Chantal Eustace
Sun
ONLY THE MURMUR OF RUNNING WATER . . . In the Pure bathrooms, the quiet touches that contribute to household harmony will abound. The leading item, in the opinion of visitors to the sales centre, is the “relationship-saver,” the Toto elongated toilet with a slam resistant lid, centre manager Reid Dewson reports. The medicine cabinet slides open, overlooking a small, stainless undermounted Kohler sink with a simple American Standard faucet set in a Corian countertop. Photograph by : Stuart Davis, Vancouver Sun
‘LOST’ RESIDENTS NOT IN THE WORKS: The model in the Pure sales centre demonstrates the simple presence for the building sought by developer and architect. Because most floors of the 15-floor building will house only four apartments, residents shouldn’t feel lost in a large tower, sales centre manager Reid Dewson says. Photograph by : Stuart Davis, Vancouver Sun
‘LOST’ RESIDENTS NOT IN THE WORKS: Generous glazing will ensure light-filled residency. There’s a lot of windows and a lot of light, Dewson says. It’s modern. It has a very European, simple, clean feel to it. It will appeal to people who want to live downtown. The horizontal doors over the kitchen cabinets (right) are another slam-resistant item. Photograph by : Stuart Davis, Vancouver Sun
In the kitchen, Purists will enjoy a stainless steel appliance package, an Acri-Tec undermount sink and an American Standard chrome faucet. Porcelain tile will be underfoot. Photograph by : Stuart Davis, Vancouver Sun
PURE
Location: Hornby Street, between Davie and Drake, Vancouver
Project size: 73 apartments, 15-storey building
Residence size: 535 sq. ft. – 900 sq. ft.
Prices: $361,900 – $626,900
Sales centre address: Floor 22, Marriott Residence Inn, 1234 Hornby
Hours: Noon – 6 p.m. Saturday – Thursday
Telephone: 604-806-0755
Web: livingpure.ca
Developer: Bogner Development Group Ltd.
Architect: Gomberoff Bell Lyon Architects
Tentative completion: December 2008
Pure and simple residency is the offer in the latest new-home project from long-time developer and builder Leon Bogner, with the Pure tower’s shape — tall and skinny — the first component of the pledge.
Most floors will only have four apartments as a consequence, an opportunity for those households to create a neighbourly atmosphere among themselves and upstairs and downstairs, Pure sales manager Reid Dewson says. “You’re not lost in a large tower.”
The marketing brochure describes the Pure possibilities this way: “Living Pure is about filtering life down to its essential elements. Simple. Clean.”
The display centre demonstrates the Pure possibilities this way: A crisp esthetic that reflects the project’s name.
“We wanted to have a presentation centre close to the site,” Dewson says of the sales centre’s 22nd-floor location in a hotel near the Pure property. “We wanted to be able to showcase the views.”
Views from the upper-storey homes prospects will include False Creek, North Shore mountains and the Strait of Georgia.
Double-glazed windows framed in aluminum, aimed at maximizing the entry of natural light into the apartments and the view opportunities and minimizing the introduction of weather and sound, will dominate the building’s exteriors and interiors.
“There’s a lot of windows and a lot of light,” Dewson says of the design. “It’s modern. It has a very European, simple, clean feel to it. It will appeal to people who want to live downtown.”
Windows will be shielded with sheer, roller blinds.
Inside each home, white porcelain tile will brighten up main spaces, from kitchen to dining and living room. The overall look is modern, distinctly minimalist, but with flair.
“It’s very fresh, clean — that’s what the designers and developer feel appeal to people who want to live downtown,” says Dewson.
Composite stone will top kitchen counters. Cabinet doors will open horizontally and are finished with long, brushed steel pulls. Best of all, they’re quiet, says Dewson.
“They won’t just slam, they’ve got a latch on it,” he says, demonstrating silently.
Purists will also enjoy the cooking opportunities afforded to them through a stainless steel appliance package — including an AEG wall oven and gas cooktop.
An Acri-Tec undermount square stainless steel sink and American Standard chrome faucet completes the space.
The display centre’s model bathroom showcases clever storage in a pull-out medicine cabinet. A small, stainless undermounted sink, complete with American Standard faucet, finishes off the look.
“There are a number of unique things in it,” he says of the bathroom. “It’s a very nice sink.”
Dewson says visitors to the sale centre really seem impressed by the Toto elongated toilet.
“They call this the relationship-saver toilet, since it can’t be slammed,” he says, demonstrating the smart toilet’s approach to an age-old battle of the sexes issue: the seat.
Cabinets and toilets aren’t the only thing that will allow residence to enjoy silence, he says.
“We have a quieter location than many of the downtown projects,” says Dewson. “We’re not in the centre of Yaletown, but we have easy access to all the amenities of Yaletown a few blocks away but we’re not in the middle of all the kerfuffle.”
So far, he says, people seem ready and willing to buy into the Pure living idea. More than 30 per cent of the apartments have sold and the property has just gone on the market.
“The comments have been very, very positive,” Dewson says.
Residents will have underground parking, an exercise room and access to a common landscaped garden terrace.
© The Vancouver Sun 2006
