Plans for 1,033-ft skyscraper with "forest in the sky" unveiled

Source: https://www.newsweek.com/plans-unveiled-1033-ft-supertall-skyscraper-forest-sky-vancouver-11774424

A new development proposed for Vancouver could soon reshape the city’s skyline with its first-ever supertall skyscraper, featuring a "forest in the sky."Supertall skyscrapers are defined as buildings that stand 300 meters (984 feet) or higher, according to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. The proposed project meets that threshold with its tallest tower reaching 1,033 feet (315 meters), which would position it as a landmark not only for Vancouver but also for Canada.Designed by Henriquez Partners Architects on behalf of the Holborn Group, the development spans three sites at 501 and 595 West Georgia Street and 388 Abbott Street. The project is intended to help bridge Vancouver’s central business district with the Downtown Eastside area.In total, four towers are proposed. Three would rise along West Georgia Street, ranging in height from 783 feet to 1,033 feet, while a fourth tower on Abbott Street is planned at 402 feet tall. The tallest structure would be a stand-alone hotel located at 595 West Georgia Street.A rendering of the view of the observation deck of the hotel tower at 595 West Georgia Street. | Holborn GroupHenriquez Partners Architects said the project challenges conventional ideas."The project redefines public benefit in high-density urban development," the firm said in a statement. "At the top of the hotel tower—space typically reserved for private use—a publicly accessible observation deck designed by PFS Studio— envisioned as a ‘forest in the sky’—offers panoramic views of the city, mountains, and ocean."That elevated green space is positioned as a key feature of the hotel tower, placing public access and nature at a height rarely available to the wider community. Rather than reserving the uppermost levels for exclusive amenities, the design allocates one of the building’s most dramatic vantage points to public use.Architecturally, the hotel tower is defined by what the firm described as an "iconic structural diagrid exoskeleton." According to Henriquez Partners Architects, this system allows for column-free interiors while maximizing strength and minimizing material use. Developed in collaboration with engineering firm Arup, the structural concept draws inspiration from an unusual source.A rendering showing the development from Seymour and West Georgia Street. | Holborn Group"The structural system references the skeletal lattice of sea sponges—a concept researched at Harvard for its groundbreaking structural efficiency," the firm said. The design approach uses this natural model to inform both the form and performance of the tower.That connection to the natural environment was a guiding theme throughout the project, according to the architects. A spokesperson for Henriquez Partners Architects told Newsweek that inspiration was drawn directly from British Columbia’s landscape and ecology. According to the company, the collective goal and vision for this project has always centered on "celebrating the historical, cultural, and natural landscape of Vancouver and British Columbia."Gregory Henriquez, principal architect at Henriquez Partners Architects, said the architectural language of the towers tells a distinctly local story."The architectural expression of the project tells a story that is unique to British Columbia and inspired by rare and ancient glass sea sponge reefs—living structures found off the BC coast that demonstrate strength and adaptability," Henriquez told Newsweek. He added that the metaphor is reflected not only in the silhouette and sculptural form of the tallest tower, but also in its environmental performance toward a net-zero carbon operation."Informed by the sea sponge’s structural ingenuity and ecological purpose, the towers offer a uniquely Vancouver expression of sustainability, beauty, and vertical urbanism," he said.A rendering of the view of the public plaza at the ground level from West Georgia Street. | Holborn GroupThe project is positioned as a long-term investment in both architecture and community. Joo Kim Tiah, president of the Holborn Group, described the proposal as a milestone."We are incredibly proud to bring forward this generational project—one rooted in community need, extraordinary architectural innovation and reconciliation," the president said. "This project is designed not only to meet today’s challenges, but to inspire future generations."A spokesperson for the team behind the project told Newsweek that it is currently under review by the city."The project recently received unanimous support from the City of Vancouver’s Urban Design Panel and is now pending a public hearing," the spokesperson said.Do you have an architecture or design-related story to share? Let us know via life@newsweek.com, and your story could be featured on Newsweek.

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