Brillia - Highbury and Fourth
30 apartments in the community of West Point Grey...
The Site
A 4 story development of 30 apartments in the community of West Point Grey. The architecture is a blend of traditional and contemporary influences.
The Challenge
To create a landscape that is reflective of the architecture and create outdoor private and usable spaces for the ground level units of which half lie adjacent to the public realm.
The Design
Patio spaces were significantly expanded from typical balcony type (6' x 10') spaces by providing connections into larger patio spaces whose size and configuration in the landscape are more typical of a courtyard garden one would enjoy in a single family home scenario. Many patios boost an overall area of 400 to 500 feet of additional outdoor patio space.
The planting palette are compositions of 'architectural like' plants whose structure and form emulate the clean lines and simplicity of the architecture. Plants like clumping bamboo, and ornamental grasses were strategically placed in aluminum planter boxes of varying height - redefining the concept of hedging. The result is a soft, year round green screen buffer and provides privacy from the street.
Clean and contemporary materials like polished concrete, customized aluminum planting boxes, fine pea gravels and square cut pavers were used to for the hard landscaping.
Sustainable Design
The landscape uses plants that are all highly drought tolerant and low maintenance. Plants selected are highly disease and insect resistant and require no ongoing fertilizers. Turf grass has been eliminated from the landscape.
Benches and decking are constructed with recycled plastic wood composite. The balance of the hard surfaces are made of permeable (for storm water) pea gravel and hydra pressed slabs that are gravel jointed.
More info... Billia Development Website and GBL Architects
