HABITAT

Client
Hudson Projects / Fabric Living / Porte Communities

Area
72,000 sq ft

Address
2520 Guelph Street, Vancouver, BC

Status
Completed 2023

Project Overview

Habitat is a four-storey mixed-use residential development located at the corner of East Broadway and Guelph St, on the same site occupied by the very first house on the block in 1903. This portion of East Broadway is an evolving neighborhood commercial district comprised mostly of older one and two storey buildings.

Working with a multi-partner client group (Hudson, Fabric Living, and Porte Communities) the goal at project outset was to create something which honoured the history of the area while simultaneously activating the neighbourhood and providing a wide variety of residential units and amenities.

  • The project consists of 70 strata residential units, including unique one-bedroom and three-bedroom courtyard units at the fourth floor. These units are double-fronting to maximize daylight, ventilation, number of bedrooms, and variety of private outdoor spaces, and were designed to replicate ground-oriented housing in a multi-unit project. The residential amenities include a multi-purpose indoor amenity room, located at grade with direct access from the entry lobby, optimally located to host a variety of functions including parties, meetings, and co-working spaces. The common roof deck offers exceptional North shore and downtown views and includes a large harvest table, lounge areas, and extensive planting.

    The ground floor is activated on all three frontages (E. Broadway, Guelph St, the lane) by a cadence of smaller scale, locally serving retail CRUs. Along E Broadway the entries are articulated with alternating chamfered wood portals, creating clear markers to delineate separate entries, and providing a warm contrast to the residential massing above. Wrapping the retail around the corner into the lane, a gesture in keeping with the spirit of the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood, was also an important programming requirement. Four small scale retail units wrap around the corner and down into the lane, with the corner unit being designed with extensive operable glazing, allowing seating and activation to spill into the lane.

    The massing generally attempts to present a strong solid corner element, marking the significance of the corner site. Due to the E Broadway shift in alignment, this corner is further highlighted in importance, especially approaching from the west. The mass along Broadway continues east with a more articulated bay system, adding a more playful rhythm, scale and material context while re-enforcing a strong street wall. Dark standing-seam metal cladding sits in contrast with the white fiber cement and perforated metal guards, articulating the massing further while honouring the neighbourhoods blue-collar history with robust and durable materials.

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