Vancouver's landmark twin towers could begin construction in 2019 (RENDERINGS)

Artistic rendering of Bosa Properties' twin tower proposal at 1070 Barclay Street in downtown Vancouver. (Buro Ole Scheeren Architects / Bosa Properties)

The proponents behind Vancouver’s new tallest twin towers hope to begin construction sometime in 2019, according to a news release.

A rezoning proposal by Bosa Properties and Kingswood Capital for the site at 1040-1080 Barclay Street was submitted to the municipal government earlier this year. The site is located at the southeast corner of the intersection of Barclay Street and Thurlow Street, next to Robert Lee YMCA, in downtown Vancouver’s West End.

The proposed development site at the southeast corner of Barclay Street and Thurlow Street in downtown Vancouver. (Google Maps Streetview)

Location of Bosa Properties’ twin tower proposal at 1070 Barclay Street in downtown Vancouver. (Buro Ole Scheeren Architects / Bosa Properties)

The architecturally unique project is designed by world-renowned German firm Büro Ole Scheeren, and if approved by City Council later this year it will mark the architect’s second design in North America after the ‘Jenga Tower’ at 1500 West Georgia Street – another Bosa Properties project that was recently approved.

At 449 ft, the west tower is slightly shorter than the east tower’s height of 458 ft, but both towers will appear to be identical due to the site’s eastward slope.

Artistic rendering of Bosa Properties’ twin tower proposal at 1070 Barclay Street in downtown Vancouver. (Buro Ole Scheeren Architects / Bosa Properties)

Layout of Bosa Properties’ twin tower proposal at 1070 Barclay Street in downtown Vancouver. (Buro Ole Scheeren Architects / Bosa Properties)

It calls for 481 market strata units, with the market unit mix comprised of 40 studio units, 167 one-bedroom units, 215 two-bedroom units, 37 three-bedroom units, 10 townhouse units, and 12 penthouse units.

There will also be a major social housing component within the east tower, which will not only replace the lost rental stock from the existing buildings on the development site but create a net gain in supply. A total of 162 social housing units are proposed, including 25 studio units, 52 one-bedroom units, 52 two-bedroom units, and 33 three-bedroom units.

Artistic rendering of Bosa Properties’ twin tower proposal at 1070 Barclay Street in downtown Vancouver. (Buro Ole Scheeren Architects / Bosa Properties)

The towers, which are connected at the base by a multi-level bridge, will have a 4,500-sq-ft ground-level retail space and a 6,000-sq-ft daycare. Both the social housing and daycare will be managed by the municipal government.

Residents will have ample amenities, including an inner outdoor courtyard, outdoor amenity spaces on green roofs and void spaces between floors, and indoor amenity spaces.

Artistic rendering of Bosa Properties’ twin tower proposal at 1070 Barclay Street in downtown Vancouver. (Buro Ole Scheeren Architects / Bosa Properties)

Artistic rendering of Bosa Properties’ twin tower proposal at 1070 Barclay Street in downtown Vancouver. (Buro Ole Scheeren Architects / Bosa Properties)

Over 600 parking stalls and 800 bicycle parking spaces are planned within underground levels.

Layout of Bosa Properties’ twin tower proposal at 1070 Barclay Street in downtown Vancouver. (Buro Ole Scheeren Architects / Bosa Properties)

And as for the architectural design, the towers will feature a fixed alternating pattern of “cubic modules” – protruding boxes, balconies, and terraces.

“Our design team and the immense talents of Buro Ole Scheeren have worked to create
a tower that provides a series of intimate park spaces throughout the tower, comingled
with a varied collection of floorplates and facades – the harmony of which creates a
stunning architectural language,” said Daryl Simpson, Senior Vice President at Bosa
Properties, in a statement.

“While most towers offer larger patios and added privacy only on the penthouse level, this design strives to create access to these important amenities for all throughout the tower, including social housing residents.”

Artistic rendering of Bosa Properties’ twin tower proposal at 1070 Barclay Street in downtown Vancouver. (Buro Ole Scheeren Architects / Bosa Properties)

Artistic rendering of Bosa Properties’ twin tower proposal at 1070 Barclay Street in downtown Vancouver. (Buro Ole Scheeren Architects / Bosa Properties)

Artistic rendering of Bosa Properties’ twin tower proposal at 1070 Barclay Street in downtown Vancouver. (Buro Ole Scheeren Architects / Bosa Properties)

Taller buildings are permitted on the Burrard Street Corridor and other corridors in the West End through the City’s West End Community Plan.

This same policy also led to the approval of 969 Burrard Street last year – a 56-storey, 556-ft-tall residential tower, with a design inspired by church pipe organs, by Bing Thom Architects and Westbank directly across the laneway from the Bosa Properties site.

Vancouver skyline changes from the redevelopment of 1070 Barclay Street. (Buro Ole Scheeren Architects / Bosa Properties)

See also