Concept

Bridging a gap on Granville Island the arts complex connects the markets to the North of the Island to the artists to the South. The form utilizes an existing roof structure carrying it across Railspur alley linking both sides together visually. Intersecting concrete walls bisect this form creating two distinct built languages. The gable space with monitor echoes the past of the island while the sliding concrete walls and wood louvers invite a more natural and calm experience. 

Program

The structure is an arts complex that to the North has a large kinetic sculpture museum, restaurant, and kinetic sculpture workshop/ school. The Southern building contains a winery in the center with artist live/work units to the South and restaurants, galleries, and a jazz club to the North.

Experience

From the main marketplace a glimpse of walls sliding underneath the Burrard Bridge lure and invite visitors towards the building. Closer in vertical wood slats and seamingly floating roof planes create a strong horizontal element while gaps in the concrete mass walls give a verticality to the space. Once at the North-West corner the eye glides across a large double gable space that speaks to the history of the site while composing the primary circulation paths. From this space one can enter collaborative sculpture workshops, restaurants or the jazz club. Beyond this the architecture pulls the visitor through the alley to the winery, kinetic sculpture museum, or the artist galleries. 

Tectonics + Materiality

Concrete mass walls and piers compose the primary vertical support for the buildings while black oxide steel, concrete, and glu-lam beams compose the horizontal floor and roof supports. Standing seam roofs and the board form concrete echo the industrial past of the site.

Granville Island | Vancouver, British Columbia | 2015