James Schouw is back! Following up on his triumphs The Grace and The Grace Tower James Schouw and Associates will be crafting 21 exclusive residences at the corner of Hornby and Helmcken that will once again blow away expectations. This is one developer who operates more like an artisan creating unique spaces for those who appreciate finer design and would otherwise dismiss the boxes in the sky we see everyday.
What makes Artemisia so unique? Well, for one it is being markted as “habitable art” and will be incorporating various installations into the building. Inspiration comes from Artemisia Gentileschi, baroque painter, and designs by Gaudi with sweeping lines, rethought spaces, and totally reinvented (for Vancouver) considerations for the inhabitants. This will not be a project which will maximize the profitability at the cost of the joy of ownership. There will not be 300 units squeezed into a box with 36 floors and 8 units per floor. This will be a boutique collection of inspired homes that not only showcase the owners good and discerning taste but create a true sense of exclusive neighbourliness. It’s hard to describe well, here, but I think that James sums it up well when he says to:
Look beyond conventional design and construction. There is so much freedom for imagination.
As with the Grace Residences they will incorporate Geothermal Heating and Cooling, rainwater collection for irrigation, and a firm goal to design for the ages with construction lasting in the hundreds of years.
Want to take part? If you’re an artist then james is looking for you. You can visit http://jamesschouw.ca/artists/ to get all the information on being considered for a permanent installation within Artemisia.
Check the video on the side to see what James is all about and see what he created with Grace.
60% of the units are already sold which leaves about 8 remaining with prices ranging from $935,000 to $3.65m. Occupancy is expected in Spring 2011.
Vancouver, BC 
I wish there were tours inside Grace, instead of hanging outside the gate with my tongue out while admiring the Escher-inspired gardens.
I’ve been inside several and they are every bit of old-world charm and craftsmanship meets modern tech and beauty that you may imagine. Seriously envious of those who have their thumbprint logged in the biometric gate. Now if I could just get into that penthouse at the tower with the 50 foot (yes, FIFTY) high ceiling… wow!