UNIQUE AND SUSTAINABLE
Bowen Island residence showcases rammed earth construction, recycled materials
Type: Four-bedroom, three-bathroom detached
Size: 2,826 sq. ft.
B.C. Assessment: $1,119,000
Listed for: $1,599,000
Sold for: $1,550,000
Sold on: Oct. 23
Days on market in this listing: 18
Listing agent: Vaune Kolber at Dexter Realty
Buyers agent: Frazer Elliott at Macdonald Realty
The big sell: This architecturally engineered Bowen Island home factors highly on the sustainability spectrum, featuring a design that is both creative and efficient. It was built using a rammed earth technique, whereby the framework of the walls was constructed using cement and steel and insulated, and then packed with compressed sub soil using cement as a binding agent. This allows the house to stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer. The home also contains 90-per-cent recycled or “upcycled” materials, such as maple floors that were from another home on the island and fir doors, windows and door casing that originate from massive fir logs previously used to support a logging road bridge. The open concept, southwest-facing home sits on 1.24 acres close to the beach and hiking trails. It was built in 2009 and laid out over two levels. It features wood-panelled ceilings, a wood stove and large windows to maximize solar gain in the winter.
322 WEST 62ND AVENUE, VANCOUVER
Type: Three-bedroom, four-bathroom townhouse
Size: 1,461 sq. ft.
B.C. Assessment: $1,506,000
Listed for: $1,490,000
Sold for: $1,385,000
Sold on: Oct. 29
Days on market in this listing: Eight
Listing agent: Alan Yeh at Re/ Max City Realty
Buyers agent: Libo Kong at Team 3000 Realty
The big sell: Formwerks Boutique Properties built its Residences on Winona Park development in 2017 with 19 homes that accommodate three bedrooms, three levels and a location directly across from the 5.31-hectare park that bears its name. This home has a corner-unit position and features air conditioning and high-end finishings, including extensive use of Carrara marble slabs and mosaic tiles, contemporary white quartz countertops and nine-foot ceilings that are offset by double crown moulding. The kitchen has superior appliances, including a Bertazzoni gas range and a 48-inch double french door integrated refrigerator. All three bedrooms are upstairs and all have ensuite bathrooms. An office is also incorporated into the floor plan and the home comes with two side-by-side parking stalls and a storage locker. The monthly maintenance fee is $267.24 and pets and rentals are allowed.
801 — 1530 WEST 8TH AVENUE, VANCOUVER
Type: Two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment
Size: 1,096 sq. ft.
B.C. Assessment: $1,192,000
Listed for: $1,358,000
Sold for: $1,250,000
Sold on: Sept. 26
Days on market in this listing: Four
Listing agent: Stuart Bonner at Re/max Stuart Bonner
Buyers agent: Morley Lercher at Sutton Group — West Coast Realty
The big sell: This light-filled home features wraparound floor-toceiling windows that frame city, mountain and English Bay vistas. It forms part of Vancouver’s Pintura building on West 8th Avenue just half a block away from the shops on South Granville Street. The home features an open kitchen with quartz countertops, a glass backsplash, white oak cupboards, stainless-steel appliances (including a Bosch gas cooktop) and a spacious centre island with a built-in breakfast bar. Cherry hardwood floors were installed two years ago in the main living space and there is a gas fireplace in the living room, pendant lighting in the dining area and a 15-foot covered view balcony. A storage/flex space is large enough for a home office. The unit comes with two parking stalls and a monthly maintenance fee of $542.49. The strata permits both pets and rentals with restrictions.