In the course of our daily reporting, we often uncover unusual projects, places, or connections that don't make the final cut. Instead of keeping it to ourselves, we're pleased to share our Architrivia.

In stark contrast to the sprawling built form of the nearby CF Richmond Centre and Lansdowne Centre, Bing Thom Architects introduced a new typology to North American shopping centres when the Aberdeen Centre was completed in 2004. The $60 million complex, one of the largest Asian-oriented malls on the continent, arranges its retail program compactly and neatly, with an urban-minded massing strategy that engages the street. 

An aerial view of the mall, image retrieved from Google Maps

Unlike the typical North American mall, the building looks outward. It responds to the curvature of the enabling street network by instituting an undulating facade, which interestingly enough, sports a colourful translucent film that comprises the project's mandatory art component. The requisite parking element is tucked away largely out of sight, contained within an above-ground structure that is seamlessly incorporated into the building. It's not an unconventional idea, but given the ubiquitous state of the traditional auto-oriented mall, is one that is sadly too rarely adopted. This eliminates the need for a massive sea of surface parking, which from the perspective of a pedestrian, resolves safety and accessibility issues.

Aberdeen Centre, image retrieved from Google Street View

What little concrete that exists externally has either been punctured or accented by vibrant glass panels and topped by mature trees. The interior is awash with natural light, partly courtesy of multiple oval skylights, which have been carefully oriented to avoid damage to merchandise. Like the meandering walls found outside, the interior experience is characterized by curving pathways and courtyards that encourage movement and exploration.

The concrete parking garage has openings and extensive landscaping, image retrieved from Google Street View

A 2013 expansion of Aberdeen Centre produced three retail and three office levels clad in a transparent and reflective glazed wall that employs a diagonal fritted texture. Designed in cohesion with the original building, the Aberdeen Residences complex at the north end of the site, and the Canada Line SkyTrain station, the new structure contains a multi-level atrium that links the streetscape with its upper levels.