Intel
DASH
The efforts to improve timelines to get housing projects approved for construction at the municipal level, are well underway. BC Housing and Metro Vancouver Housing have lead the Digitally Accelerated Standardized Housing (DASH) initiative here in BC.
As the name suggests, the initiative involves standardized building designs already modelled in BIM that have been coordinated with zoning requirements of participating jurisdictions and prefabrication companies. The designs are available to owners and Architects as a way to streamline the development of multi-family projects.
acceleratedhousing.ca
On the Town
VAG selects Formline + KPMB to design its new home
The board of the Vancouver Art Gallery has selected Formline and KPMB from the 14 Canadian FIrms that put their hat into the ring, to design the new home for the Gallery at Larwill Park (181 W Georgia St) in downtown Vancouver. The new team is working towards a new concept for 2026.
I am excited to see that Canadian Architectural firms will be able to demonstrate the talent we have here in Canada, and design this significant cultural landmark that will be enjoyed for generations to come.
canadianarchitect.com
Wisdom
Decoding Timber Towers | Urbanarium
The Urbanarium Decoding Timber Towers challenge has now wrapped up, with the winners having been announced. This has been another great contest to bring forth ideas for the use of mass timber in our buildings.
Team MT3 with their proposal Timber Commons has taken first place with an 18 storey tower. Congratulations!
urbanarium.org
Intriguing
Suspended Church Tower
Londoners have a new spectacle to take in. The medieval All Hallows Staining tower was constructed around AD 1320, and is now part of a historic preservation project, and is suspended on stilts above the excavation for The Fifty Fenchurch Street development.
I have heard from some Architects that Vancouver does a poor job of maintaining our historical buildings, with unfortunately, many meeting their end to make way for new developments. Perhaps we can learn a little from the Londoners?
My experience has been a little different in that the owners of the many historical building renovations I have worked on over the years do want to retain these buildings, particularly where they can be incorporated into a new development. But, perhaps my involvement has only been in the buildings where the owner does wish to retain the existing structure, and most of them do get demolished.
What do you think about the preservation of historical buildings? A must? Or, a must go? Email me at bfraser@celerity.ca.
londonist.com
