Mackenzie Green
South Bonson Community Centre — LEED Gold civic building on the Fraser River in Pitt Meadows by RWA Group Architecture. Reclaimed Douglas fir from a local barn, exposed structure, and solar shades.
Architecture, Architect, Architectural Practice, Urban Planning, Residential Architecture, Multi-Family, High Rise, Mid-Rise, Institutional, Campus Design, Civic Architecture, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canadian Architect, Canada
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About This Project

MacKenzie Green

This project predates Missing Middle housing policies by about a decade.

Objective:         
Contribute to an existing node with a neighbourhood-friendly mixed-use development which increases local housing choices beyond single-family.

 

Location:          Southwest corner of MacKenzie St. + West 33rd Ave.
Units:                5 townhouses + 1 duplex (7 units total)
Commercial:  180 sm
FSR:                   1.25
Lot Size:           99 x 130 ft (former gas station)
Context:           Village-scaled node in an established single-family neighbourhood
Status:              Completed 2012

 

Big Ideas:

1. Fitting In:  Follow local/traditional single-family patterns by articulating individual units and residential types. Incorporate local colours and materials including shingles and shiplap siding, arts and crafts details and proportions, bay windows, and steeply pitched roofs to “fit into” the neighbourhood.

2. Contribute:  Expand the village-type node with small scale corner shops mixed with townhouses/duplex.

3. Be A Good Neighbour:  Step down the massing to respect single-family neighbours.

4. Flexibility:  Provide the option of live-work with a connection between street-level commercial and residential units above.

5. Common Space:  A narrow courtyard between the buildings provides an informal common space and passageway.