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J U N E 2 0 2 1 | 71 Horseshoe Bay Sanctuary R EN D ER I N GS CO U RT E SY W E S T BA N K ; B U I LT M O D EL P H OTO G R A P H Y CO U RT E SY M ER R I C K A RC H I T EC T U R E HORSESHOE BAY SANCTUARY by ROBIN BRUNET O n paper, the highlights could read like a standard residential development: 158 condomini- ums in six buildings up to 12-storeys high. But Horseshoe Bay Sanctuary's form of development belies a greater depth. The project is a rare case of an architect, developer, and the Sewell Family collaborating to create truly unique living spaces in a special cor- ner of West Vancouver. Horseshoe Bay Sanctuary trans- forms a parking lot at the historic, long-established Sewell's Marina in Horseshoe Bay into a community of homes nestled against a hillside, placed irregularly yet carefully, in a pattern similar to the close-knit ambi- ance of a classic Italian seaside town. The West Coast contemporary archi- tectural style aims to enhance the village feel, as well as support the growth of the nearby marina through small-scale commercial uses at grade and terraced residential homes anchored by a boathouse that opens onto the bay. The project is also unique in that the upper levels of the buildings are a heavy timber structure (with tongue and groove wood decking), which pro- vides an innate fire resistance but requires considerable consultation with building code representatives to be approved. Gregory Borowski, principal at Merrick Architecture – Borowski Sakumoto McIntyre Webb Ltd., says the genesis of the project first occurred in 2007 when Paul Merrick met with Sewell's Marina owners and then later with Horseshoe Bay com- munity leaders to create a vision for the marina. This culminated in a partnership with Westbank for the creation of a waterfront community submitted for rezoning in May of 2015. In addition to the 158 unique West Coast Modern homes, the project includes approximately 13,700 square feet of commercial space for a total floor area of 250,000 square feet. Borowski notes that the irregu- lar spacing of the buildings was key to the project's success, "with the build- ings scaling up the closer as they reach the hillside. Details like the granite stone at the base of the buildings were intended to match the rock of the hills, enhancing the organic feel." One of the main challenges for Borowski was that "although each building shared a related design lan- guage, all of them were different sizes," he says, adding that develop- ment was aided immeasurably by Westbank's shared appreciation for ratifying design ideas through the use of physical models. Of that, Rhiannon Mabberley, development manager at Westbank, says, "It would have been extremely difficult to replicate the relationship of spaces of such a complex project on a computer. We're a big proponent of the built form, and in this case it allowed us to determine massing, vertical con- siderations, the people experience, and many other factors." In addition to seven buildings of varying styles and forms, a series of cottage-inspired two-level townhomes were created, with massing to respect the topography of the site. An enhanced public realm (designed by landscape architect PFS Studio) builds pedestrian connections to the neighbouring park, where landscape and pedestrian areas will be treated like a European village, with elements such as a cobbled stone piazza and lush green common areas for public gathering. As for green standards, the devel- opers and Merrick Architecture ensured that heating and cooling would be provided through an on- site geothermal ocean loop, and a stormwater runoff capture system for irrigation recycling purposes. Construction of Horseshoe Bay Sanctuary came with its own set of challenges. "Everyone underesti- mated how long it would take to clear the site in the spring of 2017," says Leigh Edge, project manager at ICON West Construction. "We ultimately removed 13,000 cubic metres of rock, the largest volume ever taken out of the North Shore, and we had to build a special ramp at the marina so it could be transported by barge to Squamish." LOCATION 6691 Nelson Avenue, Horseshoe Bay, West Vancouver, B.C. OWNER /DEVELOPER Westbank / HB Nelson Ltd. ARCHITECT/INTERIOR DESIGN Merrick Architecture – Borowski Sakumoto McIntyre Webb Ltd. CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT ICON West Construction / Kanin Construction Management STRUCTUR AL CONSULTANT Glotman•Simpson Consulting Engineers MECHANICAL CONSULTANT NDY Canada ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT Nemetz (S/A) & Associates Ltd. L ANDSCAPE ARCHITECT PFS Studio TOTAL SIZE 250,000 square feet (floor area) TOTAL COST Undisclosed