Called Alberni, the 43-story residential skyscraper by Kengo Kuma & Associates (KKAA) is located in Vancouver, Canada, with a curved form and a semi-enclosed amphitheater at its base. Its curved structure has a massing that arches away from the street as it rises and straightens out near the top.
Alberni boasts a curved structure that arches at the midpoint, blending seamlessly with Vancouver’s modern architecture
Alberni boasts a curved structure that arches at the midpoint, blending seamlessly with Vancouver’s modern architecture. The 43-story building is designed to align with its surroundings, and its bent outline ensures that neighboring sights are preserved while delivering ample natural light to all apartments. The studio behind this masterpiece referred to the innovative design as “Boolean scoops”, which were strategically incorporated to maintain the views of existing buildings while providing light to the apartments higher up in the skyscraper.
The residential scheme shows off flowing lines that are combined with timber details and larger installations. It’s a choice that links back to its architect’s long-standing relationship with the material. This, along with the extensive moss garden on the ground level, brings nature into what is a substantial development. This continues in the swimming pool area just above the entrance. ‘In keeping with Japanese spatial traditions, the emphasis is on the atmosphere rather than the object,’ the project’s authors write.
