Sector:
Residential, Special Projects
Service:
Construction Management
Client:
Westbank
Location:
Vancouver, BC
Date Project Finished:
2023
Size
793,987 SQ FT
Homes in the Sky
Designed by Revery Architecture (formerly Bing Thom Architects), The Butterfly is inspired by organ pipes and the natural form of clouds.
It started out as an impossible idea: to build homes in the sky, housed within a vertical neighbourhood of outdoor spaces. The Butterfly – a 57-storey, 331-unit luxury condominium tower scheduled for completion in 2023 – is intentionally designed to connect nature with the built environment.
Envisioned to extend and integrate into the rich landscape of Vancouver’s vibrant West End neighbourhood, the unique form of the tower provides a bold new iconic landmark that highlights the highpoint of the downtown peninsula and the historic gateway into the West End.
New Standards of Sustainability
The Butterfly sets new standards for sustainability in downtown Vancouver condo towers. The development is designed to meet a minimum LEED Gold certification, and exceeds standards for energy performance with greenhouse gas reductions equivalent to a 45 per cent reduction in energy use and a 22 per cent reduction in energy costs. The exterior of the building will consist of scalloped, precast concrete panels, providing exceptional thermal resistance in addition to enhanced acoustic performance.
Natural Light and Ventilation
The Butterfly is intentionally designed to create a sense of community in the building, encouraging neighbourhood-like interactions between residents. Each floor includes a shared outdoor garden space to spark informal meetups, and help break down some of the social barriers commonly associated with high-rise living. These outdoor breezeways also offer environmental benefits, improving sustainability through natural daylighting, ventilation, and cooling.
Community Amenities
Amenities included in the tower include a 37-space daycare facility, and a 50-metre, Olympic-sized, glass roof swimming pool. The pool is surrounded by modular, prefabricated structural ribs that are designed to maximize spans, and is strategically positioned to take advantage of natural shading on the north side of the property.
In addition to the luxury condominium tower, The Butterfly project also includes the heritage restoration, seismic upgrading, and expansion of Vancouver’s historic First Baptist Church, built in 1911.