1950s Co-Op Building – Master Plan

From the front this building looks like a fairly modest four-storey mid-50s building, but it’s actually built into the side of a ravine, and extends another five stories down the slope.  The landscaping is extensive and surrounds the building—something that would be challenging in today’s economic environment.  It’s beautifully sited.

We proposed, and our client accepted, that we create a master plan for the future development of the building.  Our master plan suggested a set of design guiding principles which addressed issues such as how to respect the heritage of the building without being constrained by the past, how different parts of the building relate to each other, and how the building as a whole relates to the surrounding landscape.  We also examined questions related to the choices between infrastructure maintenance and new or improved amenities (we see them as being inextricably linked), and proposed a way of approaching projects which integrated future possibilities into current developments.

The building is over 300,000 square feet in size, and its long corridors and complicated circulation can be intimidating, especially to visitors and newer residents.  We believed that it was important to break the building down into its constituent pieces in order to make the building more comprehensible.  We started by identifying the various transition points in the building:  Arrival Spaces, Vertical Circulation (stairwells), General Circulation (corridors and elevator lobbies) and Special Locations (common spaces, patios, etc.).

We also proposed that each wing or floor of the building be considered as a small community, and we explored how each community might be identified, and how they might relate to each other.  Our recommendation was that an identity be developed for each residential corridor, with the use of colour and materials.  Similar lighting and carpeting throughout would maintain the cohesiveness of the building, but the differences would make each space more human-scale and approachable, and serve to demarcate these communities.

Considering the size of the building, there is a surprising lack of dedicated communal space within the building.  However, there are a number of potential unused public spaces both indoors and out.  We identified a number of these spaces, and made proposals for small libraries, seating areas with good views to the outside, and outdoor patios.

One of the most interesting ways to travel through the building is by the exit stairwells, with its glass curtain walls facing the outside.  As you go up and down the stairs, you experience different views of the landscape surrounding the building.  We proposed taking this a step further:  A custom wallpaper or silkscreen appliqué would depict trees that extend the full height of the interior stairwell.  As residents travel the stairs, they would experience varied and interesting patterns.  Only from the outside of the building looking in would the full effect be visible.

As well as a grand main entrance, there are two secondary service entrances into the building.  However, many residents use these entrances as their primary points of entry into the building.  We have proposed that the importance of these entrances should be acknowledged with a new, architectural awning consistent in style with the new hand and guard rails we have already designed and have since been built.

As part of the master plan, we provided colour renderings of several proposed significant elements of the project alongside some ‘before’ images, to better illustrate some of the design principles of the master plan.  For the lobby area, we did not feel a substantial architectural renovation was necessary.  Instead, we proposed further enhancing the best features of the lobby.  Unlike many new condominium buildings, the lobby has generous proportions suitable for gatherings as well as being the primary pathway to individual suites.  We have suggested creating a more inviting communal area centred around a new fireplace, with built-in cabinetry to support an expanded library.  In order to connect the arrival/departure functions of the lobby along with the communal space, we have provided for a photomural of local historical pictures around the perimeter of the lobby area, and the stone veneer chimney breast is reflected on the wall behind the reception desk.