Situated in the heart of Kitsilano, this project aims to curate a building form and massing that this derived from the traditions of the neighbourhood. Tree-lined streets, lush grassy boulevards, and extensive landscaping are character-defining elements of the street-level experience. These are retained as essential to the proposal along with new landscaping at the podium and tower rooftops.
These landscaped areas maintain the existing character of this residential area while providing an opportunity to expand rental housing capacity in the area. The proposal draws on the landscape imagery of the neighbourhood yet is forward-looking while responding to the need for passive design elements to reduce solar gain. The architectural expression of this project embodies this unique approach to high-performance building by creating rhythms and textures of window, wall, and guardrail elements to increase the shading on the primary façade.
Deck edges push and pull, reminiscent of the tidal waves of the nearby ocean as the building spirals up to meet the former canopy. The contrasting balcony expression breaks the massing down into smaller volumes, humanizing its scale at street level. Positioned as a merging of geographies, chronologies, and programs, we believe this project can be an exciting new addition to the neighbourhood while maintaining the existing characteristics and values that have created it.Positioned as a merging of geographies, chronologies, and programs, we believe this project can be an exciting new addition to the neighbourhood while maintaining the existing characteristics and values that have created it.
