An architectural firm in Vancouver by the name of Henriquez Partners Architects has designed a new architecture project consisting of 10 towers that are topped with trees and overlook a park full of greenery and pure beauty.

The New Architecture Project

The Canadian Firm has been enlisted by Westbank to transform a shopping mall into a 4.5 million square foot community. This community will be known by the name of Oakridge and will consist of 10 towers dedicated to residential spaces– one of which will be affordable housing. Other areas of the community there will be offices and retail spaces. The structure will cover over nine acres of land and will have several bike lanes, designated parks, and walkways.

According to the lead architect Gregory Henriquez:

 “This is not another traditional shopping Centre incorporating residential towers, it’s a place you may never have to leave.”

When it comes to the interiors of these homes, offices, and retail spaces, Westbank has picked multiple different designers to oversee the interiors of the nine residential towers. Piero Lissoni, an Italian designer, was chosen to conquer the tallest of the buildings. This building was also known as Building Four and is a curved design that tapers off towards the top.

Lissoni stated:

“Westbank’s Oakridge project was incredibly appealing to me because of the scope of its size and ambitions to transform the city and urban life in Vancouver.”

This building encompasses every aspect of a person’s daily life with space for residential, offices, shopping, a workspace, and communal walking areas and parks to enjoy your life each day. This concept could potentially eliminate the need to leave these 9 acres of land.

This New Architecture Project, and the Effect on the Environment

Here at Building Empires Media Group, we find this project both intriguing and likely environmentally friendly. If this concept of having a residential community where residents work, live and play on the same grounds takes hold, then they never have to leave. This could cut the amount of pollution from cars, trains, taxis, and busses substantially if taken seriously.

Once this idea was off the ground and in the works, Westbank released a sneak peek of Lissoni’s design in hopes of enticing buyers and building their interest to learn more. Lissoni’s project consists of residential cabins located on floors 28 through 41, the main lobby, amenities, and a rooftop garden.

The Composition of the Westbank Buildings

Currently, the aesthetics of each residential cabin have been chosen to follow a very modern and clean look with a mix of wooden and white cabinetry, white pillars to give off a vintage vibe, white walls, and flooring with the herringbone pattern. All of the furniture from each unit are from places such as B&B Italia, Boffi, and Miele and are all in the colors of woods, white, and dark tones.

As for the lobbies of the buildings, they are set to feature a more mood-based décor with a mix of Italian furniture and motif. A custom-built Fazioli grand piano, along with an area dedicated to a concierge area, fill in space with a shallow pool of water as a base.

The rest of the interior is luxurious and simple with dark metal cladding over the elevator banks and pale stone contrasting the metal.  

Amenities that are included in the design of this residential tower will all be on the seventh floor and will consist of a cinema, a private dining area, a kitchen, a lounge, and a study room with a music room not too far away, along with a gym and wellness center.

The other buildings in this community are not yet designed, but are set for completion in the year 2027. There will be three more mid-rise buildings that will stand for commercial and office use, a civic center, a performing arts academy, a live music venue, a library, as well as a senior and children care facility, and lastly a mall.

Oakridge will be heated and cooled by using energy systems that will capture the wasted heat and match it with natural energy. This will reduce the number of greenhouse gases that are in the air, as well as reduce the cost of heating and cooling.

“This is a project yet to be built anywhere, that on completion will form a fully integrated vessel of culture, within the city of Vancouver,” said Henriquez.