* Residential Architecture: Beach and Howe Mixed-Use Tower by BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group)

Residential Architecture: Beach and Howe Mixed-Use Tower by BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group): “..The tower takes its shape after the site’s complex urban conditions aiming to optimize the conditions for its future inhabitants in the air as well as on the street level..As the tower ascends, it clears the noise, exhaust, and visual invasion of the Granville Bridge. BIG’s design reclaims the lost area as the tower clears the zone of influence of the bridge, gradually cantilevering over the site. This movement turns the inefficient triangle into an optimal rectangular floor plate, increasing the desirable spaces for living at its top, while freeing up a generous public space at its base. The resultant silhouette has a unique appearance that changes from every angle and resembles a curtain being drawn aside, welcoming people as they enter the city from the bridge..The courtyards created by the building volumes, roofs and terraces are all designed to enhance views from the Granville Bridge and the residential units above. The canted, triangular clusters of green roofs create a highly graphic and iconic gateway to and from the downtown core, reinforcing the City of Vancouver’s focus on sustainable cities. The exterior façades respond to the various solar exposures which is integral to the overall sustainability concept. The building will strive for LEED Gold Certification.”  Interesting form, contextual sensibility, sustainability..

See our other posts on work by BIG: Architecture: TLT Tilting Building by BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group), Architecture: St. Petersburg Pier (Florida) by BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group) and Architecture: BIG (Bjarke Ingels) wins competition for the new Kimball Art Center, the latter two posts showing BIG’s inclination to put a twist on things..

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image: Courtesy of BIG; article: Furuto , Alison . “Beach and Howe Mixed-Use Tower / BIG” 17 Apr 2012. ArchDaily. <http://www.archdaily.com/226466&gt;

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