1568 Alberni Street by Kengo Kuma Associates

1568 Alberni

A uniquely shaped 43-storey tower designed by Kengo Kuma and developed by Westbank Corp. It will be a new iconic landmark in the heart of Vancouver. The building’s residents will enjoy luxurious amenities and services such as 24-hour concierge, a private inner garden, wine tasting room, soundproof listening (music) room, gym, indoor swimming pool, art gallery and more.

“The design of 1568 Alberni Street is shaped by its environment. The 43-story tower is carved by two emphatic scoops that form deep balconies with wood soffits and decks. In both instances, the carvings create semi-enclosures that establish a connection to the street, to Lost Lagoon, and to the views–the building’s urban and geographic context–while facilitating neighborhood private and public views past the project.

Because of the way the otherwise orthogonal tower is carved, its silhouette constantly changes, creating illusory profiles of arching cantilevers. The reality is far more structured, as the carved deductions are diagonally symmetrical, the lower protrusions helping to counterbalance the hanging volumes above.The tower meets the ground with two intersecting domed vaults that embrace Alberni and Cardero Street.

Under the arching structures, an extensive moss garden defines the entrance and flows up to the swimming pool above. In keeping with Japanese spatial traditions, the emphasis is on the atmosphere rather than the object: without drawing attention to a particular point laden with meaning, the void elicits a serene visceral experience that could be shared by all.” Source by Kengo Kuma Associates.

  • Location: Vancouver, Canada
  • Architect: Kengo Kuma Associates
  • KKAA Project Team: Balazs Bognar, Michael Sypkens, Esteban Ochogavia, Richard David Nelson, Nicolas Cazali, Jagoda Krawcyk, Yasemin Sahiner, Kevin Clement, Nicolas Guichard, Moeko Yamagata, Shinya Toyama, Tomohiro Matsunaga, Martina Bandolin, John Xianfeng Jiang, Fumiya Kaneko, Takumi Saikawa, Mira Yung, Yu Tsuji
  • Lead Design Architect: Kengo Kuma & Associates
  • Executive Architect: Merrick Architecture
  • Landscape Architect: PFS Studio
  • Engineer: Glotman Simpson Engineers
  • Builder: Graham Construction & Engineering LP
  • Client: Westbank Corp
  • Area: 25,250 m2
  • Completion of works: 2021
  • Images: Hayes Davidson

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *