Joyce

Henriquez Partners Architects

Short description

Celebrating the multicultural character and natural environment of a historic Vancouver community.
Established in the 1890’s, Joyce-Collingwood is one of Vancouver’s original neighbourhoods. At the turn of the century, it was thriving but, when the epicentre of growth shifted to Vancouver’s downtown, stagnation set in. By the mid-1980’s, however, the tides turned again, triggered by the introduction of a rapid transit line through the area and today Joyce-Collingwood has one of the fastest-growing residential sectors. It is also one of Vancouver’s most culturally diverse communities providing a landing spot for immigrants seeking a home in an inclusive, welcoming neighborhood.

Joyce is a 30-storey residential tower that aspires to add vibrancy and beauty to this growing transit-oriented area. Contributing to safer and more attractive streets, it provides a mix of affordable homes while honouring the site’s historical context.

The architecture takes inspiration from the community’s multicultural character and natural environment. In Joyce, the diverse neighbourhood is interpreted through the symbolism of a patterned quilt; a metaphoric quilting of ideas and cultures which is applied to the tower’s façade, as overlapping patterns of coloured glass.

Layered over the metaphorical quilt, and reflecting inspiration drawn from the environment, is the outline of Still Creek. This local body of water is the only remaining exposed creek in Vancouver and, for the first time in decades, salmon have returned to spawn here. Inspired by this renewal, the balconies are coloured to evoke salmon swimming upstream. Echoing the river’s sinuous form, the building façade pays homage to Still Creek, while breaking the scale of massing.

Important to area growth has been appeal to families which comprise over half of the population. To foster family-living and affordability, over 65% of the 256 homes are micro two and three-bedrooms units, creating a true vertical community for all ages.