The design for Vancouver Forest looks to the wider environmental context of the British Colombia area, taking inspiration from its scenic forest regions.
Providing both private apartments and community space, the development is expressed as two separate units for the first three storeys. From the fourth floor, they are then fused together, creating a cohesive structure with an outdoor passage through the building’s core. This permeability contributes to the public realm and offers connectivity between parallel streets. The community spaces are focused on the lower three levels which are more tightly knit into the urban fabric.
The levels above are dedicated to private apartments, offering greater privacy and broader views. As the building ascends, these levels gradually recede in a series of stepped terraces from the south end. This exposes the apartments to sunlight and additionally achieves architectural integration by way of a gentle progression in height. Similarly, the corners of each storey are curved to soften the building’s appearance and to enhance the dynamism and fluidity of the façade.
Opting for materials with a low embodied energy, the design uses a bamboo Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) structure and cladding, with only the lift and fire stairs using concrete to comply with the local building code. Bamboo boasts a number of sustainable credentials, with the similar tensile strength to steel but its lightweight, tubular form renders it highly efficient to transport. The plant’s regenerative rate renders it even more sustainable than timber, growing 15 times faster than traditional lumber.
The façade follows a modular format that alternates windows and cladding of equal proportions. This improves thermal insulation in accordance with Passivhaus standards and allows efficient prefabrication off-site.
Terraces, intermittent balconies and bamboo posts offer depth to the elevation and provide a balance of light and shade. This ‘column forest’ effect creates a strong architectural identity that alludes to the region’s natural environment. These clusters of timber columns reference their journey from forest to building: they float upstream, tied in floating bundles, efficiently transported by the river’s natural current.
To complement the character, warmth and texture of the timber employed on the façade, the structure is envisaged with foliage, trees and plants along the terraces. This ‘living canopy’ is intended to envelop the building, creating an ever-changing façade and echoing the vitality, colour and light of a forest grove.