Rubik-cube inspired hotel, office, and residential complex proposed for False Creek Flats

Onni Group

A major mixed-use development has been proposed for a large vacant site at 399 East 1st Avenue, next to the future home of Emily Carr University of Art and Design in Vancouver’s False Creek Flats.

Local developer Onni Group has submitted a development application to the City of Vancouver to construct four buildings, with one hotel building at 15 storeys, two live and work buildings ranging between 13 and 15 storeys in height, and one office building at seven storeys.

There will be 220 live and work units, 199 hotel rooms, 80,000 square feet of off space, 44,735 square feet of retail on the ground floor, and an 86,407-square-foot underground warehouse on level P5 – below the underground parkade levels. There will be ample public space, including a large public plaza at the core of the complex.

Designed by architectural firm IBI Group, the project features a colourful and playful rubik cube-like design influenced by digital art such as Douglas Coupland’s “Digital Orca” statue at the Vancouver Convention Centre and the site’s close proximity to the new Emily Carr campus.

“The colour palette is inspired by the rubik’s cube,” reads the architect’s design rationale. “All four buildings share a common basic checker pattern of black, white, and grey. Each building is differentiated with unique set of vibrant accent colours. These colour combinations not only allow easy navigation, but also create a fun and visually engaging community.”

This development site is located near a possible future SkyTrain station that would be built as part of the extension of the Millennium Line, aka the “Broadway Subway”, to Arbutus or UBC. The station would serve the post-secondary institutions and future projects located in the area, particularly tech, offices, and another Onni condo tower project currently under construction.

The Development Permit Board will consider the application on October 31, 2016. The municipal government is currently in the process of creating a master plan for the False Creek Flats that will focus on retaining its economic importance.

Image: Onni Group