life's a beach

I photographed an apartment in the Laurier Building, one
of three Beach Towers situated at 1600 Beach Ave between Cardero and Bidwell in Vancouver's west end.
Later that day I found out there was a rezoning application
to develop the surrounding open spaces to include four
new buildings to densify the area further,
completely altering the integrity of the original design.

Below are a few exterior shots I took while there.

From the Beach Towers website:

The City of Vancouver has recognized Beach Towers as the finest example of Le Corbusier inspired ‘towers-in-the-park’ residential architecture in the city, listing it as Category A in the Post-1940s Heritage Register.
Proposed redevelopment would destroy this landmark.

Encompassing four high-rise towers, ranging in height from 19 to 21 stories, Beach Towers is located on Vancouver’s waterfront overlooking English Bay. Built in 1965 and 1968, they house over 1000 renters seeking views, sunlight, and ocean breezes.

This award-winning, category A heritage site is threatened by a rezoning application seeking to build four buildings between and around the existing towers. This development will obliterate the open spaces integral to the original, Modernist-era site design.


Learn more at www.beachtowers.ca and watch a
video with the original project architect, Ojars Kalns

Beach Towers at English Bay is a cherished Vancouver landmark that combines high density living with park-like surroundings and ocean views.

Three additional buildings are planned for this over-developed block. What's in it for the community? Nothing.

The development will: block views of English Bay, add hundred's to the West End's second most dense site, build modern buildings on a mid-century landmark, without reference to its award-winning design, and add luxury waterfront apartments to a neighbourhood that needs affordable housing.

What's in it for the developer? $7 million more in annual rental revenue.

Visit http://www.beachtowers.ca for more info

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