Horseshoe Bay Sanctuary by Westbank

Details

Sewell’s Marina along with architect Paul Merrick met with a group of Horseshoe Bay community leaders in 2009 to grow a vision for the Sewell’s Marina. This culminated in a partnership with Westbank and a rezoning application in May 2015.

Previously a surface parking lot serving the marina, the site is largely underused for much of the year. This project seeks to revitalize the property and support the viability of the marina operations over the long term through the development of terraced residential units and small scale commercial uses at grade.

The proposal will include approximately 158 new residential units and small commercial uses, both marine and non-marine related. It also seeks to maintain the West Coast Village feel of the Bay through a number of design features, which includes six style varying buildings including a series of cottage-inspired 2 level townhomes that have been massed to respect the topography of the site, an enhanced public realm that celebrates the Horseshoe bay waterfront and focuses on pedestrian connections to the neighbouring park, and landscape and pedestrian areas that will be treated like a European village with elements such as a cobbled/textured stoned “piazza” and grassed/green common areas to encourage public gathering through an open and accessible design.

Boat House

Horseshoe Bay’s Boat House will be like no other. Can you imagine walking down the pier and into this soaring and elegant structure to show your friends the handsome Chris-Craft powerboat that dwells there, maybe take them for a spin around the harbour? The Boat House includes a wooddeckedgathering hall that will become the perfect on-water venue for a wine-tasting, pilates workshop or sailing skills demo. Upstairs, there will be a resident’s lounge, a come-andgo casual perch where you can enjoy watching the passing variety of harbour vessels or chat with your neighbours.

Architecture

Paul Merrick’s entire practice has established him as the inheritor of Vancouver’s rich modernist legacy, and his palette of forms and materials speaks to this special community framed by nature. Westbank has risen to the challenge by encouraging the design team to stretch its legs; to acknowledge that we will never have a better opportunity to pay homage to Canada’s most important contribution to the continuation of architecture.