Marine Drive Permanent Supportive Housing
Location South Vancouver, BC
Status In Progress
Client BC Housing
Size 4,365 sq m
As part of the Permanent Modular Supportive Housing Initiative (PMSHI) created by BC Housing and the City of Vancouver, this elegant project on SE Marine Drive will house, and provide supports for, 72 individuals facing the risk of homelessness. On track to achieve Passive House Certification, this quiet, dignified building was inspired by the adjacent Fraser River and the land’s pre-contact ecosystems.
Although South Vancouver has long suffered from the environmental degradation associated with riverside industrial activity, the shoreline near this project has been significantly restored. Future residents will have easy access to the Fraser River Trail, with all its associated marine life and restorative beauty. Inspiration for the project’s aesthetic came from repeated site visits through the seasons to witness changes in light quality, vegetation, birdlife and river activity.
BC Housing and the City of Vancouver set an ambitious target of Passive House Certification. The project relies on a combination of simple, passive strategies, and high-efficiency mechanical equipment to meet its goals. As a pilot study for volumetric modular, the project is also testing the potential for reducing its embodied carbon relative to a site-built project.
The final design includes a range of landscaping strategies to both situate the project in its context, and to provide opportunities for residents to connect to the land. Rich pollinator landscapes at grade are planted with dense native species, and rooftop vegetable gardens allow residents the opportunity to grow food in a secluded location.
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