Creating Sustainable Beauty for an Inclusive Society - INTERN

Creating Sustainable Beauty for an Inclusive Society

This webinar is part of the RAIC 2022 Virtual Conference on Architecture, now available to stream!

Topics: Design 

Length: 1 hour | What's Included: Video, Quiz, and Certificate of Completion 

The discussion of social inclusion has arguably never been more critical. And when it comes to high-density, mixed-use architecture, the topic's importance grows exponentially. This presentation focuses on the relevance of beautiful, thoughtful design for large-scale complex developments–not only for the communities they serve but for everyone. 

Three projects, each uniquely complex, will be used to introduce the topics of social sustainability, inclusion, and beauty. Senakw, located on a 10.5-acre slice of reserve land along Vancouver’s False Creek inlet, represents an important opportunity for reconciliation and legacy for the Squamish Nation. Comprised of 11 residential towers in a natural parkland setting, the development will provide up to 6000 rental homes supported by commercial and amenity spaces. With its goal of a low-impact carbon footprint, the development represents a commitment to providing affordable, sustainable housing in a city with scarce supply. The project is designed to not merely accommodate its residents, but to inspire, generate pride and a sense of belonging – truly representing the spirit of its original peoples. 

Currently, under construction, The Butterfly forms part of the unique mixed-use development, merging luxury condominiums, affordable rental, social housing, and the heritage restoration of a 108-year-old Church. The tower's distinctive form, designed to mimic the nature of clouds, gracefully accentuates, reflects, and honours its historic neighbour. To encourage community-building among residents, the tower provides generous outdoor planted areas on each level. The sky gardens present opportunities for social interaction among neighbours and close connection to the outdoors. Finally, 1684 Alberni is a 40 storey residential tower proposed in Vancouver's vibrant West End. A continuous architectural spine ascends the middle of the building’s façades in a weave or ‘exoskeleton’ that takes its cues from structures found in nature.

Learning Objectives:

By the completion of this session, participants will be able to:

• Discuss social sustainability and the social mission of architecture.
• Focus the architectural creative process on people and quality of life.
• Apply the effects of multisensory human experience when designing buildings.
• Explore architecture as place and event, space, and mind.

Subject Matter Expert:

Venelin Kokalov
Architect AIBC, AAA, SAA, MRAIC, AIA
Design Principle & Principle-in-Change, Revery Architecture

Revery Architecture’s Design Principal and Principal-in-Charge Venelin Kokalov has shared his exceptional concept design abilities and distinctive visual language with the firm since 2002. His passion and commitment to design excellence have been recognized with numerous awards and honours, withinCanada and internationally. Venelin is widely respected for his distinctive creative capacity to seamlessly weave together established and contemporary technologies in engaging and innovative ways. Integral to Venelin’s design philosophy is his firm belief that the buildings we create should go beyond form and function – they should engage and influence people, shaping their perceptions and experiences, not just today but long into the future; profound meaningful architecture should stimulate human interactions and evoke existential values and life quality. With his unique design approach and intuition and sensitivity to form, space, and composition, Venelin accentuates the potential of architectural design to influence people’s behaviour and experiences. Under Venelin’s direction, Revery has won prestigious international competitions for the award-winning University of Chicago’s Hong Kong Campus and the Xiqu Centre opera house also in Hong Kong. Venelin’s passion and creative vision for design are evident in the new Sustainable Energy Engineering Building for Simon Fraser University’s Surrey campus, Allard Hall at MacEwan University in Edmonton, the iconic Butterfly residential hi-rise in Vancouver, the Surrey City Centre Library and Guildford Aquatic Centre in Surrey, BC, and the Arena Stage theatre complex in Washington, DC. More recently, Venelin’s passionate creative vision and unwavering commitment to architectural excellence are shaping what is recognized across Canada and internationally as a momentous milestone for Indigenous economic development - the current 10.5-acre Sen̓áḵw Village mixed-use waterfront community development in collaboration with Squamish First Nations on traditional band-owned land in Vancouver’s Kitsilano neighbourhoood. Articulating art within architecture, Venelin’s collaborative approach and unique design sensitivity have been instrumental for conceiving an authentic, sustainable, and progressive expression that aims to articulate the Squamish culture and integrate community aspirations, traditions, and way of being.

Pricing A-La-Carte