shigeru ban reveals plans for 'terrace house', the world’s tallest hybrid timber structure

japanese architect shigeru ban has revealed plans to build the world’s tallest hybrid timber structure in vancouver. named ‘terrace house’, the development comprises just 20 homes located at the heart of the city’s coal harbour neighborhood. the project, which is shigeru ban’s first in canada, will be constructed next to the listed ‘evergreen building’, designed by the late arthur erickson.

all images courtesy of portliving

shigeru ban seeks to pay tribute to erickson’s building with a design that adopts many of the same architectural cues. visually, the terraces on the ‘evergreen building’ continue almost seamlessly across ‘terrace house’ on every level, while triangular shapes, natural materials, and greenery have been used throughout both schemes. ‘shigeru ban has tremendous respect for arthur erickson’s work,’ said dean maltz, managing partner at shigeru ban architects americas. ‘it was the opportunity to design a building next to one of erickson’s masterpieces that initially drew him to this innovative project.’

the project is being backed by vancouver-based developer portliving, who has tapped the same landscape architect who worked on the ‘evergreen building’, cornelia oberlander. wood structural engineer hermann blumer, a long time collaborator of ban, is also involved in the project. ‘every detail has been considered right down to the specific foliage on the terraces,’ says macario (tobi) reyes, founder and CEO of portliving. ‘it only made sense to bring on cornelia oberlander to continue her vision and create continuity between the evergreen building by arthur erickson and terrace house by shigeru ban.’

according to the developers, the primary goal of the project is to make a statement of intent concerning vancouver’s commitment to sustainable design and advanced timber engineering and construction. ‘we have brought together the best of the best — a team of true experts in creative collaboration, working together for the first time ever on a single project. the result is truly a once-in-a-lifetime project setting new standards in design and construction,’ continues reyes.

project info:

developer: portliving
design architect: shigeru ban architects
local architect: francl architects
structural engineer: read jones christofferson
timber design engineer: création holz
timber consultant: equilibrium consulting
landscape architect: cornelia oberlander
landscape architect: enns gauthier
façade consultant: front
fire engineers and certified professional: GHL consultants ltd.

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