1728 Alberni St | 117.3m | 44fl & 41fl | Proposed

[officedweller]

Nice, thanks.

PS - I wonder if those vertical channels that seem to penetrate the balconies are intended to act an conduits draining water from the balconies?

[Klazu]

Oh wow, quite an evolution but definitely for the better! Old design was way too top-heavy but this looks really cool. The only downside is that those balconies are not going to be very private.

[officedweller]

Remember that the balconies provides sun shading to reduce solar gain.
Those balconies are a lot better than a flat curtain wall with lots of spandrel (ie south side of Grosvenor's Pacific),
and, arguably, better than the typical wrap-around balconies becoming prevalent in Burnaby (though Vancouver doesn't have any of those!).

Revised podium plans at Hive. Looks like the east tower has been shortened to adress the park shadowing, but the west tower is still the same height with the view cone cut-out.

Axed childcare and downsized retail in redesigned Vancouver towers
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/1700...sa-heatherwick

I think this podium plan provides a much more cohesive lobby for the residential towers.
I also don't think that the previously proposed retail atrium would have been successful.
i.e. think of other similar mini-mall failures or conversions, including Robson Fashion Park, others along Robson (Sephora site?),
similar mini-malls in Yaletown (Murchies Building, Empress Building, Yaletown Galleria) and Chinatown Parkade.
Also remember that this site is decidedly OFF-Robson.

OLD:


https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/1700...sa-heatherwick

NEW:
Note the elevator cores are much more offset from each other (north-south).
Not sure if the retail spaces have "back-of-house" loading from the lane (given the bike lane on Alberni).


https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/1700...sa-heatherwick

[urbanight93]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Remember that the balconies provides sun shading to reduce solar gain.
Those balconies are a lot better than a flat curtain wall with lots of spandrel (ie south side of Grosvenor's Pacific),
and, arguably, better than the typical wrap-around balconies becoming prevalent in Burnaby (though Vancouver doesn't have any of those!).

Revised podium plans at Hive. Looks like the east tower has been shortened to adress the park shadowing, but the west tower is still the same height with the view cone cut-out.

Axed childcare and downsized retail in redesigned Vancouver towers
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/1700...sa-heatherwick

I think this podium plan provides a much more cohesive lobby for the residential towers.
I also don't think that the previously proposed retail atrium would have been successful.
i.e. think of other similar mini-mall failures or conversions, including Robson Fashion Park, others along Robson (Sephora site?),
similar mini-malls in Yaletown (Murchies Building, Empress Building, Yaletown Galleria) and Chinatown Parkade.
Also remember that this site is decidedly OFF-Robson.

OLD:


https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/1700...sa-heatherwick

NEW:
Note the elevator cores are much more offset from each other (north-south).
Not sure if the retail spaces have "back-of-house" loading from the lane (given the bike lane on Alberni).


https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/1700...sa-heatherwick

Interesting point about the balconies re: solar gain. Good to know that this design choice leads to better energy efficiency as well as some nice outdoor patio space.

Ultimately, maybe i wasn't so explicit, this is a great design, don't get me wrong. It's clear that quality materials are being proposed too. I do enjoy this London-esque use of terrazzo that is very classically british-dandy. My concerns were floated in relation to the original design which felt like i diverged more from what we are currently seeing proposed but I'm very glad we are getting mature designs like this in Vancouver.

[mcminsen]

More images from the Dailyhive article.






















source: https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/1700...sa-heatherwick

[s211]

Originally Posted by mcminsen

More images from the Dailyhive article.

The upper balconies remind me of mushrooms growing on the side of a tree.

[Architype]

It's a nice redesign; hard not to like, but I am wondering which futuristic movie or show I've seen this in, and BTW I think it has some Brutalist overtones.

[Spr0ckets]

Wow!
That's quite eye-catching.
These guys just don't do,.... 'subtle',.....do they?


But somehow I highly doubt it will end up looking like that when finally built.
Can someone say,....'Value Engineering'?

(for instance, those curved glass balcony panels are almost guaranteed to be deconstructed into straight segmented panels. And the balconies themselves will likely not be that prominent or that enlarged by the time the energy conservation consultants step in.)

EDIT :
I was reminded of why that form and reticulation seemed so familiar - especially that interlocking and weave-like balcony layout treatment - and it now occurs to me that this is basically just a curved balcony, and curved form version of Penda's Tel Aviv-based Arcades Tower proposal....
(...but with far less Bauhaus and a touch more Gehry/Zaha)

https://www.dezeen.com/2018/07/02/pe...-architecture/

[WarrenC12]

Very 70s.

[jlousa]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Very 70s.

That's what I thought too, not convinced it will age well, but there's no doubt it sticks out.

[Mininari]

Bracket Fungus!

[Vin]

Due to the stupid Viewcones and "shadowing", there goes the daycare centre and the public retail atrium: a feature that actually makes this development stand out from other developments.

With that said, the outer wall of this development is a huge improvement compared to what was previously proposed.

[Snow_Wolf]

The new design is so much nicer. The towers in the old design were so thin at the bottom that it looks like they could have just snapped in half if it gets windy, let alone a major earthquake. The green and white on the new design also looks nice, but at the same time it slightly reminds me of a hospital.

[VantageHD]

Ya, I was wondering if the old design was scrapped after the engineers went over it.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by VantageHD

Ya, I was wondering if the old design was scrapped after the engineers went over it.

It has nothing to do with seismic safety if that is what you are implying, although the current design does save on costs when it comes to core design and how floors are cantilevered out. Basically it is simply the cheapening out of the former structural design, that's all.

I must add that the exterior cladding is a lot richer, possibly to make up for the removal of the unique shapes proposed previously.

If they could combine the previous shapes complete with the atrium, and the current exterior and cladding, this development would certainly be one of the most unique and awe-inspring landmarks of the entire country.

[vanman]

Yeah I would prefer the current cladding paired with the old design. A deep jade green colour would be even better. Something like the Jade Canoe at YVR.


https://www.google.com/search?q=jade...14A588hiOtsdyM

[Denscity]

Part Jetsons part Honolulu.

[VantageHD]

It has nothing to do with seismic safety if that is what you are implying, although the current design does save on costs when it comes to core design and how floors are cantilevered out. Basically it is simply the cheapening out of the former structural design, that's all.

No, building in earthquake zones is more than doable with architecture that pushes the limits of design. I was talking about architects wanting one thing, and engineers requiring another. Usually results in changes or re-design.

[Coldrsx]

Eastern Building in Los Angeles meets a pineapple lily.

[Feathered Friend]

https://www.shapeyourcity.ca/1728-al...735-bidwell-st

While the rezoning proposal for these two towers, & their 387 homes has been withdrawn, it doesn’t mean we’ve seen the last of them. Now that View Cone 20 has been adjusted, they could return a little taller, & include a previously eliminated 24 space daycare.

https://x.com/City_Duo/status/1831131278646935838