Barclay & Thurlow Development to Feature Two Towers, 643 Units
Bosa Properties and Kingswood Properties have submitted their formal rezoning application for a site sold by our team at the Southwest corner of Barclay and Thurlow Streets in the West End of Downtown Vancouver.
The site at 1040-1080 Barclay Street is an assembly of three lots comprising a lowrise strata building and two older apartment buildings. The combined site totals 46,272 SF. It is located within a sub-area of the West End Community Plan that allows re-zoning for tall towers if social housing is included.
The proposal is for 643 units in two residential towers connected by a podium bridge with:
- 481 market strata units – including:
- 40 studios, 167 one-bedrooms, 215 two-bedrooms, 37 three-beds, 12 penthouse units and 10 townhouses;
- 162 social housing units – including:
- 25 studios, 52 one-bedrooms, 52 two-bedrooms and 33 three-bedrooms;
- a total density of 15.42 FSR;
- eight levels of underground parking with 626 vehicle parking stalls and 810 Class A bicycle parking spaces;
- building heights of 458 ft. (East Tower) and 449 ft. (West Tower);
- 4,500 SF of retail space located along Thurlow Street; and
- a 5,894 SF City-owned childcare facility.
The concept architect, Ole Scheeren describes the design rationale: “Located at the corner of Barclay and Thurlow Streets, the project is situated in close proximity to the greenery of Nelson Park, the liveliness of Robson and Davie Villages, and the bustle of the Central Business District, making it an appealing location for downtown living. The design takes its inspiration from the grain and scale of the horizontal villages and transforms it into a vertical village.
The architectural and urban composition reflects the smaller scale blocks and elements of the urban context, which are replicated into cubic modules and assembled to form two sculptural residential towers. With neighbouring buildings indicating a tendency towards singular vertical towers, the design of 1040-1080 Barclay generates a more articulated massing with moments of volumetric interest that brings small scale pockets of nature to urban residents. The articulated silhouette of the two towers engages the space of the city and stand as distinct landmarks that activate the skyline.”
This application is being considered under the West End Community Plan.
The architects for the project are Buro Ole Scheeren in partnership with Francl Architecture.