Metro Vancouver is home to many real estate developers, and a long list of pre-construction homes... but these offerings aren't all made equal. And, the number of options can make it difficult for to-be buyers to zero in on the best that's available to them.
To stand out from the fray, modern builders might aim to make a splash via the array of amenities they provide in their new builds. As expectations have risen, more and more projects are providing amenities that would have been called "inconceivable" even just a decade ago.
Now, with Gardena — a master plan community in Burquitlam, located just two blocks away from Burquitlam SkyTrain Station — Intracorp Homes is raising the standard (somehow, even further) when it comes to amenities.
Intracorp is responsible for a large group of high-rises that have risen in the Metrotown area of Burnaby (in fact, with 9 Metrotown towers in their name, Intracorp is the area’s leading developer), as well as the rest of Metro Vancouver, Washington State, California, and Texas. Now, the developer is now turning its attention to Coquitlam, with Gardena. The community will consist of 218 rental homes across two six-storey rental buildings, plus 527 strata residences across a 17-storey tower named Magnolia and a 42-storey tower named Lotus.
A long list of impressive amenities will be shared between both Lotus and Magnolia, including the expected — think, social and dining lounges, patios, and a community garden; the unexpected — such as a cross-training studio (with plyometric boxes and battle ropes), a podcast room, and a yoga studio (with interactive fitness mirrors); and finally, the extraordinary, like the five-storey Secret Garden, an outdoor rooftop movie theatre, and spas.
Indeed, that's "spas" — plural — as Gardena boasts an indoor spa, with two saunas and one steam room, as well as an outdoor spa with a four-person barrel sauna, fire pits, and a waterfall outdoor shower. In other words, it's the full Scandinavian spa experience, right at residents' front doors.
One of the spas at Gardena (rendering)
Social Lounge at Gardena (rendering)storeys.com
The themes that course through Gardena's collection of amenities are well-being and social connection; a pairing that translates to amenities that satisfy residents' needs for both independence, and a larger sense of belonging. Not to mention, the enhancement of residents' physical and mental health.
Dog run and lounge at Gardena (rendering)storeys.com
Lotus lobby at Gardena (rendering)
The amenities are impressive not just by quality, but also quantity. Besides the aforementioned offerings, residents can look forward to a co-working space, double-height lobbies, outdoor kitchens, bicycle maintenance facilities, and several amenities crafted specifically for your furry companions.
All in all, the residential amenity space totals to over 25,000 sq. ft. The development is also rising just moments from Burnaby Mountain's lush trails, which serve as a natural (and wellness-promoting) extension of the on-site amenity offerings.
READ: Intracorp's Burquitlam Master Plan True To Its Name, Will Feature 5-Storey 'Secret Garden'
5-storey Secret Garden at Gardena (rendering)
True to Intracorp's reputation for quality and design, behind Gardena is the global architecture firm Arcadis IBI Group. The care and precision the team has brought to the building resonates throughout the entire master-plan, which captures the essence of “a neighbourhood within a neighbourhood.” Intentional connections and common threads are waiting to be discovered throughout the site; for example, a main street-style road that will run through the community’s core. Complete with street-oriented housing, vehicle access, and a pedestrian crossing, the “neighbourhood” feel is truly palpable.
This essence is reinforced by the efforts local firm Durante Kreuk has brought to the landscape architecture, and Ste. Marie Studio has to the home interiors and amenities.
As a result, the Gardena community will feature world-class design, thoughtful dashes of nature throughout, and homes that are a joy to live in, all of which is underscored by a palpable, design-minded aesthetic.
Gardena's construction commenced earlier this year, and over 400 of the community's 527 homes have already been sold. For a limited time, buyers can own at Gardena with just a 10% deposit paid in two installments — 5% today and 5% in a year — and those who act soon can benefit from up to $15,000 in savings.
To learn more, you can register online, or stop by the presentation centre at 1037 Austin Avenue for an in-person look at two display homes, and to explore a digital experience introducing the master-planned community.
This article was produced in partnership with STOREYS Custom Studio.
