GRANT STREET TOWNHOUSES (Parkside)

Vancouver, BC, 1993

"A  neighbourhood is
defined by the quality
of its HOUSING and its PARKS"
                       ~ Rob Sieniuc
                   

The Grant Street Townhouses are designed  to be in context and scale with the  existing craftman style homes found in the neighourhood—Vancouver's Commercial  area, one of city's older established communities.  Each unit  has been carefully planned to take full advantage of this parkside location— the project fronts a community park.

The townhomes have a similiar form (gable facing the main street with front verandah).  The overall massing is compatible with the neighbour context and scale. References to buildings in the area include: covered verandahs, sharply sloping roofd, bay windows, wood trim boards.  Exterior cladding is cedar siding.  A large sloping roof with the main gable facing the main street is a dominant architectural feature. The project is designed as an energy efficient, green building to reduce energy consumption and provide a healthy environment for residents.

Some of the guiding principles followed in the development of the Conceptual Design for the Grant Street Townhouses include:

• Sustainability—to have a low impact on the environment
• Community—to be in context with the surrounding neighbourhood character
• Healthy— to be healthy for residents
• Energy Efficiency—to be energy-efficient
• Resource Efficiency—to use quality, long lasting natural building materials
• Cost Efficiency—to be affordable to construct and maintain
• Small Footprints—to provide compact, efficient development
• Self Construction—to accommodate building by owner