Mary Frances Hill
The Province
Opal
What: A 130-unit development including one six-storey and two four-storey buildings with 44 condos for sale, 56 for rental, and 30 complex-care suites
Where: 438 West King Edward Avenue, Vancouver
Developer and builder: Opal Retirement Inc. and Opal Development Partnership
Residence sizes and prices: one-bedroom condos 612 — 850 square feet, from $732,000;
one-bedroom and den 837 — 922 square feet, $1,150,000 — $1,230,000; available two-bedrooms 938 — 1,178 square feet, $1,056,000 — $1,428,000
Sales centre address: 130 — 555 West 12th Ave. (City Square, upper shops level)
Sales centre hours: Mon — Fri noon — 3 p. m.; Sat — Sun noon — 6 p.m.; Appointments by arrangement
When Diane Shrubb took on the challenge of creating the suites at Opal, a seniors’ community coming to Cambie Village, she knew buyers would be looking for an increasingly easier and enhanced lifestyle over the years.
Functionality in the design would be critical, but she also knew residents wouldn’t want to compromise on comfort and esthetics.
When she first applied her creativity to the notion of luxury retirement — the theme that defines Opal homes — Shrubb considered all the practicalities to be addressed in the display space. Given the homes range from conventional spaces to units designed for those who will need care, she focused on safety and comfort.
“Many have worked hard and raised families, and now it’s time for them to relax and enjoy,” says Shrubb, principal of Shrubb Design Partnership Inc. “What do they need at this point in their lives? They need less space to live in and somewhere they can live safely and attend to health issues if they occur.”
The details make a big difference in the development, which requires at least one occupant of each unit to be 55-plus years of age. Shrubb hid lighting in the kitchen island and bathroom vanities, while closet interiors allow for built-in storage. Meantime, grab bars in the bath and showers are understated, resembling towel bars.
Even small touches that many would not notice — like a flat-profile flooring that will ease the transition from the carpeted bedrooms to the laminate wood flooring — will help mobility and reduce tripping hazards. Electrical outlets are mounted higher than the standard 12 inches, also an aid to mobility issues, she says.
The biggest challenge presented by Shrubb’s Opal work was marrying functionality with beauty.
“This is the ongoing challenge on almost any design project, and particularly for this demographic,” Shrubb says. “Finding the balance between functional security items, while providing beauty and practicality, must coexist in a successful project. If only functional items are addressed, the comfort and esthetics will be compromised and visa versa.”
To achieve this in the display space, Shrubb kept to light neutrals and simple, clean finishes, introducing a splash of colour via bright florals in artwork.
“These large-format paintings are an uplifting complement to the clean and simple elegant backdrop,” Shrubb says.
The project is also noteworthy for its more than 30,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor amenities. These include a movement studio with a dramatic rock salt wall, a gym, a wellness spa, library lounge and games area, business and IT centre, and an open display kitchen for culinary demonstrations and intergenerational cooking classes.
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