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.  

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 

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".