Located within the District of North Vancouver, the Salal Apartments project contributes to the evolving fabric of a dense, walkable neighbourhood while addressing the growing need for affordable rental housing. Situated within a complex urban context, the project balances privacy, community, and livability on a constrained site. It seeks to reimagine and elevate the qualitative experience of affordable housing, foregrounding light, air, and shared space as essential elements of daily life.
The development provides 90 rental homes ranging from one to three-bedroom units, organized above a single level of underground parking. Suites are oriented to maximize daylight, views, and acoustic comfort, while shared amenity spaces support both individual retreat and social connection. At grade, the building engages the street to strengthen neighbourhood relationships, while the interior courtyard creates a layered outdoor space for gathering, shared activities, and community gardening through integrated planters.
Central to the project is an emphasis on collaboration and long-term care, supported through partnerships with Sanford Affordable Housing Society, Hollyburn Community Services Society, and the District of North Vancouver. Together, these organizations support stable tenancy, community integration, and ongoing operation of the building. Flexible courtyards, circulation spaces, and shared amenities allow residents to shape patterns of use over time. Through thoughtful planning, restrained materiality, and attention to daily experience, the Salal Apartments project demonstrates how affordable housing can be approached with ambition, dignity, and a strong sense of belonging.
