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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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".  

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.

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.

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.

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'. 

Heritage Building: Driving the Design with Detailing (Part Two: Concealed sliding door)

This is a 'how to' detail for retrofitting a sliding glass door over an existing wall opening so that it appears to slide in the wall.

Because it is a heritage listed Castle, the detailing was sculptured with an historic pelmet and a paneled wall appearance. Cool concealed elements are always fun in a mysterious castle...


next time: castle kitchen design...

Heritage Building: Driving the Design with Detailing (Part One: Big Dining Room Door)

A new opening in a thick castle wall called for a tall order door. We had already decided to make the skirting extra high, which meant extra thick (36mm). So I could use the existing door architrave profile (19mm thick), the 40 x 55mm 'archtrave plant' was added. The door and surrounds were made from a piece of found Dorrigo Forest Cedar. 

The finished door is to the right of this photo. Everything you see in this photo (except the loose furniture) was renewed and redesigned.

next time: detailing the glass sliding door...

Great Building Design Guide (Part Four of Four: "Fit For Use")

The right training, tenacity and experience enables you to solve problems in ways that often cost much less. This is especially true when everything that is built is 'fit for use', without wasted space.


Apart from making your garden smaller, wasted space costs money to build. 

Good planning results in energy efficient buildings that also save time, making day to day living simpler and less expensive. Good design ensures that a site's positive attributes are emphasised while the negative points are overcome.

The end result is a building that is worth much more to both the owner and to future buyers.

Great Building Design Guide (Part Three: Why University? "The Long and Winding Road...")

A University course gives you the opportunity to develop the conceptual way of thinking.

It is a unique environment that allows you to think broadly without concerning yourself initially with the complex science and law surrounding building.

Gradually the understanding of energy efficiency, of construction methods, of local government rules and construction law, is included in the course, however it does take time. This is why the course takes five-six years long.

Through it all, we are slowly learning how to hold on to a precious idea (or concept) through the rigors of climate and the reality of commerce. Of course though, a degree is only the beginning of a life of discovering and balancing the idea hidden within a building site.

next time (final installment): "...wasted space costs money to build"

Great Building Design Guide (Part Two: "Maths, Music and Manners")

Like a carpenter's hammer or a brickies trowel, a designer's tools range from mathematics to music. The logic of maths and the structure, layering and rhythms of music are a good analogy for the process of design. Call the steady bass line the structure and press on from that grid...

Local government regulations represent good manners between neighbours, while the building code keeps everyone healthy and safe.

To pull all the issues together into a unified whole takes a concept. Conceptual thinking involves broadly and loosely considering the important parts of any problem and coming up with a unified artistic expression for the building. This is the joy of design.

Discovering a concept for a building gives you an overall vision that helps you make decisions in a structured way further down the track.

next time:  Why go to University?

Great Building Design Guide (Part One: "The Truth is Out There")

To design a great building, first of all know that:

"every problem carries within itself its own solution, a solution to be reached only by the intense inner concentration of a sincere devotion to Truth".
Frank Lloyd Wright (Autobiography)

Knowing this, we confidently begin. The best thing about building design is using your mind in a unique way to solve real problems. It is called thinking conceptually. Conceptual thinking starts with thoroughly understanding the problem. The 'problem' can be defined by two fundamental things: 

• The character and needs of the building owner and end user

          (the client)

• The good points and the bad points of the land on which the building is to be built 

          (the site)

Buildings are a complex arrangement of rooms or spaces whose uses may conflict with each other, especially as you consider light, ventilation, noise, views, access, safety and privacy.

next time: "...to pull all the issues together takes a concept. Conceptual thinking involves broadly and loosely..."