Rossdale Coffee
Edmonton’s 100 Street in Rossdale used to be a bustling commercial street complete with grain elevators, an ice plant, street cars and a brewery. After the flood of 1915 the area has been in decay. Today, only the brewery remains and Rossdale Coffee will be a catalyst for new life and activity in this underserved river valley neighbourhood.
Due to the historic nature of the site the Rossdale Area Redevelopment Plan specifically requested that the architectural form of any new buildings speak to the past industrial nature of the site. Not wanting to duplicate the form of the brewery but engage with the past, inspiration came from the lines of the grain elevators that once encompassed the landscape. The scale of the building remains residential, with only 2.5 stories while firmly communicating its commercial nature. A modern material palette was chosen to keep the form distinct from the brewery; instead of mimicking the brick, the white cladding gives a ghostly silhouette of the structures that once stood on this site.
Being one of the only buildings on the street, concerns shifted to security. By lighting up the building, including the cladding and roof, the form became a lantern in the river valley and instantly more secure. The materials were chosen specifically for their durability, the white metal standing seam roof and vertical cladding will have an anti-graffiti coating to ensure they withstand abuse. A selection of exterior walls will be constructed with translucent panels to allow light to penetrate the building during the day and illuminate the building with a soft glow at night.
Conceptually, Rossdale Coffee will be approachable by all four sides as each face of the building interacts with the site in a different way.
- Building activity is able to spill into the public park space on the west, Diamond Baseball Park
- Yard space for outdoor seating, with views to river valley and downtown Edmonton
- Able to utilize 100 street, with a zero lot setback for block parties, food truck events, public engagement
- Proximity to river valley pedestrian paths and funicular, coffee shop creates a destination/amenity for river valley users
The unique location allows for many views of the structure. Being mere steps from the river valley the site is surrounded by a natural landscape, while at the same time firmly planting itself in front of the Edmonton skyline.
The design features a wooden exo-structure that softens the facade for the residential neighbourhood and this structure will be used to denote the exterior patio space which wraps around the entire building. Small heaters + string lights will be hung on the wooden structure to create a warm inviting ambiance year round.
holo-blok Team
