Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Just two blocks from waterfront in Coal Harbour at the intersection of Vancouver’s two city grids, Cardero is a modern obelisk acknowledging its role as one enters Downtown Vancouver from the North Shore on West Georgia Street.
Designed by Gregory Henriquez and his team at Henriquez Partners Architects Cardero is a new mixed-use development that replaces an ageing office building with retail at grade, co-op office space, market residential and public realm improvements.
The building’s distinctive origami-like screens were inspired by its nautical surroundings seagulls and seaplanes in Coal Harbour, and the hang-gliders that can be seen catapulting off Grouse Mountain in the distance.
Characterized by deeply angled V-shapes formed in white steel, the resulting dual form provides shading and privacy for residents while reducing solar heat gain.
The building has been carefully sculpted to acknowledge the transition from the West End to the downtown core.
The development comprises a slender 26-storey, mixed-use residential, office and retail tower that anchors the corner of West Georgia and Cardero streets.
Along Pender Street, the scale of the tower drops to 21-storeys to respond to the character of the neighbouring towers.
The tower sits atop a four-storey podium with at-grade retail and 45,000 ft2 of office space above.
At West Georgia Street, the building comprises a slender 26-storey, mixed-use residential, office and retail tower.
Along Pender Street, the scale of the tower drops to 21 storeys to respond to the character of the neighbouring buildings and a shift in the city grid. The tower sits atop a four-storey podium with at-grade retail and 45,000 ft2 of office space above.
The tower’s dual identity gives the building its unique form and reduces the overall structure’s perceived mass.
The building provides 118 market residential housing units on 21 levels, with 60% suitable for families with children.
The residential units were designed to frame Vancouver’s water and mountain views and maximize usability for residents.
Additional on-site amenities include multi-purpose spaces, a common roof deck and urban agricultural plots.
Designed to LEED-Gold standards, the project will also connect to a future neighbourhood district energy network.
Project: Cadero
Architects: Henriquez Partners Architects
Client: Cardero Resource Corp. and Bosa Properties
