TOWER TO RISE ABOVE THE REST IN VICTORIA
30-foot beacon to sit atop 25-storey Hudson Place One, the latest gem in planned community
While Townline’s 25-storey Hudson Place One residential tower will stand out as the tallest building in Victoria when completed in 2020, a 30-foot-high illuminated installation on top of the structure will be an unmistakable beacon for locals and visitors to British Columbia’s capital city.
“We wanted to really elevate the architectural design and living experience and the signature vertical light feature will make this an iconic building,” says Chris Colbeck, Townline’s vice-president of sales and marketing, who adds the company wants to create a visually distinctive building that will also enhance its pedestrian-friendly surroundings.
Designed by Rafii Architects, the highrise will also be recognizable for the building-high white frames on the exterior. While they will add a decorative element by visually narrowing the tower, they are also part of the building’s structure, Colbeck says. Another noteworthy exterior feature will be the sky gardens — planters with hardy arbutus shrubs — that will create the impression of an urban forest on different levels of the building. Views from the tower will include the inner harbour, ocean, mountains and the city.
The 176-unit Hudson Place One is the fifth Townline development in Victoria’s Hudson District, a planned community that includes the conversion of the old Hudson’s Bay building into 152 loft condos, and the construction of Hudson Mews and Hudson Walk One and Two.
“We always try to design from the inside out to provide homeowners with livable, functional and thoughtful living spaces,” Colbeck says. “Part of that is making sure the inside works for the homeowner and also blends with exterior design.”
Cristina Oberti, principal at Cristina Oberti Interior Design, says the interior design concept reflects Victoria’s modern urban lifestyle: cosmopolitan, but with a relaxed attitude.
“Preserving and celebrating history was also a very important aspect of this project, given its location. Victoria is an interesting place because it is really where the old and the new merge,” she says.
“The vision was West Coast modern — sophisticated contemporary esthetics with a natural vibe. To create this effect, we juxtaposed and combined clean lines with soft natural materials like wood and stone,” Oberti adds.
Homebuyers can choose from two colour schemes, the lighter Palette One or the deeper tones anchored by the darker cabinetry in Palette Two. In both schemes, the same laminate flooring runs throughout, enhancing a feeling of spaciousness by connecting the hall, kitchen, living room and bedrooms.
“Both schemes are designed to look modern, yet very ‘West Coast’ and natural,” Oberti says. “The combination of laminate wood flooring and stone-like finishes in porcelain tile and quartz gives each scheme a unique luxurious feel, while still being easy to maintain.”
Both palettes can be seen at the presentation centre at 777 Herald St., where a kitchen from the one-bedroom units has been built out and finished in the light palette while a two-bedroom, twobathroom suite is completed in the darker scheme.
The two-bedroom display unit is furnished to illustrate Oberti’s vision for the interiors.
“The furniture we selected for the display suite is a mixture of contemporary and country pieces. The combination is a play on the old and the new, the old being a reference to the historic Hudson’s Bay Building, and the new to the vibrant community to come,” she explains.
In the kitchen-only display at the presentation centre, the island serves as a comfortable dining space for four. The marble-look quartz on the island is also used on the perimeter countertop and as the backsplash. The fridge/freezer is integrated, using panels in the light wood-grain laminate, while a vertical built-in wine rack and bookshelf gives the space a custom look.
“I love the kitchens, and the light scheme in particular. The combination of wood grains and the striations in the stone is so striking. It feels very modern and clean, but is also very soft. The waterfall edge on the kitchen island also definitely adds to this effect,” says Oberti, when asked to reflect on her favourite aspect of the design.
In the two-bedroom display unit’s ensuite bathroom, the 24-by-12-inch marble-look porcelain tiles and the under-cabinet LED lighting gives the space a relaxed ambience, while underfloor heating adds a luxury touch for cooler fall and winter days.
The 11,000 square feet of amenities for Hudson Place One are on the third level.
“There will be a social lounge, indoor chef’s kitchen and dining area,” Colbeck says. This space opens to an outdoor barbecue area with a harvest table, two fire pits and a children’s play area.
Other indoor amenities include a large gym, a space for yoga and a spa, including a his-and-hers infrared sauna. There is also an area with a pool table and big-screen TV, and a hobby room.
“This is a creative space for everyone. Parents with young children could use it for parties, while others can use it for crafts or painting and art,” Colbeck suggests.