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UrbanToronto visited Oakville recently as the sales centre for Empire Communities' Rain Condos briefly previewed for the first time. Rain, at the northeast corner of Kerr Street and Speers Road, will bring new life to a regenerating area just north of Oakville's famously walkable and charming core. Architects Graziani + Corazza have designed a modern complex of 21 and 19-storey towers joined by a 5-storey podium, all wrapped in a playful lattice of staggered balconies and railings, all calculated to inject a new urban energy into Kerr Street Village. Let's wander inside.
The scale model of the project features in the middle of the sales pavilion. Above it hangs an art installation by Chicago-based Stacee Kalmanovsky of glass droplets resembling a rain shower which will eventually hang in Rain's lobby.
The second phase, which will be the 19-storey south tower, is currently represented by a white box, while the rest of the complex is detailed.
While the detailed portions of the model show a richly coloured blue glazing, we are told that the actual building will not be this blue: Rain's windows will have a faint blue tint.
Empire Communities is saving two stone-faced historic homes on the site, locally known as the Smith Houses, for the pioneer family who built them amidst an orchard they tended. The homes will be moved to the Kerr Street frontage and restored, while plans for their re-use have yet to be finalized.
Rain's podium varies from 3 to 5 storeys, and features a green roof on the 3-storey sections. A recreation area is featured between the towers above the 5-storey portion.
Entry to the complex's residential lobby will be on the east side, while retail outlets feature at the corner of Kerr Street and Speers Road.
Rain's most prominent feature on the Oakville skyline will be disruptions amidst the otherwise regular balcony placement. The staggered grid of balcony railings will add a visual energy to the complex and surrounding area.
Rain will open to the public later this year: register online to secure your place. You will find the registration link, along with many more views of Rain, at the dataBase link below. Visit it to see a full set of renderings for the complex.
| Related Companies: | Graziani + Corazza Architects, Patton Design Studio |
