Sen̓ákw Vancouver: The Epic Net-Zero Village of the Future
9 hours ago
4 min read
Cities can either take from the land or give back to it. At the south end of the Burrard Bridge in Vancouver's Kitsilano, 11 new towers are being built on land that was returned, not sold.
Sen̓ákw. Photography by David Kvocak/DroneCam Studio
This is Sen̓ákw: 10.5 acres of reserve land, once part of an 84-acre parcel, located where False Creek meets English Bay. Unlike other tower projects, Sen̓ákw creates a public park that stretches underneath them.
Revery Architecture is the design architect of the masterplan, alongside Kasian Architecture as the architect of record for the Squamish Nation through their Development Corporation Nch’kaỷ. The development will contribute 6,000 brand-new rental units and over 4 million sq. ft. of residential and commercial space in 4 phases. The first tower already has residents, and the others will be completed over the next several years. The main idea is clear: density does not have to mean loss; it can mean giving something back.
Sen̓ákw. Photography by David Kvocak/DroneCam Studio
Today, Sen̓ákw represents more than a plan to increase density: its developers describe it as reconciliation in action, reclaiming unceded territory and marking the return of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), who were forced to leave their land a century ago.
For this reason, instead of building typical towers, the project aims to create a new connection between the community and the surrounding landscape through a "village in the park" concept, inspired by Squamish Nation priorities around nature, community kinship, and collective well-being.
The 11 towers accommodate residential, cultural, commercial, and recreational uses; meanwhile, a new urban park serves as the connective tissue among them. Their placement and orientation are intended to let air, daylight, and movement pass through the site.
Vancouver has never seen a similar approach. Most towers in this city are built right up to the street, with little consideration for public space. In Sen̓ákw, the ground is open to the community: pavilions, green infrastructure, and native plants are making spaces for cultural sharing, storytelling, and daily activities. This new approach to including public spaces helped the development fit better with the city.
Sen̓ákw. Drawing by Revery Architecture
Sen̓ákw. Drawing by Revery Architecture
The project is massive. The project will build 6,000 homes in 4 phases. Among those, 1,200 will be offered at below-market rates, and an additional 250 are set aside solely for Squamish Nation members. Every tower will have accessible units, and 10% of the homes are designed to be made even more accessible in the future.
Looking at the towers, we can identify two iconic typologies inspired by nature and Squamish culture: the Mountain and the Long towers, which converge at the foot of the Burrard Street Bridge.
As per Revery Architecture's description:
"Mountain tower has an organic, crystalline massing. Its chiselled form is accentuated with copper-fritted glazing and balconies inspired by the Nation’s symbolic crescent and trigon motifs. The rooftops of the Mountain buildings are angled northward to exalt the mountain peaks of the Twin Sisters, which are sacred to the Squamish people."
"Long Tower is a mnemonic for the longhouses that once stood in the village; its linear form is rotated vertically to offer a variety of living spaces and shared amenities. A series of rippling screens rise through the glazed façade, reminiscent of salmon (an animal of great significance to the Squamish) leaping and twisting in a stream. These emblematic screens filter natural light and provide visual privacy between units."
Sen̓ákw. Photography by David Kvocak/DroneCam Studio Sen̓ákw. Photography by David Kvocak/DroneCam Studio
These particularities aren't adopted for beauty; they carry cultural meaning into the design, blending architecture with the building’s function. Symbolism, climate, privacy, daylight, and orientation all work together in each building.
Sen̓ákw. Photography by David Kvocak/DroneCam Studio Sen̓ákw. Photography by David Kvocak/DroneCam Studio
Sen̓ákw’s goals go far beyond just the buildings themselves. The goal is to be Canada’s first large-scale housing development with net-zero operational carbon.
The development includes a district energy system powered by blackwater, transit options, cycling facilities, mass timber construction, advanced stormwater management, and natural, renewable, high-efficiency materials. These features are part of a bigger plan for environmental, economic, social, and cultural sustainability.
Sen̓ákw. Drawing by Revery Architecture Sen̓ákw. Drawing by Revery Architecture
At ground level, a dedicated bike hub, transit links, green infrastructure, and open public spaces connect to the larger network. Through this, we can see their intent: integrating movement and green into the development, not just adding extras later.
For Revery Architecture, this project is part of their wider work in developing spaces for community. At Sen̓ákw, the studio is pursuing this goal on a much larger scale than usual.
The towers are tall, but the ambition behind them is even greater.
This part of Vancouver is planned not just for density, but to give the city space to breathe.
Sen̓ákw. Photography by David Kvocak/DroneCam Studio Sen̓ákw. Photography by David Kvocak/DroneCam Studio Sen̓ákw. Photography by David Kvocak/DroneCam Studio Sen̓ákw. Photography by David Kvocak/DroneCam Studio Sen̓ákw. Photography by David Kvocak/DroneCam Studio Sen̓ákw. Photography by David Kvocak/DroneCam Studio Sen̓ákw. Photography by David Kvocak/DroneCam Studio Sen̓ákw. Photography by David Kvocak/DroneCam Studio Sen̓ákw. Photography by David Kvocak/DroneCam Studio Sen̓ákw. Photography by David Kvocak/DroneCam Studio Sen̓ákw. Photography by David Kvocak/DroneCam Studio Sen̓ákw. Photography by David Kvocak/DroneCam Studio Sen̓ákw. Photography by David Kvocak/DroneCam Studio Sen̓ákw. Photography by David Kvocak/DroneCam Studio Sen̓ákw. Photography by David Kvocak/DroneCam Studio
Sen̓ákw. Drawing by Revery Architecture Sen̓ákw. Drawing by Revery Architecture Sen̓ákw. Drawing by Revery Architecture
Credits
Client: Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) through their development corporation Nch’kaỷ Development (in partnership with Westbank Corporation)
Design Architect & Plan Architect: Revery Architecture
Architect of Record: Kasian Architecture
Structural Engineering: Glotman Simpson Consulting Engineers
Facade Structural Engineering & Building Enclosure: RDH Building Science
Construction / General Contractor: Peak Construction Group
District Energy System / Mechanical: Creative Energy (Creative Energy Sen̓áḵw Limited Partnership)
Affordable Housing Management: Hiy̓ám̓ Housing (Squamish-led non-profit)
Cultural Oversight: Sen̓áḵw Cultural Advisory Panel
