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The arrival in Canada of Copenhagen-based Bjarke Ingels Group created quite some excitement, as the firm is recognized for their occasionally outlandish architecture that integrates distinct uses into one seamless design. In Vancouver, the increasing density of the downtown area has left only a few sites available for development, some of which present a challenging architectural and engineering exercise. For their first project in the western Canadian metropolis, BIG — in partnership with Dialog Architects and James KM Cheng Architects — faced significant restrictions, with an intricate parcel immediately adjacent to the Granville Bridge flyover and located within a dense urban area.
As a result, Vancouver House was designed to rise from a small triangular podium with a limited floor plate, before rising above the elevated road and smoothly transforming into a rectangular shape, resulting in larger floor plates on the upper levels of the edifice than at its base. This design prevents balconies from directly overlooking the highway, preserves sunlight over the May & Lorne Brown Park across the street, and allows for a significant setback from the existing nearby residential buildings while maintaining a residential density throughout the building.
The greater weight in the upper portion of the tower requires a deeper anchor into the city's bedrock, deep underneath the surface. After several months of excavation, the crew working on the site has finally reached the last underground level of the pit, and a crane was recently installed at the centre of the excavation, as shown in the picture above. Meanwhile, a large amount of rebar was laid on the south portion of the site, marking the first step towards the concrete foundation slab.
Upon completion in 2018, the 157-metre tower will boast nine levels of office and commercial spaces topped by 600 residential units, including a series of penthouses on the uppermost floors. The tower will be complemented by a series of mid-rise commercial buildings inserted between the Granville Bridge flyover ramps, making the most out of a space that currently sits unused. Indeed, the spaces underneath the concrete structure will be dedicated to pedestrians and animated with retail at ground level facing public plazas and artwork that brings life to the otherwise dreary premises.
In 2015, Vancouver House, developed by Westbank Projects Corp., won the title of Future Project of the Year at the World Architecture Festival. Additional information and images can be found in the Database file linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Visit the associated Forum thread or leave a comment below.
