Synchro
- City: Vancouver, BC
- Status: Complete
- Category: Mixed-Use
The Challenge
Bringing identity and vitality to a diverse, rapidly transitioning neighbourhood while enhancing community identity through thoughtful architectural design.
About this Project
Synchro is a modern, mixed use development bringing much needed commercial and residential units to Vancouver’s hip Mt. Pleasant neighbourhood. Starting as an empty lot, this project provided a blank slate for an inspired design that reflects and enhances the area’s vibrant, artsy character.
Synchro reestablishes vital pedestrian focused shopping for the local community with four small scale commercial retail units. It also provides 29 new residential units distributed through 5 storeys, with the uppermost levels set back to create a comfortable, scaled streetscape along Broadway Street.
The building volume is arranged to minimize shadows on public space and surrounding buildings. The facade is articulated with two brightly coloured, boxed forms that contain balconies, separated in the centre with recessed, angular coloured glazing that extends the full height of the street wall. These features break up the building scale and provide playful pops of colour reflecting the neighbourhood’s youthful, artsy identity, as well as defining and celebrating the building’s main entry.
The material combination of bright red corrugated metal, aluminium , glass and brick brings a dynamic, modern architectural style that will allow the building to thrive as the neighbourhood to the two buildings neighbouring continues to grow and evolve. Paying close attention to Synchro, the side elevations of the building which will likely remain visible in perpetuity were treated with a comprehensive, sensitive nature. Synchro is a harbinger of Mount Pleasant’s dynamic future and its design supports a harmonious, animated and beneficial mixed use street wall block. In addition to the 29 residential units, Synchro offers a common amenity space which is situated on the terrace of the building, overlooking the surrounding area.