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amazing GRacE
recently opened its first shop in Canada, located nearby in
yaletown. founded in 1923, Calligaris follows the “freedom of
living” concept, which emphasizes extreme versatility and functionality
in its high-end furnishings.
The 52-unit Grace at the corner of drake and richards stands
out among the towers of yaletown, visible from false Creek. Its
inspired architecture is grand in style and form, and yet many
elements feel intimate, such as the garden-level terraces and courtyard.
references include the european classical stately columns
The interior has been staged by
couture home furnishings company,
calligaris of italy.
and the street-oriented appeal of a new york brownstone building.
schouw often hears these comparisons, and yet the Grace has its
own distinct flair. “I would challenge anybody to find a building
anywhere in the world that looks like that,” he says.
as with all his buildings, the inspiration started at the
ground with a neighbourhood perspective. The original concept
for the building centred on the courtyard and the 30-foot arched
breezeway. “That was the first vision,” he says. “a garden space to
connect right through the property. I wanted the building to be
interesting from the street.”
The entire site is motivated by the idea of “habitable art,”
and every angle provides a sumptuous scene. several sculptures,
interpretations of the mythical Graces by artist derek
rowe, adorn the exterior. a dramatic three-storey wrought iron
entrance gate leads to the breezeway, where lush gardens spill
from every ground-floor terrace. at the end of this corridor is a
peaceful courtyard framed by pillars, with a central fountain.
Grace was awarded “Best Garden in downtown Vancouver” by
the Vancouver Parks Board and the Vancouver Garden Club. all
the landscaping is irrigated by a rainwater recovery system.
other features of the Grace also demonstrate cutting-edge
green technology. It was the first high-rise building in the city
to incorporate a geothermal heating and cooling system, which
reduces energy costs and dependency on conventional energy
sources. dozens of pipes located hundreds of feet underground
collect stored heat energy.
OpenRoad driver |
The Grace was also the first residential building in Vancouver
to use biometric technology. This security system, which uses
fingerprint recognition, is widely used by government and intelligence
agencies. residents have no need to carry keys or cards.
Their homes and cars are protected by video surveillance, motion
sensors and alarms.
residents of the Grace also have access to an impressive array
of amenities, including a steam room, meeting gallery, massage
room, fitness facilities, children’s play area and a pool that flows
from indoors to out. a resident concierge is on duty in the lobby,
and a fleet of bike cruisers and mopeds is available to all residents
as well as a chauffeured rolls royce Phantom.
The vibrant street life, abundance of shops and restaurants,
recreational opportunities, and the seawall around false Creek
are what makes yaletown such a popular place to live. Those are
precisely the things that James schouw loves about this neighbourhood
where he’s lived for 14 years. “I rarely get in my car,” he
says. “We see a lot of people, as they reach or approach retirement
years, who don’t want to go out on a farm and live in isolation,
they want to live in an exciting place with culture, restaurants
and activity. my push has really been to create homes that don’t
require them to sacrifice the character of the home they live in.”
Karim Virani has been in the real estate business over 21
years and specializes in selling notable homes. Virani real estate
advisors has distinguished itself with outstanding customer service
and a highly strategic and innovative approach to marketing
and selling luxury homes.
‡ Karim Virani is the president of
Virani Real Estate Advisors and one of the
North Shore’s most accomplished real
estate professionals. A licensed realtor since
1988, Virani has consistently been one of
Vancouver’s top producers.
www.thevlist.com