The Merchant Condo

A podium landscape that makes a deeply shaded space feel inviting through bold planting and layered amenities.

City

Langley City

Status

In Construction

Designing for shade and connection

This comprehensive podium design for The Merchant reflects the building’s industrial, modern, and sleek character through bold plant material choices and layered amenity programming. The primary challenge was designing within a confined and deeply shaded podium area that needed to transition gracefully from active common spaces to intimate private patios. A canopy of fruit trees with an understorey of edibles in raised garden beds connects the surface parking lot to the street, creating both visual interest and functional outdoor amenity space for residents.

On the second floor, residents can access a BBQ area, workout space, fire pit gathering area, playground, and a fenced dog run with permeable gravel surfacing. Given the primarily northern exposure, we incorporated light-coloured pavers, mint green and white shade-loving flowering plants, and warm-toned lighting to make the high-shade areas feel inviting and intentional. Clean rectilinear forms divide the podium, differentiating the uses and facilitating smooth transitions from private outdoor patios to shared amenity areas. Our architecture team designed the 6-storey, 136-unit condominium building featuring clean contemporary forms, walk-out units, a central courtyard, varied massing, and recessed balconies. Together, this project demonstrates how integrated design services create cohesive developments that elevate both building character and outdoor livability.