Liquor stores are ubiquitous in their urban presence, often muted in their expression, and relentlessly generic in their architectural design. Function dictates form, resulting in characterless boxes that contribute little to the eclectic vitality of high street commercial frontages. Our client encouraged us to challenge the pre-conceived ideas of this retail design typology, to develop a unique building form that would function independently as a successful retail space in a neighbourhood that has been devoid of significant commercial growth in recent years.
The concept for the building massing is a simple one; two interlocking volumes each representative of their internal functions - an elongated glass box for the main retail space, and a faceted opaque block that houses the storage area and service rooms. The orientation of each component is in careful consideration to the immediate context - the glazed frontages facing the two adjacent street edges to maximise retail exposure, and the concrete massing abutting the rear parking and loading areas. The ground level open plan allows for approximately 4,500sf of retail space, complemented by a smaller mezzanine area for the purpose of private tasting events, industry workshops, and neighbourhood cultural gatherings.
The building sits at one of Esquimalt’s busiest intersections and the vibrancy and dynamism of this context ripples through the fine grain of each building component. The angular shards of structural glazing help animate the predominant building faces, playfully engaging with the passers-by. This delicate transparency is sharply contrasted by transitioning planes of concrete that are individually striated by board-forms – a direct inversion of the modulated cedar soffit above. Linear runs of glulam beams tie the exterior into the interior and support a planar standing seam metal roof. The geometry and pattering of this natural palette was carried through into the honest arrangement of these materials. The structural composition is befitting of its natural surroundings, located only a few hundred metres from the ocean’s edge – a raw angular coastline characterized by rocky outcrops, crystal clear saltwater, and clusters of coniferous trees.
Given the sensitivity of the product on display, regulating the internal temperature and air quality of the retail space was critical. A number of passive design initiatives were utilised that became integral to the building form to prevent the building from overheating. The building is protected from excessive solar gain by wrapping the roof over and down the south façade to create a giant angled sunshade that only permits clear visual connection at ground level. Inside, a large green wall covers the entirety of this louvered element, further reducing the transfer of heat through the wall and regulating the air quality of the interior space. Large overhangs and proximity to neighbouring buildings ensure that the west face of the building is relatively unaffected by late afternoon sun. During the cooler months the space heating is provided through heat recovery from the refrigeration units that circulate the eastern perimeter of the building.
The resultant building is much more than a liquor store. It readdresses a prescriptive design typology while signifying a potential catalytic shift in the regeneration of Esquimalt’s commercial core.
