Wednesday 11 December 2013

Three's Company



A great place to start your development journey.

Positioned on the topographical ridge of beautiful White Rock, the subject site of 19,073 SF is adjacent to the commercial area at 140th Street. There is a bus stop at the front door and an established mixed use retail and residential unit adjacent.

There are a number of options for development. Currently, a development proposal has reached third reading which will allow the subdivision of the two lots into three RS-4 lots to allow the construction of three well sized single family houses. Each of the three lots would 6,350 SF, with a lot coverage of 5% and FAR of 0.5. Legal suites would be permissible in each home.

For the more seasoned developer, the site may also be an excellent holding property for rezoning to a mixed use development with commercial retail units on the ground floor and residential apartments over.

Beautiful White Rock water just a few minutes away



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Monday 18 November 2013

Trial by Fire

Fire as ecological process

 

Australians have learnt to accept fire for what it is – an ecological process that determines the composition of Australia's unique flora and fauna.

According to Australia's national science agency the CSIRO, "fire is as natural as the sun and the rain...Nothing else produces the chemicals in the ash to stimulate new growth – or in the smoke to stimulate the flowering and regeneration of particular species. Nothing else produces the heat pulse that removes growth-inhibiting toxins in the litter, or opens tightly-closed fruits to release new seed, or penetrates deep into the soil to stimulate the germination of long-buried seed".

I see some deep parallels in our lives.







Wednesday 30 October 2013

Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) : A beautiful solution





Laminated Veneer Lumber is a tried and true structural product that we have been using for beams for years. Now, with the onset of tall timber buildings it is an elegant alternative for mass timber construction. Thin strips of timber are glued together to create a large panel that can be a very strong complete floor.

The Canadian group Brisco Manufacturing have created a sweet model of how the components are put together (proud owner in the background).  Because the finished product is so attractive, it could be a finished ceiling, wall, column, beam or floor (or all five!).

Architects will also love the leanness of the floor assembly, giving opportunity for greater floor to ceiling heights. Clients and home buyers will love that too.



Wednesday 4 September 2013

One Huge Becomes Two Big


Site A: 1066 Bartholomew Road, 77.3 Acres $552,000

Site B: 668 Sutil Pt. Road, 140.4 Acres $445,000

Back to the beautiful destination known as Cortes Island BC, the property has become even more affordable. The owner is happy to sell the land holdings separately and all offers will be considered.

Saturday 31 August 2013

Making a Splash in Vancouver


Fred, Ted and Mod go unnoticed at lunchtime in Robson Street
As for me, I really like my new Motorola Andriod 'shockproof' phone. The Urban Bears (seen above) love our fixation with our phones too (more space in the fountain). Only, they do wonder why we take so long to eat those little shiny black biscuits.

Saturday 24 August 2013

The Test of Time

The Great Hall, Sydney University
The Great Hall at Sydney University has passed the 'Test of Time' with flying colours. What makes a building last and be relevant for future generations? What makes it have 'heritage', not just because it is old?

There is social heritage, meaning lives were changed here, culture was created and great worth was given to an individual's achievement.

Then there is the building itself, its place in history and the dream and aspirations it created when it was conceived, built and paid for. The enormous energy it took to create this special place is a story of dedication, ideas and great hope in a new land.

What work are we making now that will pass a University Examination of Time?

I am the first to agree that there is more to life than what you can see and touch, however, cities are on the hunt for great land owners who will step up and partner with the finest craftsman and designers, using materials that last and stand for generations. This is one example of the word: Legacy.


Monday 22 July 2013

Gai Waterhouse knows how to build champions and Paradise Equestrian Properties BC will have the same focus.

At Paradise Equestrian Properties in British Columbia, we hope to find the Canadian version of Australia's Gai Waterhouse. An incredible role model for young women. See her latest post below from GaiTV.


GaiTV EXCLUSIVE - Sydney Cup Preview - feat. More Joyous, Pierro, Equator

Friday 5 July 2013

Why buy British Columbia island land?

Here is why you would buy land on an island in BC. Great memories happen when (like us) you and your family and friends catch 100lbs of Shinook and Coho salmon in one day!

There were those that 'got away' as well as those that had to be thrown back, but then this 22lb beauty is proof of the rich waters of British Columbia, Canada.

Saturday 18 May 2013

170 Acres - Equestrian Development Site For Sale

With a long history of helping to provide Canada’s river run of cedar and spruce logs, Squamish has evolved into the outdoor recreation capital of Canada, 45 minutes drive from its most beautiful city, Vancouver.

After much anticipation, Squamish’s premier development site has finally become available. This riverfront property is being listed for sale with zoning for up to 82 estate residential home building lots and a horse training centre.

Along with a luxury family home, each residential lot can contain a detached secondary suite.

The Equestrian Centre at the heart of the subdivision has virtually no size restrictions so that this development will achieve the level of exclusivity expected of a world class horse training and stud facility.


I am proud to be bringing the 169.51 Acres for sale to the development community for $16,000,000.














I look forward to creating with you a true 'destination' point for those who love and admire the elegance and beauty and skill of horses and their trainers.

Tuesday 12 March 2013

Creativity on a tight institutional budget


 
This is a small project on a tight budget for the Rudolf Steiner Service for intellectually disabled known as Inala.  Steiner, the German philosopher who inspired the creation of schools and facilities all over the world, was also a creative Architect.

With that background, this project sought to respond creatively to the very utilitarian need for disabled change rooms next to the school's swimming pool.


The minimal budget generated the choice of materials: Clear finished plywood and steel cladding on a curved steel frame and simple 4"x 4" internal tiles. The circular plan is notable in that it complies with the disability bathroom standards and dimensions, while creating an interesting building form at the far end of the school site.  

Tuesday 5 March 2013

How different are we? The story of CLT

A recent Australian property news survey said that nearly 70% of home owners would be perfectly happy if their condo was made of timber. Would that be true of Canadians?

The world's tallest timber apartment building was just completed in Australia and it has some elegant interior design details that express the cross laminated timber (CLT) construction method.

The building is in Melbourne by 'Lend Lease'. Its walls and floor are made of solid slabs of timber. According to the builders, the the cross laminated layers virtually eliminate shrinkage and the entire building is six times lighter than concrete. It was much cleaner and a pleasure to build.

The use of  3D building modeling and linking the files straight to the cutting machine make everything move more smoothly. The on-site speed of construction is breathtaking, and so are the cost savings.

My Canadian colleagues and I have been wanting to collaborate on the tallest timber apartment here in Vancouver. I am thinking a 30 storey twin tower would be a healthy pill for revitalising the urban landscape.  


Twin tower proposal on the east coast of AUS 

Saturday 2 March 2013

The Magic Number is 7142

How do you encourage pioneering development?

High density may all make sense when you study the population, the surrounding facilities and the travel to work times, it is even environmentally sound, but how do you get the 'risk adverse developer' to look your way?

Well, at Delta in British Columbia, the City team have come up with a fascinating new strategy. Make life EASIER for developers. I know you will be a little confused by this concept, but its true.


BYLAW 7142 front page





































 

The new Bylaw 7142 has three big incentives for the boys who like to build over thirty storeys high:
  •  Property Tax exemptions for three years (can amount to over $2M in savings)
  • 80 percent reduction in DCC's (Development Cost Charges)
  • Waiver of building permit, plumbing permit and land use application municipal fees
Clearly, the Corporation of Delta is "open for business".  

Saturday 9 February 2013

Australian teenagers finding the call in Whistler


The arrow on the right points to the sunniest hillside facing both of the Whistler Resort Mountains. This is the subject of a ski chalet I am currently designing specifically for Australian ski-lovers. The amazing thing is how easy the government make it for Australians to own property here.

Here is the plan: Your teenager is not sure what life is calling them to do. Whistler is full of young Australians from both sides of the continent...all doing good solid physical and resort community work. You buy the ski chalet for your family and your kids spend a year working on the mountain, thinking through their future and making new life-long friends, in a profoundly different and beautiful environment.

The great part is that prices are half what they should be right now and I can design an extraordinary holiday home with a caretaker suite, that looks across a lake at one of the most epic ski resorts in the world, only two hours drive from downtown Vancouver.

Saturday 19 January 2013

In the end it is all about absorbtion speed

When you reach the speed of sound you hear a large bang or 'sonic boom'...called breaking the sound barrier, then again at mach two (twice the speed of sound). In real estate this is called selling off the plan...and it can be fast.

This assembly of property expecting to be rezoned for up to 7 :1 highrise density in the downtown core of North Delta, may well be one of those epic storeys of queues at the  display unit and rapid absorbtion.



When I first arrived here, I found that there was very little for seniors (who loved the area); for students (attending Kwantlen University) and young families who needed an easy commute either by bus or car to Vancouver (and be close to Costco). The bus interchange is opposite the site.

Local families rave about the safety and convenience of being close to Safeway, London Drugs AND the Cinema. With three Starbucks within walking distance it is already a true urban community meeting place.


This sketch is a visual aid to show one way to manage the interestingly shaped site, but you will need a locally registered BC Architect to capture your vision for the rezoning.

Do call me, if you are interested in the assembled property. At 7:1 FAR it is great value. The City recently approved a high rise at 4.6:1 a few blocks away but what we have here is a true downtown core site.

Thursday 15 November 2012

Nature Responding to Architecture

Neils and I worked to create a school hall building nestled into the landscape for this Steiner School. The building was designed to quietly tuck into the gentle slope, but with a large expanse of window at the end facing the sun, to keep the indoor environment light and cheerful.

Later, as if to respond to the design intent, a massive flowering bush took over the end of the building.

Tuesday 13 November 2012

Heritage Building: Driving the Design with Detailing (Part Three: The Castle Kitchen)

 My colleague and friend Richard Vaughan and I designed the 'Castle Kitchen'. It was a time of intense analysis and joyful resolution of mixing old and new. 

Here are a couple of the elements: 

A stainless steel pot hanging frame over the stove was designed to be strong enough to carry a substantial number of pots and utensils. See top left of the photo and detail below.



An appliance cupboard and built in steamer was designed so that the heavy appliances could remain on the bench behind a slotted timber tambor, expertly crafted by Richard. The stainless steel hanging frame detail was repeated over the tambor, to be extra 'castle like'.