300 Metre Slip n' Slide coming to Lonsdale!

Posted on March 30, 2015 by Sutton

City of North Vancouver okays 300-metre Lonsdale water slide

The slide will be part of the Car Free Day street festival in Lower Lonsdale on Aug. 22

BY BRENT RICHTER, NORTH SHORE NEWS MARCH 25, 2015

City of North Vancouver okays 300-metre Lonsdale water slide

Salt Lake City residents slide down a 1,000-foot water slide. Slide the City is coming to North Vancouver on Aug. 22.

Photograph by: Slide the City , North Shore News

NORTH VANCOUVER — On Aug. 22, it'll be the most fun you can (legally) have on Lonsdale.

City of North Vancouver council has voted to revive the Car Free Day street festival in Lower Lonsdale and add to it a 300-metre (1,000-foot) water slide running all the way from Keith Road to Third Street.

If the plan comes to fruition, city staff will block off the intersections below Keith Road and redirect traffic and buses for the day-long festival, while Utah-based for-profit company Slide the City operates the slide.

Council largely gushed at the plan - particularly over the water slide.

"This is an opportunity for us to have an event that puts the City of North Vancouver on the map as being someplace that's fun to be and come and hang out," said Coun. Linda Buchanan, who added that not only were her kids excited to hit the water slide, but so was she.

Mayor Darrell Mussatto characterized the plan as a "21st century soap box derby."

"I think we used to have soap boxes down Lonsdale at one point in time and this is going to sort of kick it up a notch," he said.

Mussatto said he'd work on his courage about heading down the slide himself.

The slide won't be free. If the company uses the same price structure it has in other cities, a single slide starts at $15 if you pre-purchase your tickets. Participants must be at least five years old and 117 centimetres tall.

The estimated 45,000 to 75,000 litres of water needed to run the slide can either be flushed right into storm drains, collected and taken for treatment or used to water city greenspace. The company also donates a portion of its profits to dig wells in underdeveloped countries and will kick in an extra $7,000 to $10,000 in donations to the Canadian Cancer Society, according to a city staff report.

For its part, the city was willing to put up $2,500 for extra policing costs.

Car Free Day festivals typically see merchants and food vendors opening stalls on the street, along with live music stages, kids' games, sports and hobby demonstrations, performance art, informational booths from community groups and glad-handing politicians.

Under the North Vancouver plan, Esplanade and Third Street will remain traffic controlled intersections throughout the day.

Last year's events on Vancouver's Main Street, Fourth Avenue, Denman Street and Commercial Drive drew about 250,000 people, according to Matt Carrico, a representative of the Vancouver Car Free Society, which pledged its support for the event.

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21 surreal designs you should actually use in your home

Posted on March 24, 2015 by Sutton

By: Michael Aynsley

MARCH 22, 2015

These psychedelic schemes will take your home on a magic carpet ride.

A mesmerizing rock wall feature.

Photo: imgur

And this wall that reacts to your movements.

Images: designboom/vimeo

Created by graphic designer Thibaut Sld. More info here.

These floating stairs.

Photo: interbau

And these glass floors that gaze upon the kitchen.

Photos: Tradition

Or this one that peers into an underground river.

Photo: imgur

Fresh green walls.

Photos: Amazon

And this green table that turns every meal into a picnic.

Photo: Haiko Cornelissen Architecten

Or this table that mimics the ocean depths.

Photos: Duffy London

Yours for only $23,300.

This trippy wallpaper.

Photo: surrealien

This door that magically flips open.

Photos: Klemens Torggler

This living room that was built around a forest.

Photo: Travis Price Architects

This upright bath orb.

Photo: Pinterest

And these heat-sensitive shower tiles.

Photo: imgur

Or these tiles that look like dragon scales.

Photo: imgur

More spectacular shower designs this way.

This interactive storm cloud lamp.

Images: Richard Clarkson/Vimeo

From designer Richard Clarkson. Read all about it here.

And this 3D flooring in the bathroom.

Photo: Pinterest

This starry night ceiling for your home theater room.

Photo: imgur

This curved ‘skin’ sink.

Photos: Lago

This glow-in-the-dark wall mural.

Photos: Bogi Fabian

This landscaped outdoor dining room.

Photo: Pinterest

For Alice in Wonderland-themed tea parties.

And finally, this secret playroom obscured by a wall mural

Photo: fazook

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50 things to do in Vancouver this Spring

Posted on March 18, 2015 by Sutton

50 things to do in Vancouver this Spring

BY VANCITY BUZZ STAFF

12:03 PM PDT, WED MARCH 18, 2015

Image: Vancity Buzz

Longer days, brilliant sunrises, breathtaking sunsets. Spring sprung early in Vancouver this year, and warm weather is here to stay giving Vancouverites time to soak up all this city has to offer.

From now until June, here is our guide to Spring time in Vancouver.

Free things to do in Vancouver this Spring

Image: Kenneth Chan / Vancity Buzz

Go on a tour of cherry blossom hotspots

Vancouver is home to many cherry blossom trees. You can find thousands of them all over the city, but we’ve outlined the 21 best locations to get your cherry blossom fix in Vancouver.

Vote in the Transit Plebiscite before May 29

Transit shapes our future, and without it the city will take a step back. We’ve outlined 15 reasons why you should vote YES and also outlined 6 reasons the NO side argues. The decision is yours to make, Vancouverites.

420 celebration

The largest annual celebration of all things marijuana takes place at the Vancouver Art Gallery on April 20. If you don’t like the smell of marijuana, it’s best to avoid the area surrounding Robson Square and the Art Gallery.

Earth Hour

Turn off the lights and unplug for an hour! Let’s see if we can get Vancouver nearly dark this year.

When: March 28 from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Food and drink

Farmers Market via Shutterstock

Check out Juno Kim’s Dinner Series at 33 Acres

Every Monday, Juno Kim takes over the 33 Acres tasting room creating a unique meal. Kim has been given the reins to be creative; pair this with a good brew and your Monday night just got a lot better.

When: Every Monday night
Where: 33 Acres Brewing – 15 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver

Richmond Night Market

Great food and all the funky cartoon socks you can handle! The market opens up in May and runs into October so you’ll have plenty of time to check it out.

When: May 15 to October 12
Where: 8351 River Road, Richmond (near the River Rock Casino)

The International Summer Night Market

The other Richmond night market (near Home Depot). This one will start one week earlier than the previous night market.

When: May 8 to September 27
Where: 12631 Vulcan Way, Richmond
Cost: Free entry

North Vancouver Night Market

Every Friday night at the Shipbuilders’ Square, check out some great food, live music and take in a little shopping.

When: Friday nights from 5 to 10 p.m. from May 1 to September 25
Where: Shipbuilders’ Square, North Vancouver (just east of the SeaBus and Lonsdale Quay at the foot of Lonsdale Avenue)

Hawkers Wharf

Those familiar with the monthly Hawkers Market are in for a treat. Not much is known right about Hawkers Wharf, but if you love food then you’re going to want to check this out many, many times when it comes. Look for a late Spring release of the brand new Hawkers Wharf.

Website: Hawkersmarket.com/hawkerswharf

Grab ice cream in Gastown’s new soft serve spot

Vancouver’s newest ice cream spot is doing things differently, they’re taking a softer route to success. Check out Soft Peaks in Gastown when the weather gets a little warm.

Where: 25 Alexander Street, Vancouver

Check out a Whitecaps FC game and try the new food

BC Place and Centerplate, the venue’s food and beverage provider, has expanded their partnership with local celebrity chef Vikram Vij to bring new menu items and open up two new food concessions as well as a mobile food cart.

Check out a patio or two

People were packing patios towards the end of winter. Once May rolls around, patio season will officially kick off in Vancouver. Check out our guide to patios in Vancouver.

Check out Prohibition Bar

Prohibition, the opulent newly-renovated drinks destination inside downtown’s Rosewood Hotel Georgia, is open and ready to give Vancouverites an upscale, Jazz Era-inspired bar experience.

Where: 801 West Georgia Street at the Rosewood Hotel Georgia (enter off Howe)
Phone: 604-673-7088
Website: prohibitionrhg.com
Hours: Monday to Thursday from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. and Friday to Saturday from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Spot Prawn Festival

The 9th annual Spot Prawn Festival returns in May to Fisherman’s Wharf near Granville Island.

Check out a Farmers Market

There are quite a few farmers markets going on in and around Vancouver:

Trout Lake Farmers Market – Saturdays

When: Saturdays – May 9 to October 24
Time: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. each week
Location: North Parking Lot of John Hendry Park at Trout Lake
Between Templeton and Lakewood south of the 13th Avenue Alley

Kitsilano Farmers Market – Sundays

When: Sundays – May 10 to October 25
Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each week
Location: 2690 Larch Street at 10th Avenue, Parking Lot of Kitsilano Community Centre

West End Farmers Market – Saturdays

When: Saturdays – May 10 to October 25
Time: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. each week
Location: 1100 Block of Comox Street across from Nelson Park at Mole Hill

Main Street Station Farmers Market – Wednesdays

When: Wednesdays – Opening June
Time: 3 to 7 p.m. each week
Location: 1100 Block Station Street along Thornton Park across from the VIA Rail Station and near the Main St. SkyTrain Station

Kerrisdale Village Farmers Market – Saturdays

When: Saturdays – June 13 to October 10
Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each week
Location: East Boulevard between 37th and 41st Avenue – near Kerrisdale Arena

Mt. Pleasant Farmers Market – Sundays

When: Sundays – June 14 to October 11
Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each week
Location: Guelph Street between 7th and 8th Avenues, on the paved play area between Mt. Pleasant Elementary and Guelph Park

Yaletown Farmers Market – Thursdays

When: Thursdays – May 7 to October 29
Time: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. each week
Location: Mainland Street between Davie and Helmcken at the Yaletown-Roundhouse Canada Line Stop

Hastings Park Farmers’ Market – Sundays

When: March 8 to April 26
Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each week
Location: Hastings Skatepark, Renfrew Street

Oak Street Farmers’ Market – Wednesdays

When: Wednesdays – June 3 to October 14
Time: 3 to 7 p.m. each week
Location: Unitarian Church parking lot (Oak Street and 49th Avenue)

River District Vancouver Farmers’ Market – Saturdays

When: Saturdays – May 30 to October 10
Time: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each week
Location: Kerr Street and East Kent Avenue

Dine Out for Life

On Thursday, March 26, restaurants around Metro Vancouver will be participating in Dining Out For Life, an annual fundraising event in support of local men, women and children affected by HIV/AIDS.

Eat Vancouver

The EAT! Vancouver Food + Cooking Festival has expanded to a full week of delicious eating, drinking and learning, and will bring together a stunning array of culinary talent from across the city and country.

From April 26 to May 3, the festival will showcase a multitude of local, national and international culinary culture through workshops, meals and events, all culminating in a three-day tasting show at BC Place Stadium.

When: April 26 to May 3
Where: Around Vancouver and BC Place

Tequila Expo

The Fourth Annual Vancouver International Tequila Expo (VITE) is Western Canada’s largest festival dedicated to Mexico’s number one export spirit. The festival aims to increase the presence of tequila and mezcal in Western Canada.

When: Saturday, May 30
Where: Hyatt Regency Hotel Vancouver – 655 Burrard Street, Vanocuver

Get in shape for Summer

Biking via shutterstock

Try out the new parkour park in East Vancouver

The public park next to Empire Fields in East Vancouver is being built by the Vancouver Park Board and is part of the 20-year redevelopment of Hastings Park and the $10-million Plateau Park project. The park will be ready in April.

Bike ride along the seawall

Whether you rent or own, you have to do this route at least once. If you’re looking for another, be on the lookout for best biking routes in Vancouver article coming soon.

Go for a hike

The Chief is one of the more popular hikes, but there are plenty of other hikes in Metro Vancouver for you to attempt. Slap on some sunscreen, put on your shorts, grab some water and prepare to take on mother nature.

Go for a run along the entire Stanley Park seawall

There is no doubt that the seawall along Stanley Park and downtown Vancouver is the most scenic and active running route in the city, and one of the most beautiful in the world.

The run is flat for the most part, making it the perfect spot for runners of all skill levels.

See also our list of best places to run in Vancouver

Try one of the ride cycle clubs

Ride cycle clubs are all the rage in the fitness world these days – from the logo, to the gear, to the club-like ambiance, complete with candles, it’s a whole experience. There are quite a few that have opened up in the city for you to check out.

Climb the Urban Grind

The alternative to the Grouse Grind? Go up 593 steps to the lookout of Vancouver’s iconic Harbour Centre.

Dates: Every Tuesday in March (24 and 31)
Times: Enter anytime between 4 to 6:30 p.m.
Location: Harbour Centre (access at West Hastings Street)
Cost: $5
Perks: FREE $5 voucher to Harbour Centre’s food court, FREE beer and a great workout that ends with incredible views.

Do the Grouse Grind

The Grouse Grind is one of those Vancouver things you have to try at least once in the summer. Attempt to beat your time or just make it to the top without stopping (unless a tourist gets in your way). The Grind will likely open in May.

Going out

seasons festival

Seasons Festival

The festival takes place from Friday, April 3 to Saturday, April 4, with the flagship event set to take place at the Pacific Coliseum. The event will grow to two days and feature headlining sets from Mad Decent impresario and world renowned tastemaker Diplo on Day 1 (April 3). This will be followed by the legendary Swedish progressive house producer Eric Prydz on Day 2 (April 4).

When: Friday, April 3 and Saturday, April 4, 2015
Where: Pacific Coliseum at the Pacific National Exhibition, Vancouver
Tickets: To be announced. RSVP here.
Website: www.seasonsfestival.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/seasonsfest

Get your tickets to Squamish Festival happening in the summer

The hottest ticket this summer make sure to get your tickets for this massive music festival featuring Drake, Sam Smith, Kaskade and more.

Check out the local arts scene

There are many theatre productions going on every week in the city, check out our extensive coverage in our Arts section.

Concerts galore

From small to large, we have listed some of the best concerts coming to Vancouver in our Concerts section.

Take in a concert at the Hard Rock Casino Vancouver

Don’t want to venture all the way into downtown Vancouver to get some excitement. The Hard Rock Casino Vancouver offers plenty of entertainment options.

World Ski & Snowboard Festival

Just an hour and a half drive from Vancouver is the annual World Ski & Snowboard Festival in Whistler.

When: April 10 to 19
Where: Whistler
Website: wssf.com

Check out one of the many escape games in and around Vancouver

The escape game phenomenon has arrived in Vancouver and there are plenty option in and around Metro Vancouver.

Women’s World Cup kicks off

FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™ will be held in Canada this year with nine games in Vancouver. Matches start in late Spring and carry on through early summer.

Check out Gastown’s newest club, M.I.A.

After almost a year of careful planning and design, Blueprint announced the launch of its newest nightlife project, M.I.A., located at 350 Water Street.

Around town

Vancouver Fan Expo

Catch the Cricket World Cup 2015 at local bar

We have highlighted the 5 best spots in Vancouver to check out all the Cricket World Cup action.

Go on a naked bike ride

Hundreds of cyclists will be riding nude on Saturday, June 13 for the annual Vancouver Naked Bike Ride, which will, no doubt, catch a few Vancouverites off guard.

When: June 13
Where: Sunset Beach

Dragon Boat Festival

The annual Dragon Boat Festival at Creekside Olympic Village brings out thousands of spectators in world class dragon boat racing.

When: June 19 to 21
Where: False Creek, near Olympic Village

Vancouver Theatre Sports League

Head on over to the Improv Centre at Granville Island for some laughs courtesy of Vancouver Theatre Sports League.

Book your campsite for the summer

Camp grounds around British Columbia are now open for reservation.

Outdoor enthusiasts and summer-lovers can go online or call in to make a reservation at 115 campgrounds in 99 provincial parks up to three months in advance before the summer rush begins.

Sea monsters at Vancouver Aquarium

This spring is the Canadian premiere of the groundbreaking exhibition Sea Monsters Revealed. This highly anticipated exhibition will take you on an exciting journey to discover some of the world’s most amazing sea creatures.

When: Now until September 7
Where: Vancouver Aquarium

Fan Expo Vancouver

Comic book and Sci-Fi fans will descend upon the Vancouver Convention Centre for the annual Fan Expo Vancouver.

When: April 3 to 5
Where:Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Hall C – 1055 Canada Place, Vancouver

Cherry Blossom Festival

The annual renewal that takes place outside, in the canopies of our parks and avenues of our beautiful city.

Where: All over the city
When: April 2 to April 29, 2015

Vaisakhi Parade

Celebrate with the South Asian community in Vancouver’s Little India at the annual celebration that marks both the New Year and the anniversary of one of Sikhism’s most important events, the establishment of Khalsa in 1699.

When: April 11 from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: South Vancouver (Main Street and 50th Avenue is the epicentre)

Easter at Stanley Park a great time for kids

Easter long weekend is a perfect time to spend with the family. If Easter egg hunts and treats is your type of thing you’ll want to check out the Easter Train at Stanley Park and the egg hunt at VanDusen Gardens.

PlayDome at BC Place

Canada’s largest indoor carnival with over 45 rides and attractions is back at BC Place! Feel like you’re floating in air with the Zero Gravity ride, be spun around on the new open air cars of the Ring of Fire and be flung into oblivion on the Super Shot. Popular favorites such as 1001 nights, The Ferris Wheel and the Zipper are all back to be enjoyed.

It ends on March 22 so hurry and go before it’s gone.

Italian Day on Commercial Drive

A vibrant cultural street festival, it spans 13 blocks and shares all that is Italian in a day-long celebration with Vancouver’s diverse and multi-cultural community. Held annually on Commercial Drive (‘The Drive’), the district represents a rich history of over 50 years of Italian heritage and is synonymously recognized as Vancouver’s original ‘Little Italy‘, making it the ideal event venue.

When: Sunday, June 14
Where: Commercial Drive between 3rd Avenue to Parker Street

Bring out your pillows and get to fighting

On April 4, Vancouverites will descend on downtown Vancouver with a pillow in hand as they embark on a journey to the Vancouver Art Gallery (Robson Street side) for International Pillow Fight Day.

When: Saturday, April 4 (rain or shine)
Time: 3 to 3:30 p.m.
Where: Vancouver Art Gallery along Robson Street

Soar above the USA with FlyOver Canada

For a limited time only, you will be able to visit the United States’ beautiful natural and urban landscapes at FlyOver Canada’s virtual flight ride experience.

When: Daily between March 6 to April 12 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., commencing every 20 minutes.
Where: At the Canada Place pier (999 Canada Place, Vancouver)
Cost: Purchase tickets online and receive a discount

City of Bhangra Festival

A 10 day dance and music celebration showcasing the songs and dance from Punjab, India.

When: May 28 to June 6
Where: 111 West Hastings, Vancouver

Vancouver Jazz Festival

One of Vancouver’s premiere festival’s, the annual jazz festival is full of programming and is growing every year.

When: June 19 to July 1
Where: Various venues

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24 things you definitely need to set up in your backyard this summer!

Posted on March 18, 2015 by East of Seymour Team

24 things you definitely need to set up in your backyard this summer

By: Michael Aynsley

MARCH 15, 2015

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Live in an apartment building and don’t have a backyard? That’s okay, just gain access to the roof.

An outdoor movie theater.

Photo: AVS

A picnic table with a built-in beer cooler.

Photo: modernkitchenset

A hidden, sunken trampoline.

Photos: sunkentrampolines

Beside a pool disguised as a pond.

Photo: imgur

An inflatable bubble tent.

Photo: Bulle d’R

A giant hammock for you and your 16 closest friends.

Photo: Edinburgh Hacklab

Or if you’re not that popular, a three-person will do.

Photo: Trinity Hammocks

More unique hammock designs this way.

A waterfall.

Photo: Pinterest

A treehouse that’s nicer than your neighbor’s actual house.

Photo: imgur

More tree house designs right here.

A lazy river.

Photo: Elite Pools

A detached rec room.

Photo: Kenjo

A landscaped chessboard.

Photo: bonneylassie

And a giant scrabble game.

Photo: Pinterest

Or pool table.

Photo: Pinterest

An outdoor shower.

Photo: Pinterest

A poolside climbing wall.

Photo: AquaClimb

Floating mini golf.

Photo: HomeDepot

And a floating poker table.

Photo: eBay

An outdoor kitchen with a swim-up bar.

Photo: bravacasa

A swing bed.

Photo: Pinterest

A greenhouse converted into a bedroom for stargazing.

Photo: imgur

A giant DIY slip and slide.

Photo: imgur

All you need is a couple hundred yards of industrial plastic sheeting, dish soap and a hose.

A badass fire pit with swing seating.

Photo: ana-white

And another fire pit right in the pool.

Photo: pictures-of-luxury/Tumblr

Home Accessories

Home Decor

Unconventional Design

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7 Ways Pets Could Stall Your Home Sale

Posted on March 16, 2015 by east of Seymour Team

7 Ways Pets Could Stall Your Home Sale

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I love animals – and have a particular soft spot for dogs, especially my own wonderful rescued welsh terrier – so keep in mind that the advice in this post is all about helping you get your house sold, not neglecting your little furry family members. But as an experienced real estate professional, I have to admit: pets and home sales just don’t mix.

I’ve bought and sold many homes over the last few decades, and whenever I put a house of my own up for sale, I prearrange for my pets to have a little holiday with friends and family. Come list day, when your home first hits the market, you might consider boarding your pets elsewhere; at the very least, make sure they’re absent during showings and open houses.

Here are seven other reasons to reconsider keeping pets on the premises if you’re trying to sell.

Bad First Impressions

I’ll begin with a personal anecdote: if a burglar were to climb through a window in my home, my dog would likely come over, sit by his feet, and try to play. Yet, my sweet, mild-mannered pup gets whipped into a frenzy whenever someone comes to the gate and rings the bell. One day when I was selling my last home, my realtor arrived unannounced with two very interested buyers. But when he rang the buzzer, my dog went berserk – barking, howling, and yelping. Needless to say, the buyers were so thrown, they wouldn’t even enter the house despite my realtor’s pleas – and they never came back. Remember, you only have once chance for a first impression.

pets

Pets Distract Buyers

Pets are a very personal part of your home, and your goal should be to depersonalize your space prior to sale. You wouldn’t leave your Uncle Frank sitting in a rocker in the living room while buyers wander through the house, so why would you leave your pets running around? After all, they’re family members, too! Just as you remove personal photos and mementos, you also should remove all pets.

People Have Phobias

The last thing you want is to attract the perfect buyer, one in love with your house, who also happens to be highly fearful dogs, snakes, or other critters. In cases like this, if your pet is still in the home, that perfect buyer may not get much further than the front porch. Any other time, your pet can rule the roost, but during the critical selling period, be hyper-aware of potential anxieties and aversions – and plan accordingly.

Darn That Dander

Even when the furry friends have left the building, some of them remains. Be mindful of allergy-causing dander by super-cleaning your home from top to bottom – especially the carpets – to remove all traces of hair and dust. And don’t forget to remove the litter box, which can also be a trigger.

Surprise Showings Happen

Avoid them by insisting that the realtor gives you at least one hour’s advance notice before a showing so you have time to get out of the house and take the pets with you!

Locked Up Pets Are Unhappy Pets

Many sellers will make the mistake of thinking that they can simply lock their dogs and cats (and bunnies and ferrets) in a bedroom, basement, or garage during a showing. First, this restricts access for potential buyers who can’t see the room that’s on pet lockdown. Second, confined, unhappy pets will make noise distracting buyers. And most importantly, if the buyer or the realtors decide to take a peek in the off-limits room, your pet could be out and about in a heartbeat.

Exotic Animals

Let’s take a moment for all the lizards, snakes, geckos, spiders, and other exotics out there. For some buyers, these types of animals are a little… out there. And I can promise you, after they’ve seen ten other properties without pets, those crawling critters will be the thing about your home that they remember, branding it in their minds as the ‘Lizard House.’ Please don’t let your love for rare pets overshadow the attributes of your home.

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Comments: 2

Amazing place to live by Polygon West Quay North Vancouver

Posted on March 5, 2015 by east of Seymour Team

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How to make a home sit lightly on the land

Posted on March 4, 2015 by east of Seymour Team

Design Workshop: How to Make a Home Sit Lightly on the Land

Piers, cantilevers, towers and more can help minimize a

home’s environmental impact on its site.

Eric Reinholdt

Houzz Contributor, Residential Architect, Founder 30X40 Design Workshop... More

Embed Comment11 Like45 Bookmark186 Print

Architecture’s relationship to nature — the building site — is something architects and designers must consider in the opening act of any project. Nature is a force that shapes all great works of architecture. The attitude we adopt toward the land has a strong impact on our perception of a place, the way we feel in it, how we arrive at it and where it fits in a broader context.

The site undeniably informs the building shape, how it’s supported, how it meets the earth and how sensibly the design reacts to local conditions. Sitting lightly on the land is a resilient strategy with economic, environmental, aesthetic and efficiency benefits for many building sites. Here’s how to determine if your project should sit lightly on its site.

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Why Sit Lightly?

Perhaps the most fitting image of architecture that sits lightly on the land is the tree house. This hotel room in Sweden is perched above the sloping land and sited to take advantage of its unusual position in the forest canopy. The structure hangs from four trees that act as columns.

There is appeal in the idea that natural drainage patterns, soil conditions and native vegetation can coexist with a building above. While this example is extreme, the concept can be applied to more earthly dwellings.

Swatt | Miers Architects

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Reasons to adopt a strategy of sitting lightly:

Deal with uneven topography
Preserve special site features, such as trees, vegetation and boulders
Build on a floodplain, where solid foundations aren’t a sustainable option
Conserve natural site drainage
Utilize passive cooling in warm climates
Adapt to a remote site or one with difficult access, where it is harder for equipment to excavate and construct a large foundation
Reduce costs due to less site and concrete work
Address rot, mold and insect concerns by eliminating the intersection with the ground

Hufft Projects

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Piers

For homes that sit lightly on the land and minimize the impact on it, we’re most often concerned with how a foundation supports a building. This point of contact with the land can involve great expense, require rigorous planning and cause irreparable damage to the environment.

Traditional foundation types, such as the poured-in-place solid concrete, or slab, foundation, are often the default choice. They’re designed to distribute or spread the structural loads of the building onto the surrounding soil, but they’re expensive and environmentally destructive to build.

Keuka Studios, Inc

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Foundation aesthetics often are driven by necessity and budget rather than beauty. Foundations rely on simplicity and repetition to efficiently transfer the loads of the building to the ground. But a home to sit lightly, a slightly more nuanced approach is required.

Eschewing the most common poured foundation, the designer of this home opted to reveal its foundation support and expose the columns. The building loads are collected into a series of points, and those point loads are transferred to the soil via a pier (or pier and beam) foundation. Set in line with the plane of the exterior wall, the columns allow the home to appear to be delicately floating above the land. The land is of a separate order than the architecture.

Mohler + Ghillino Architects

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Undulating, uneven topography is appropriate for pier foundations, which can be poured to an even height in a grid to support the building above. The pier foundation is inherently efficient, using substantially less concrete than a cast-in-place concrete wall and footing design.

If you’re envisioning the classic camp in the woods with a tilting post foundation and uneven floors, think again. Modern post and pier foundations can be engineered to be every bit as stable as cast-in-place concrete foundations. It’s essential that they’re designed by a qualified professional engineer to ensure that the building loads are properly supported by the earth.

SALA Architects

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Pier foundations have a lower overall impact on the site than slab foundations. They require less intervention and limit the need for heavy machinery and substantial backfilling. They do require special attention to buried utilities, such as plumbing, power and water infrastructure. This is often why pier foundations have small, targeted points of contact with enclosed poured foundation walls. These provide a place for utility infrastructures to transition from under the ground to the interior space.

Making sure to properly air seal and insulate the floor is especially important with pier foundations to keep pipes from freezing and have a comfortable interior floor.

Mohler + Ghillino Architects

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Piers can be made of cast concrete, steel, concrete block, brick or specially treated wood. For sites with poor soils or that are subject to flooding, helical steel piers are a good choice (and are mandated by code in some areas).

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Cantilevers

Piers aren’t the only means by which we can minimize the overall excavated footprint on a site. The cantilever permits floor plates to be extended to views and distinct site features without affecting the ground. This strategy works especially well to weave a structure in and around established vegetation — where, for instance, excavation would mean losing a tree.

MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects Limited

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The cantilever relies on a heavier base and a spring point for support. But this anchorage can usually be located away from the natural feature the cantilever references, such as this view.

Legerton Architecture. P.A.

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The more space beneath the overhanging upper story, the more likely the space below will remain unaffected and open to light, air and water to support the natural vegetation.

Balance Associates Architects

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Towers

Another effective design option is to build upward to reduce the impact on the ground. This tower rises from the dense forest understory to greet views and offer access to the natural light above. With two minimal walls supporting the tower, this design relies on structural efficiency to reduce site disturbance.

Stephenson Design Collective

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Borrowing from the cantilever concept, this tower has a minimal footprint and a rotated, cantilevered upper story to capture distant views. The cantilever conserves access to both light and air for the lower stories while affording the desired orientation on the third level and limiting the amount of site work on the ground floor.

Shaeffer Hyde Construction

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Bridges

The bridge is a fitting device to minimize site interference; it brings to mind the engineering feats of the ancient Romans and their aqueducts or modern-day France’s Millau Viaduct. Spanning two heavier foundation elements, a bridge works well to preserve the natural site’s drainage patterns and flora. It concentrates loads at specific points. The foundation anchorages provide discreet locations for introducing buried power and plumbing infrastructure, as discussed previously.

Lake Flato Architects

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Architectural features such as simple site-cast walls can navigate grade differences between areas of the site too. The bridge shown here creates a place for gathering above and below it with a simple, minimal intervention.

M+A Architecture Studio

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Instead of being removed or having their roots disturbed, trees can be integrated into living spaces using the bridge foundation concept.

Vibe Design Group

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Hybrids

Any of the previous concepts — bridges, towers, piers, cantilevers — can be combined to deal with especially complicated sites. Our building systems and materials are, for the most part, rectilinear. We’re accustomed to building and living in a planar world, and so it follows that our buildings are shaped by the materials we use. Sitting lightly contrasts horizontal floor planes against the natural land shape. The distinction between the organic and the manufactured lends each a special importance.

Vitra

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A Smaller Structure

Perhaps the most obvious way for a house to sit lightly on the land is to minimize the size of the building. It can be difficult to separate our desires from our needs, and the process of designing a home intertwines the two. While I would like a two-car garage, a barn and a pool, having lived without them, I know they are desires rather than needs.

Vitra

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Homes in the U.S. are responsible for 21 percent of annual energy consumption nationally, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. In that context, building smaller seems a responsibility, not a luxury. When we factor in the benefits — using less raw material (derived from the land) and consuming less energy (also derived from the land) — it’s easy to see why the approach of a home’s sitting lightly on the land can have many and far-reaching benefits.

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Custom made Tiny House for Skiing and Hiking

Posted on March 4, 2015 by East of Seymour Team

Houzz Tour: A Custom-Made Tiny House for Skiing and Hiking

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BC economic's.

Posted on March 3, 2015 by East of Seymour Team

BC expected to lead provinces in economic growth in 2015, says Conference Board of Canada

By: Michael Aynsley

FEBRUARY 24, 2015

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Photo: 3dpete/Flickr

British Columbia’s economy is expected to advance by a nation-leading three per cent this year, according to a new report from the Conference Board of Canada.

“British Columbia will be among the economic growth leaders, with Manitoba and Ontario, over the next two years,” said Marie-Christine Bernard, the board’s associate director, in a release. “The lower Canadian dollar, the acceleration in US economic growth and stronger consumer confidence will provide the foundation for these provinces to easily outpace the Canadian economic growth of less than two per cent this year.”

And that’s good news for the province’s housing market.

“The housing market slowdown expected nationwide will not be seen in British Columbia, as gains are forecast in both new and existing homes,” the report reads. Low inflation, new federal fiscal measures, and lower fuel prices will boost after-tax household incomes while inter-provincial migration, on a net basis, is expected to be positive again this year and next, the board predicts.

In 2014, BC’s economy grew by 2.8 per cent. In addition to three per cent growth in 2015, the outlook remains bullish for next year — with real GDP growth forecast to advance by a further 2.7 per cent in 2016.

Still, while the outlook is generally positive, the board says there remains considerable uncertainty surrounding the development of the liquefied natural gas industry in the province, because of lower LNG prices in Asian markets.

BC Housing Market

Conference Board Of Canada

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Will Bank of Canada lower rates again?

Posted on March 3, 2015 by East of Seymour Team

Will the Bank of Canada lower the key interest rate yet again?

By: Monika Warzecha

MARCH 2, 2015

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Photo: Kat R/Flickr

In January, the Bank of Canada’s decision to bring down the already low key interest rate of one per cent to 0.75 per cent blindsided many economists who were predicting a rise in rates in 2015. But will Stephen Poloz, the Governor of Canada’s central bank, lower the rate even further in his upcoming announcement on Wednesday, March 5th?

The interest rate shakeup came after years of steadiness: the one per cent rate had gone unchanged from September 2010 until early 2015. The January rate cut was framed as a way to help cushion the blows to the economy, such as the declines in employment and income that are expected to accompany falling fuel prices.

Speculation about another rate cut in March was rampant early last month when Carolyn Wilkins, Senior Deputy Governor, made a speech at the Ottawa Economics Association.

“Our inflation-targeting framework gives us flexibility on the timing to achieve the inflation target while also taking into account other important dimensions of the economy – such as financial stability and the economy’s potential,” she said.

“Stifling the rebuilding phase of the recovery could mean lost economic opportunity. That being said, if potential output growth turns out to be lower than we think, we have the tools to bring inflation back to target.”

The reference to the “tools,” namely the overnight lending rate, was interpreted as a sign that the central bank was willing to lower the rate yet again if the economy continues to falter.

In the daily snapshot of economic trends and events for February 24th, the Bank of Montreal (BMO) noted that oil prices declined three per cent that week. Sal Guatieri, Senior Economist, stated this “would also aggravate Canada’s economic slowdown…giving the Bank of Canada another reason to cut rates next week.”

But a speech made by Poloz at the University of Western Ontario in late February changed many analysts’ predictions for March.

“Our decision to lower the policy interest rate last month was intended to take out some insurance against both sets of risks. It gives us greater confidence that we can get back to full capacity and stable inflation by the end of 2016, instead of sometime in 2017, and it will cushion the decline in income and employment, as well as the rise in the debt-to-income ratio, that lower oil prices will bring,” said Poloz.

“The downside risk insurance from the interest rate cut buys us some time to see how the economy actually responds.”

Today, the Bank of Montreal said the governor’s speech “quashed expectations of another cut in March.” However, they haven’t ruled out further cuts in the future.

“We now look for an April rate cut assuming the data weaken, oil prices fall further or the Canadian dollar strengthens (absent an accompanying rise in oil).”

TD Economics echoed the belief that the rate will remain the same in March thanks to the governor’s speech. Economist Brian DePratto pointed out that crude oil prices “have recovered somewhat” and “it appears that a rate cut next Wednesday is not set in stone.”

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