Stephen Hynes has an approach that he calls, "communitarian". From his previous projects, I took it to mean "an emphasis on what works as a community". This can be interpreted simply, or it can be complex and profound. From the start of our involvement in May 2006, I found out quickly that it was the latter. By this, I mean that his aspirations are all encompassing in the attempt to create a place for a community of diverse inhabitants, and include the pertinent complementary activities, whether commercial, health-care related, or recreational.
This is an attempt on a socially sustainable and vibrant community as well as an environmentally sustainable development. Furthermore, it is a development that responds to the inherent natural amenities of the site, while configured to help to evolve the neighbourhood socially and economically.
It is an ambitious undertaking. To begin, there is a Village Centre - an easily accessible sense of place with an identity. Amenities such as interlocking public gathering places, cafes, a health care clinic, community multi-purpose space and the appropriate commercial outlets, such as a bicycle repair shop, are highly visible and accessible. The open spaces, in turn, both facilitate accessibility as well as, through their design, enrich the pedestrian experience. Water is omnipresent in several forms: a fountain, channels and playful displays at prescribed times. Water components provide both restful and stirring dimensions with their calming and refreshing sounds and sights.
The typologies of the residential units are deliberately diverse for a diversified community. These include four-storey low-rise buildings, 70 units of social/affordable housing, to a nine-storey crescent-shaped live/work component. After much public consultation and prolonged discussion with the District of North Vancouver, two 25-storey high-rise residential towers are also included. They are strategically placed to minimize any view interference from the adjacent neighbourhoods. The design of the towers is also a response to the different climatic demands of the conditions from the different wind, noise and sun directions; thus, each elevation is different.
The overall design and character are decidedly complementary to the natural environment in which the project is situated. The juxtaposition of the exceptionally varied forms provides an ever-changing vitality, while the materials, textures and colours establish a sense of continuity and integration. It is contemporary, but meant to stand the test of a longer period of time.
With such a variety of accommodation and unit types, the intention of creating a place for a diverse population, whether families, seniors, or students, is reinforced. With a twenty per cent rental accommodation, it also provides for residents of varied income ranges.
The project has undergone many adjustments and refinements throughout the past two and a half years. The current plans are the results, which reflect favourably on the necessary traffic and engineering demands of such a sizable development, as well as the comments from the immediate and adjacent neighbourhoods.
In any prolonged design process, variations tend to happen which may alter the original concept. In Seylynn Village, we are happy to not only maintain the original and essential intention, but also reinforce the sense of place of a community, integrating the public comments and municipal requirements. When this project proceeds with even further detail design development, it will truly be "Communitarian", with community participation.
-Joe Wai, MAIBC, November 6, 2008