The Salient Group

Molo, the celebrated Vancouver design studio known for innovative collapsible and flexible designs, talks lighting in the Vancouver Sun.  A group of molo’s cloud softlights are installed at the Paris Annex show suite (see photo).  The LED installation provides general, ambient lighting to create mood, and gives the room a soft shape and a friendly feel.

To get a closer look, visit the Paris Annex show suite at the courtyard of the Garage building, 12 Water St; the show suite is open daily from noon to 5pm, except Fridays.

The adjoined Water Street properties were honoured with the 2010 Lieuntenant-Governor of British Columbia Award in Architecture, and profiled in Architecture BC, the journal of the Architecture Insititute of BC.

One juror’s comment:

“This integrates history, design elements … context, site, and program. What impressed me is how all these elements are integrated while keeping the character of the existing area.”

Congratulations go to Acton Ostry Architects for the honour.

Read the entire issue here: http://www.aibc.ca/member_resources/other_aibc_documents/architecturebc/archBC_awards_2010.pdf

The Vancouver Sun’s Westcoast Homes and Design describes the new face of Gastown, including some Salient Group projects, in the current issue.  The reporter visits with some long-time residents and business-owners, such as Nancy Bendtsen at Inform Interiors, and talks about new arrivals as well.  Read the whole article here.

Five Salient Group projects in Gastown have been recognized, as a group, with a 2010 SAB Canadian Green Building Award.  They are Alhambra, Garage, Cordage, Grand, and Terminus.  From the article:

Jury comments: The rehabilitation of existing heritage buildings is always welcomed, and the additional new multi-storey infill construction of this project happily maintains the historic Gastown facade of Vancouver. The new construction is of high quality that does not mimic but rather complements the older buildings. The small, exquisite interior spaces, only three metres wide, feel larger, and the design makes effective use of natural light and thermal mass, geothermal heating, high-efficiency heat pumps, and salvaged building materials.

Architect for all five projects was Acton Ostry; many more interesting details of the projects, and photos, are at the SAB Magazine website.

The Real Estate Roundup in this week’s Business in Vancouver discusses several Salient Group projects, including the Paris Annex, and how Gastown continues to evolve.  Reporter Peter Mitham gets Robert Fung’s thoughts on what’s propelling the change, and what’s drawing new people to the area.  Read the entire article here.

Our latest Gastown project, the Paris Annex, is set to launch this September. The Annex is all new construction designed to complement the neighbouring Paris Block, a restored 100-year- old building named for its longtime occupant, shoe retailer Pierre Paris. On completion in the fall of 2011 the Paris Annex will consist of 17 apartments, including two penthouse lofts with rooftop access.

The Salient Group is committed to combining spectacular modern architecture with heritage, and the Paris Annex is the perfect example. The new construction features a modern exterior of concrete, glass and aluminum, and interiors with large windows, linear floor plans and decks. It will share corridors, stairs and an elevator with its heritage counterpart. The design goal is to add interest and diversity to the neighbourhood while helping strengthen the existing community.

The show suite will be open to the public in early September at the courtyard at Garage, 12 Water Street. Stay tuned for more news and photos as the Paris Annex progresses.

The Flack Block gets an update in the Vancouver Sun, marking the first anniversary of Shelley Penner’s tenancy in the building.  Penner helms design firm Penner And Associates and the attached retail store p + a furniture, which sells sustainable, Canadian made products with an emphasis on smart design.

The makeover of the Flack Block, which Salient completed in 2008, has been followed by improvements in the rest of the neighbourhood as well – read Penner’s thoughts on the area and its business potential here.