BIG Unveils Plans for Its New Twisting Residential Skyscraper in Vancouver

The way the news has been going lately, you'd think <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/big">BIG</a> architects are involved with every major project up for grabs - and now there's another one to add to the list. <a href="http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2012/02/beach-howe-tower-proposal-vancouver-big-tower-bjarke-ingels-group/" target="_blank">VancityBuzz</a> reports that BIG just unveiled a proposal for a new residential tower in Vancouver on the corner of <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=beach+and+howe+in+vancouver&amp;hl=en&amp;ll=49.274654,-123.130791&amp;spn=0.001872,0.004823&amp;sll=37.0625,-95.677068&amp;sspn=37.188995,79.013672&amp;hnear=Howe+St+%26+Beach+Ave,+Vancouver,+Greater+Vancouver+Regional+District,+British+Columbia+V6Z+1R8,+Canada&amp;t=h&amp;z=18" target="_blank">Beach &amp; Howe Street</a> adjacent to the Granville Bridge. The twisting tower rises up from a triangular base away from the noisy highway in order to minimize its shade impact on a park across the street. Although the details are a bit sketchy, the Beach &amp; Howe Tower seems to be in line with <a href="http://inhabitat.com/big-wins-kimball-art-center-competition-with-its-twisting-timber-eco-tower/">BIG's other projects</a> and will likely include energy-efficient design, natural daylighting, and a mixed-use layout.

<a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/BIG">BIG's</a> daring proposal for the Vancouver 49-storey residential tower includes a 9-storey podium with market rental housing, commercial uses, and a childcare facility.

Inside there would be 600 residential units including 180 market rental units, 713 parking spaces, 8 loading bays and 270 bike spaces.

The podium would provide space for retail like a grocery store, drugstore and liquor a store.

At a building height of 150 meters, the Beach &amp; Howe Tower would be Vancouver's tallest building on the southern end of downtown and the 4th tallest building in the city.

Although the residential tower is located next to the busy <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granville_Street_Bridge" target="_blank">Granville Street Bridge</a>, the building's twisting form works to minimize the noise by angling away at the bottom and then twisting as it rises up.

This twisting is also to help sunlight reach a park across the street from the building.

The tower's dramatic shape is therefor both aesthetic and functional and maximizes natural daylight into the apartments.

Under Granville Street Bridge, the space can be used for a variety of events and activities.

Comparison of the tower's height to other buildings in the city.

BIG is currently seeking a rezoning through the city to carry forward with the project.