Designed by McFarlane Biggar Architects and Designers (OMB), the Salal Apartments sought to reimagine, redefine, and enrich the qualitative aspects of social housing in the District of North Vancouver.
Driven by the modest and unassuming task of providing natural light and ventilation to all bedrooms and living spaces, while also responding to the neighbourhood context, this project offers a unique and iconic architectural form designed to maximize livability.
The Salal Apartments project is a non-market rental development offering 90 affordable homes in North Vancouver. This six-storey building is designed for families, couples, and individuals with low and moderate incomes, enabling them to live and work on the North Shore, where affordable housing has become scarce.
Located conveniently next to the Phibbs Bus Exchange, a primary bicycle route, and within walking distance of the Lower Lynn Town Centre, this new development combines dignified accommodations with easy access to transportation and community amenities.
Despite challenges posed by a tight budget, constrained site, and rigorous BC Housing guidelines, the firm embraced the opportunity to bring thoughtful design to social housing – a typology often overlooked – to uplift residents and foster community through well-designed indoor and outdoor spaces.
What initially appears as a straightforward design reveals thoughtful details and efficiencies enhancing both resident and community experience. For example, rather than building up to the lot line, the team created a generous courtyard, providing a buffer and a shared open space where none existed before. Landscaping softens edges, blending public and private spaces, and a single parking level reduced excavation needs. By stacking suites, structural and service efficiencies were improved, while durable finishes ensure easy maintenance and longevity.
The building’s varied blue balconies, inspired by the layered colors of the surrounding coastal mountains, give it a unique identity, linking it to its natural environment. The apartment layouts, from one to three bedrooms, feature spacious private outdoor areas such as balconies or ground-level terraces, maximizing daylight and outdoor space.
Community connections are encouraged in the ground floor amenities addressing Oxford Street. The unprogrammed courtyard spaces, act as visual and acoustic separators for the residents overlooking them.
