Vancouver Tower Takes Ancient Route to Sustainability
Announcement posted by DesignBuild Source 24 May 2012
A bold new architectural addition to Vancouver’s skyline will add a new twist to some truly ancient concepts.
The Beach and Howe Tower, which has been planned for downtown Vancouver, employs solar orientation techniques first conceived by the ancient Greeks and Romans. By carefully planning the site to make the most of its positioning compared to the sun, the uniquely-shaped 49-storey building will allow for better sustainability and less impact from solar heat.
The tower, which is slated to feature as many as 600 units among other uses, starts off with a triangular floor plate that gently curves and morphs into a rectangular shape on the upper levels. The building’s unusual shape will provide a number of benefits for those who will call it home.
For starters, by taking up a smaller floor plate on the ground level, the building is able to be set back further than would otherwise have been possible from the Granville Bridge. This provides a much-needed buffer from noise and air pollution. With no windows or balconies overlooking the heavy traffic below, architecture firm BIG was able to achieve that goal....