Revery Architecture, formerly known as Bing Thom Architects was founded in 1982 by late Canadian architect and urban designer Bing Thom. After founder Bing Thom’s sudden passing in 2016 (aged 75), the firm was relaunched as ‘Revery Architecture Inc.’
Revery Architecture led by Design Principal Venelin Kokalov is a Vancouver based architectural and design firm renowned for its exceptional state-of-the-art design solutions. Kokalov himself is known for his bold sense of architecture. Under his management, Revery continues to dispense trailblazing buildings that promote growth and positive changes within the communities they create. Revery stands by the philosophy of ‘Building Beyond Buildings’ – to create mindful spaces, and evoke constructive emotions amongst users.
Revery Architecture has a wide spectrum of projects in its repertoire, ranging from cultural centers, commercial and mixed-use developments, residential developments, institutional campuses, and other public utilitarian buildings.
Here’s a list of 15 groundbreaking projects by Revery Architecture that show the expanse of its expertise:
1. Xiqu Centre | Revery Architecture
Location: Hong Kong
Type: Cultural, Performing Arts
Area: 305,000 sq. ft.
Status: Completed in 2018
Xiqu Centre in Hong Kong is one of the greatest cultural hubs in the city dedicated to traditional Chinese Opera (Xiqu). The most striking feature of the 7-storeyed cultural sanctuary is its curvilinear façade derived from the Chinese Moon Gate Motif. The Chinese Moon Gate motif is a circular opening in a garden wall serving as a pedestrian passageway popular in Chinese gardens. The Xiqu Centre houses two theatres, 8 professional recording studios, a seminar hall, and retail spaces on two floors overlooking an inner courtyard.
The architects have strategically suspended the main auditorium 90feet above the ground creating a striking atrium where the public can enjoy exhibitions and art demonstrations. The suspension of the auditorium aids in keeping high noise levels from surrounding urban infrastructure at bay.
2. Surrey City Centre Library
Location: Surrey, BC
Type: Institutional, Civic
Area: 82,000 sq. ft.
Status: Completed in 2011
Another LEED Gold-certified project by Revery Architecture, Surrey City Centre Library is an open, bright, and welcoming public centre. The library is located centrally in the city and hence it is much more than just a reading space – it is a community space for the citizens.
The gaping central atrium – with no dividing columns surges in a large amount of daylight that lights up every corner of the structure and evokes positivity. This atrium forms the point of interaction. The designers have limited the material palette to glass and concrete that just glide over the whole structure conveying a stern yet open statement.
3. Guildford Aquatic Centre
Location: Surrey, BC
Type: Institutional, Civic, Recreation, Aquatic
Area: 75,000 sq. ft.
Status: Completed in 2015
The Guildford Aquatic Centre was built as an extension to the existing Guildford Recreation Centre. The aquatic center accommodates a FINA recognized lap natatorium that can host large competitions, and is a recreational, and therapeutic stop for the city dwellers. Surrey adopted the ‘Wood First Policy’ in 2010 that recognizes the economic and environmental benefits of wood making it the material of choice for its public buildings.
In this respect, Revery Architecture chose to incorporate 29m long prefabricated wood trusses. This is the key element in the design of the aquatic center. The trusses are integrated with lighting, mechanical services, and acoustic absorption. By prefabricating the trusses, the construction process was fast-tracked as it took only 10 days for full installation without any scaffolding.
The landscape surrounding the structure was carefully planned to merge with the existing contours on the site to form a sense of movement. The monolithic character of the structure is masqueraded by Revery’s pixelated precast concrete panels for its façade.
4. 1245 Harwood
Location: Vancouver, BC
Type: Residential
Area: 48,500 sq. ft.
Status: Completed in 2018
A translucent screen separates this magnificent tower from its surroundings. Light shapes the structure by casting beautiful shadows. Sitting on the site of a heritage mansion, this residential tower reflects the lively and eclectic community it lies in. The owner was keen on retaining a 120-year old tulip tree that was present on site. This condition made the magnificent tree the central attraction around which a series of terraced gardens are placed.
The elegant architectural design provides expansive views of the surroundings and the central tulip tree with floor-to-ceiling windows in all the principal rooms giving it an altogether different status from the other spaces. The architecture of the interiors and exteriors showcases calm and simple living.
5. Tarrant County College | Revery Architecture
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Type: Institutional, Education
Area: 150,000 sq. ft.
Status: Completed in 2011
Owing to the fast growth of community colleges in Texas, Tarrant County College was commissioned to the Revery Architecture as a way to integrate their highly-specialized and technical Allied Health and Nursing Program into an urban context in their Trinity River East Campus in downtown Fort Worth. The campus acts as an urban gateway and reconnects the city with the Trinity River.
The design has a user-centric approach and hence is widely acknowledged. The design incorporates features that minimize heat gain in the building like regionally appropriate landscaping, louvered exterior glazing, and outdoor terraces. These elements have turned the building into a rather sustainable one. Well-planned outdoor spaces have given rise to the holistic learning and development of students.
6. Woodridge Neighbourhood Library
Location: Washington, DC
Type: Institutional, Civic, Library
Area: 22,800 sq. ft.
Status: Completed in 2016
The Woodridge Neighbourhood Library was designed to merge the indoors and the outdoors creating a sense of fluidity enabling users to have a variety of activities going on. The flexibility of the interiors allows diverse events to take course – reading, soft interactions, and large assemblies. The library sits oriented towards the lush Langdon Park.
The library opens into a grand central circulation space which is beautifully lit by a large amount of natural light it receives through the punctured ceiling. The daylight against the subtle white and light wood interiors creates a tranquil atmosphere. The library hosts an accessible terrace on the first floor and a green rooftop which act as the extended interior spaces.
The façade is clad in textured precast concrete panels extending up to the rooftop terrace. The different terraces created, provide an uninterrupted panoramic view of the park alongside.
7. Sfu Sustainable Energy Engineering Building
Location: Surrey, BC
Type: Institutional, Education
Area: 222,300 sq. ft.
Status: Completed in 2019
The five-storey building is a striking landmark in the city. This building is a LEED Gold Certified, one-of-a-kind institutional building in the city. The cool material palette and the geometric precast panels for the facade is an illustration of an abstract circuit board. This gives an understanding of the subject matter being taught within the building.
Similar to most projects by Revery Architecture, keen concern is shown in the natural lighting of the interior spaces. Hence, the functional spaces within the building are arranged around a large, light-filled atrium.
8. Sunset Community Centre
Location: Vancouver, BC
Type: Cultural, Civic, Recreation
Area: 30,000 sq. ft.
Status: Completed in 2007
The Sunset Community, another LEED Gold certified building by Revery Architecture, was imagined as an accessible community space for the multi-cultural neighborhood around it. The building is inviting to the locals with its placement and form – main circulation corridors boldly extending to the periphery of the site.
The community centre caters to multidisciplinary activities ranging from pre-school, gymnasium, multipurpose halls big enough to host weddings, and a variety of art and cultural events.
9. Macewan University – Allard Hall
Location: Edmonton, AB
Type: Institutional, Cultural, Education
Area: 420,000 sq. ft.
Status: Completed in 2017
Upon entering the building, you are lost in the impressive atrium meshed with pedestrian bridges connecting all of the five levels of the structure. Clerestory windows dramatically light-up the entire atrium.
The community-inspired exterior is clad in climate-responsive, high-performance glazing, hints of green ceramic frits, and black spandrel panels that reflect the sky. The greens and the reflected blue sky create a visual balance and harmony.
10. The Butterfly | Revery Architecture
Location: Vancouver, BC
Type: Mixed-use Development
Area: 600,000 sq. ft.
Status: Under Construction
This iconic mixed-use project by Revery Architecture is under construction and is scheduled to be completed by 2022. This was one of the last projects of architect Bing Thom (Founder of Revery Architecture, formerly Bing Thom Architects.)
The project entails construction of luxurious condominiums, affordable rental/social housing, and the heritage restoration and expansion of the adjacent First Baptist Church in the city of Vancouver. This 57-storey tower is all set to break stereotypes and become a brand new model for mixed-use buildings in the country.
