Residential
A planned development in the early 1990’s left an awkward remainder parcel for the development of three residential towers in the heart of Guildford, Surrey. The challenge was to “re-create” the site to begin to reconnect it into the local context and to develop three contemporary towers of increased height and density. Because of the eclectic planning context, the initial move was to abandon the grid and to create an organic composition of buildings which work together as a unified whole. The result is an iconic project which will define this thriving community for years to come. The entry alley is a sweeping arc which takes the resident past the signature tower on the northwest corner of the site to a turnaround on a landscaped podium. The towers are lifted on columns to maximize transparency at grade to allow full visual access to reflecting pools, water falls and a south-facing, green-roofed amenity building. The towers rotate off the site geometry and are completed with diamond-shaped roof appurtenances in dialogue with each other. The structures are rendered in concrete and glass, with steel detailing.
- client :: IGREA + Rafii Architects Inc.
- date :: June, 2006
- location :: Guildford, Surrey, BC. Canada
- size :: 585,000 sq ft
- team :: Arno Matis, Chris Doray, Waqar Aziz, Juliana Eick, Robert Emsile
