The Butterfly | 178.6m | 57Fl | Completed

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by red-paladin

I can't wait to see this one built.

Please allow me to second that! About the most daring project in the city thus far.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by Feathered Friend

The doomsayers here were right!! This model reflects the changes suggested by the UDP and it is disastrous!!!

Oh wait... the changes were simply to the streetscape, and for the better, oh well. At the Development Permit Board Meeting there were roughly 5 speakers in favor, including one from the Patina building. There was only one speaker against that mentioned something about the building being ungodly because it was so tall and next to a church.

The advisory board members each highlighted a different opinion. One suggested that if this version was sent back to UDP it would be pointless, as the UDP would approve it. A second member said that while they were nervous about the scallops, they now feel it aids the heritage of the church by drawing people in. The last view expressed was that there was not enough parking dedicated for church use.

The opinions of the panels members were:

Panel Member 1 felt the design was ambitious and iconic. He supported the scallops, and felt the architecture was interesting. He expressed disappointment that the social housing lost a floor (and 5 units) because of the tower set back policy.

Panel Member 2 Kept it short. His feeling was that the staff conditions for approval made sense, especially those relating to the scallops and the plaza.

Panel Member 3 Responded to the criticism of the one individual by noting that the height and placement was already approved by council. He expressed that he likes projects like this which harness the market conditions to provide social benefits. Again, he agreed with staff recommendations, and stressed the need for the plaza to not segregate the occupants of the buildings.

The building was obviously approved. Get your shovels ready everyone!

Compared to the previous design, thankfully the tower is still pretty much the same, but the new social housing component looks like something from Joyce-Collingwood. The old design looked way better. Ohh well, not a complete disaster but UDP has again succeeded in reducing the overall visual-appeal of a previously more superior design, and in this case particularly from the street level.

Originally Posted by Feathered Friend

As part of it's development application, this was back at Monday's UDP. I assume it passed, but we'll have to wait and see. I was excited to see the proposed materials, even if they were a pain to lift out from under the model table.

[vanman]

From VancouverPresales.com

[BodomReaper]

Stunning renderings. This will likely be the best residential tower in the city.

Sidebar: there's a huge amount of density getting dumped into these few blocks (will be the densest area in the region), with 0 increase in retail space; and the IGA on Burrard is already the most overcrowded grocery store I've visited. This city desperately needs to get its act together in allowing off-arterial retail space

[s211]

Originally Posted by vanman

From VancouverPresales.com

Am I the only one that sees the Gherkin lurkin' in this shot?

[vanman]

I see the mini Gherkin. That is a cool effect of the scalllops when viewed from afar.

____

It looks like the breezeways are pulled back every 2nd and 3rd floor to allow space for trees (birch?)

[Vin]

Lovely tower!

[Klazu]

Boy, they sure have spent time in making all those renderings! Excellent job.

Although I would love to live in this building, there are so many impractible things in the design. That kitchen island looks nice, but how sturdy it is? Also, I hope that pool in the ceiling won't leak. It will also be a nightmare to furnish all those round rooms...

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

wowza, i really like this tour. now how to buy a place. haha.

[rofina]

This is one is tempting to take on an absurd mortgage for...

I am absolutely in love with the open breezeways.

Everything about it screams "future is now"

Look at those interiors!

[officedweller]

I wonder what the vertically slatted cladding material is in the background?
Looks like the terrazzo will not widen out to full ceiling height, and the remaining space will be filled by...what?
Fritted glass? Hopefully not corrugated steel.

Those planters will mean a lot of maintenance!

Originally Posted by vanman

[s211]

Originally Posted by officedweller

I wonder what the vertically slatted cladding material is in the background?
Looks like the terrazzo will not widen out to full ceiling height, and the remaining space will be filled by...what?
Fritted glass? Hopefully not corrugated steel.

Those planters will mean a lot of maintenance!

A good point that almost everyone overlooks. If people realized how few arborists are trained and certified to work at heights, either suspended or raised by cherry pickers, then you'd realized what a green scam plans like these are, and Westbank is famously known for using concepts like this to gain project approval. Ultimately, they're either unrealized or else dumped on unsuspecting subsequent owners to address, at astronomical cost.

[Forager]

It'll be interesting to see how this building is sold. My apologies if this isn't in the right thread -- this is only my second post here.

I was recently at the Pacific (Grosvenor) presale presentation centre -- they wouldn't provide pricing on the larger units, but in order for you to be "offered the amazing opportunity to purchase" you must complete what they called a "Home Request" form, in which you must disclose what you are willing to pay for a particular unit. The sales rep offered some BS to the likes of "it's in order to ensure we match homeowners with the right home for them" and has nothing to do with our pricing. Ummm, yeah, right.

Apparently, this is how most developers are now conducting presales. I was appalled. I couldn't imaging buying anything else, let alone a home in this way. Imagine going to buy a pair of shoes and the salesperson says "okay, everyone here interested in this pair of shoes, tell me what you're willing to pay for them, and I'll get back to you on a price".

I contacted the Greater Vancouver Real Estate Board, who referred me to the RE Council, who then referred me to the Superintendent of RE, and the Minister of Housing. Basically everyone I spoke with had no idea of this new practice, but said it was probably within the realm of legality b/c there is basically little to no legislation in this area. Developers can sell how and to whomever they like.

[urbandreamer]

Wow.

[trofirhen]

Indeed a magnificent building that will make a stunning addition to the skyline of Vancouver. It breaks thgrough the 'meniscus' of bland conventionality so often a trademark of the city.
What a shame that its counterpoint 'Nelson-on-The-Park' vanished into thin air. They would have been signature towers, IMO much more striking than Burrard Place.

[officedweller]

That pricing system is ridiculous.

************

Not only the trees, but the planters along the wall(s).

I also wonder about wind-blown rain on those breezeways.
But when it's sunny, as depicted, it would be quite nice.

[rofina]

Originally Posted by Forager

It'll be interesting to see how this building is sold. My apologies if this isn't in the right thread -- this is only my second post here.

I was recently at the Pacific (Grosvenor) presale presentation centre -- they wouldn't provide pricing on the larger units, but in order for you to be "offered the amazing opportunity to purchase" you must complete what they called a "Home Request" form, in which you must disclose what you are willing to pay for a particular unit. The sales rep offered some BS to the likes of "it's in order to ensure we match homeowners with the right home for them" and has nothing to do with our pricing. Ummm, yeah, right.

Apparently, this is how most developers are now conducting presales. I was appalled. I couldn't imaging buying anything else, let alone a home in this way. Imagine going to buy a pair of shoes and the salesperson says "okay, everyone here interested in this pair of shoes, tell me what you're willing to pay for them, and I'll get back to you on a price".

I contacted the Greater Vancouver Real Estate Board, who referred me to the RE Council, who then referred me to the Superintendent of RE, and the Minister of Housing. Basically everyone I spoke with had no idea of this new practice, but said it was probably within the realm of legality b/c there is basically little to no legislation in this area. Developers can sell how and to whomever they like.

This is beyond ridiculous.

These are multi million transactions were talking about, with no price transparency mechanism. And because its presale - the price point wont be recorded for future transactions.

Any other asset being sold in this way would result in the broker getting sued, or worse.

Hey - here is a stock offering, but I wont tell you the placement cost, just let me know what you think its worth, except maybe you will pay 30% more than the other guy.

Its infuriating, literally the only benefit to this supply is that we on the forum get to watch cool building go up. That's it.

[Vin]

Welcome to a rich man's Ebay. Basically they are bidding off the most expensive units.

[EastVanMark]

Absolutely stunning building. Absolutely brilliant design in a somewhat difficult site. Even manages to work well with the historic church next to it. Just love how they managed to incorporate a nod to a church apse that faces the church. Absolutely brilliant.

[LowerLonsdaleMike]

Originally Posted by EastVanMark

Absolutely stunning building. Absolutely brilliant design in a somewhat difficult site. Even manages to work well with the historic church next to it. Just love how they managed to incorporate a nod to a church apse that faces the church. Absolutely brilliant.

I agree! Very nicely designed. And... I wish more buildings would go to this height. Those images of the skyline with this tower are impressive. Now if only we get some that go higher...