north bank of the North Saskatchewan River – five miles west of the city at the time – It became their home office for twenty-five years. It is now located in the community of Donsdale, off 45 Avenue. The home has an unassuming front elevation, while in Imrie's words, "the planning was based on providing the best view for both living and office areas. We located the new building partially down the bank, to incorporate a well lit office on the lower floor, while retaining the appearance and economy of a one storey building. Construction, entirely of wood, was planned on a 4' module, with exposed rough beams and structural window mullions. Interior walls are finished in plasterboard, exterior in cedar siding." Upon her death in 1988, Mary Imrie bequeathed her home and hundreds of acres of undeveloped land that she had acquired, some rarely visited, to the Province of Alberta for conservation purposes and to be enjoyed by the people of Alberta. Two million dollars of her estate was devoted to the University of Alberta (Devonian) Botanic Gardens. The Imrie House has been converted to a modern office and is now home to the Land Stewardship Centre.

Jean Wallbridge and Mary Imrie were both brought up in Glenora and were from well-established families. They both attended the University of Alberta School of Architecture; Wallbridge was one of only four women graduates from the program. Imrie attended later and finished her degree at the University of Toronto after the U of A program shut down. They both worked for other firms and wound up at the City of Edmonton's planning department working as junior draughtsmen under Maxwell Dewar. He was so impressed by their work that he advocated they be promoted and receive the same wage as their male counterparts. The City Commissioner refused and the women left; in 1950 they were among the first women in North America to form their own architectural firm. At a time when other (male) architects refused domestic job citing their unprofitability, Wallbridge & Imrie primarily designed private homes, schools, apartments, and housing projects. Said Imrie, "people will get us to do their houses, be thrilled with them and go to larger male firms for their warehouses or office buildings." That being said, the pair received a Canadian Housing Design Council award in 1957. Wallbridge & Imrie worked together until 1979 when Wallbridge died of cancer and Imrie closed the firm.