An inside look at Aryze. A design-driven company on a mission to bring creative infill housing and mixed-use projects to Victoria’s established neighbourhoods and to champion a diverse city.
Aryze has the privilege of working in the noble profession of building homes. At the same time, we advocate for and participate in positive change for all of Victoria, seeking a healthy and diverse local economy for smart growth and sustainable action.
This year we are excited to open the Aryze Home Store at our office in Fairfield which we hope will provide a great experience for our potential homeowners. On offer are homes in three separate infill projects located in Victoria’s most vibrant and walkable neighbourhoods.
ARYZE ANNUAL 2020
FROM THE DESK OF ARYZE
We believe that every neighbourhood should have diverse housing types and tenures for all incomes and demographics.
A densified, compact, walkable lifestyle is critical to solving our climate and housing crisis all while creating more livable and healthier communities.
Building a legacy of superior quality construction and architectural excellence.
Rhodo FEATURED PROJECTS Rotunda Pearl Block
Your Own Front Door to an Amazing Neighbourhood
Ratify Your Interest
New Kid on the Triangle
Fairfield – Gonzales
Oaklands
James Bay
Townhouses
History of the Townhouse
Over time, townhouses have adapted to the social, environmental, and cultural needs of their surrounding contexts. In the medieval era, a townhome was built to provide residents with privacy, community, and garden areas, while fitting on narrow parcels of land and maximizing livable space. In the late 19th century, the Garden City movement used townhomes to create optimal density and connect inhabitants to their surrounding environments by having the home take up less of the lot and allowing more room for outdoor living.
In 2020, the townhouse is a time-tested architectural typology that provides affordable housing, efficient building practices, low maintenance housing, outdoor living spaces, and a close sense of community. When combined with luxurious interior finishes and thoughtful architectural design, the townhouse rivals detached single-family homes.
Frank Townhouses
Aryze Ethos
Aryze is a design-driven development team bringing creative infill housing and mixeduse projects to Victoria’s established neighbourhoods. In recent years, we have seen unprecedented increases in the cost of housing. Different causality theories exist; however, it is well supported that restrictive zoning policies are making it harder for most people to find homes. In Victoria, multi-family housing is essentially banned from 68% of our residential land base, meaning our growing population must be largely housed on the remaining 32% land base.
A recent UN Emissions Gap Report highlights limits to the construction of new multi-family housing due to zoning and land use restrictions in cities across North America as a key impediment to hitting the emissions reduction targets to below the 2°C level. This is critical because the way we build our cities (construction) and the way we move around them (transportation) are
the two largest emitters of harmful emissions globally. Consequently, many scientists and think-tanks are turning their minds to urban densification as a key tool in fighting climate change. According to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), we have 30 years to bring our carbon emissions down to zero to limit global warming to 2°C. This means cutting current emissions by 50% by 2030 while simultaneously doubling our existing building stock over the next 40 years to keep pace with population growth. This is the equivalent to building an entire New York City, every month, for 40 years.
It is for this reason the ship has sailed on the conversation about whether or not we should densify; the conversation for today is how. How do we collectively come together during this climate and housing crisis to make room in our communities for the next iteration of sustainable neighbourhoods?
Rhodo by Aryze
ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE
Townhomes are a more environmentally sustainable form of housing compared to detached single-family homes, yet have many comparable interior features. Because the side-by-side homes share walls, less heat escapes the building envelope, resulting in minimized collective heat loss. Ultimately townhomes help create an urban fabric that’s resilient to the impact of our rapidly changing climate, by creating homes that use less energy in neighbourhoods that provide nearby urban amenities.
MORE AFFORDABLE
Townhouses are more affordable than single-family homes, from both an initial construction standpoint and long-term living expenses. Because townhomes are nestled side-by-side, less building material is required, as one thick wall serves two homes. But not to worry, Aryze uses wall assemblies above the required specifications, so your home will be quiet. The only time you will realize you share a wall is when you run into your neighbour at the community barbecue.
A STRONG SENSE OF COMMUNITY
Speaking of your neighbours, living in a townhome allows for a closely-knit community. A space that previously had a single-family house is now home to multiple families because of the slight increase in density, which means more neighbours and a stronger sense of community. By living in a townhouse, one can have less of an environmental impact, while enjoying a more affordable home in a wellloved neighbourhood with a vibrant community.
LESS MAINTENANCE
For those who lead busy lives, townhome living is especially appealing. Living in a townhome means less homeowner hassle, as exterior maintenance is taken care of. There is no need to cut your grass or take your trash to the curb on pickup day. Instead of doing household maintenance, one can enjoy more time with their family, or pick up a hobby. Townhomes are comparable, if not better, than single-family detached homes.
Pearl Block section drawing
Rhodo
A collection of contemporary townhomes with beautiful greenspace, directly connected with the heart of Victoria.
Your Own Front Door to an Amazing Neighbourhood
Rhodo is a sensitive infill development that follows a model that has been used historically in the great pedestrian cities of the world.
SHAPE ARCHITECTURE
ARCHITECTURE DESIGN
Aryze’s team of designers embarked on a 3-year process to create a project of architecturally contextual homes and landscape that integrates sensitively into the Fairfield community. On vision, connection to the local environment and design ethos as it relates to the project.
BIOPHILIA COLLECTIVE LANDSCAPE DESIGN
The exterior landscaping was designed to respect, enhance, and work symbiotically with the architecture of the buildings. The team accomplished this by creating synergies between the soft plantings and hardscape, ensuring accessibility to people of all abilities to help improve health and well-being.
Fair eld Road
Hollywood Park
Block 2
Block 1
Block 3
Envisioned for Everyone
PROFESSIONAL COUPLES
Rhodo is a collection of contemporary townhomes, with beautiful green space and urban connectivity to the heart of Victoria. Ideal for professional couples who work downtown and don’t want a long commute. Rhodo is at the centre of an established community with big trees and sandy beaches.
FAMILY
Rhodo is walking distance to some of Victoria’s best schools, including Margaret Jenkins, GNS, and Oak Bay High. Perfect for young families who want to live in an established neighbourhood within walking distance to great parks and schools. Rhodo contributes to a resilient neighbourhood vision for Fairfield by attracting a more diverse group of people.
DOWNSIZERS
Diverse forms of housing provide options for grandparents who want to be closer to grandkids and downsizers who want to stay in the community they love. Rhodo represents a myriad of opportunities: bringing housing diversity to Victoria, reinforcing local community values through a well-resolved public realm, and creating beauty through architecture.
Rhodo’s unique layout provides doors to the street and a great contextual relationship
An Urban Oceanfront
Neighbourhood
c.
Build a life in one of Canada’s best oceanfront neighborhoods on the southernmost tip of Vancouver Island. Rhodo is in the heart of the Fairfield Gonzales community; a neighborhood of established homes, schools, parks, cafés, and shopping that has been embraced and cherished by its residents for decades.
Rhodo
Tennis Courts, ennis
Demitasse
a.
b.
c.
a. Pullout Pantry Drawers
b. Integrated Gas Cooktop by Bosch
c. Grohe Fixtures
d. Alternate Kitchen Palette
Warm Contemporary Kitchens with Coastal Tones
Born from our legacy of custom building and fine craftsmanship, Rhodo is a reflection of our desire to build timeless homes, connecting today’s key features with a coastal, warm contemporary finish. Homes at Rhodo feature thoughtful kitchens with premium integrated appliances by Bosch, quartz countertops and sleek flat paneled cabinets. Careful window placement, refined colour scheme and building orientation bathe homes in natural light throughout the day.
FEATURED HOME
Unit D
With access off the courtyard and views towards Hollywood Park, Unit D has it all. Visit the Aryze Home Store to check out a virtual tour of this amazing home.
UNIT D
2 Bedroom + 2.5 Bath + Flex
Interior Area: 1,197–1,203 sqft
Exterior Area: 245-249 sqft
The space in Unit D is efficient and has all the components of a typical singlefamily home.
A Selection of Well-Appointed Homes with Thoughtful, Open-Concept Designs
Designed with indoor/outdoor living in mind, Rhodo has a superior quality interior unmatched in its level of craftsmanship and thoughtfulness.
The modern bathrooms include Grohe fixtures, floating vanities, and custom medicine cabinets that softly illuminate the space with integrated lighting. Unlimited on-demand hot water and integrated NuHeat floors ensure you have warm toes no matter what weather is blowing in off the Pacific Coast.
c.
b.
a. Master Bedroom & Ensuite
b. Open Riser Stairs
c. Terrace
Rhodo
Ratify Your Interest
Rotunda
Good domestic policy: 12 modern and unique homes at the legislative assembly in the heart of walkable James Bay.
Designed to be a Good Neighbor
Rotunda was envisioned by the Aryze team to fulfill the mandate of providing infill homes in some of Victoria’s most sought after communities. Conceived to be both complementary to the existing built fabric but also expressively contemporary, the homes at Rotunda blend historic elements such as brick and steel with modern interiors.
D’ARCY JONES ARCHITECTS
ARCHITECTURAL
DESIGN
D’Arcy Jones Architects (DJA) is a studio practice in Vancouver known for design excellence. Driven to improve the status quo of architecture, DJA is a progressive studio with a focus on architectural excellence. Rotunda is the fourth collaboration between DJA and Aryze.
Artist’s rendering of Rotunda interior courtyard, west elevation
INTERIORS
A Breath of Fresh Air
D’Arcy Jones Architects uses space and functionality to create memorable, inspiring interiors; and Rotunda exemplifies this. Streamlined, minimalist, and highly-functional, the interiors use angled millwork to provide flow and define space. Foundational to the home, the kitchens comprise large quartz countertops and backsplash, integrated wall cabinets, and built-in appliances by Bosch and Blomberg. Oversized windows on both the internal courtyard and exterior balconies create bright, healthy, and vibrant living spaces.
a. Kitchen (Unit C1) with integrated Bosch appliances, built-in dishwasher, and double concealed fridges
b. Many of Rotunda’s living areas feature outdoor spaces
c. Master ensuites feature built-in millwork cabinetry, floating vanities, and contemporary fixtures
JAMES BAY & THE LEGISLATURE DISTRICT
A Compact, Walkable Neighborhood
Inner Harbour
Fairmont Empress
Harbour Air Seaplanes
Royal BC Museum
IMAX
Beacon Hill Park
South Park Elementary School
Beacon Hill Children’s Farm
Tennis Courts
Waterpark
Holland Point Park
Holland Point
Shoreline Trail
Dallas Road Waterfront Trail
Ogden Point
The Breakwater
Helijet International
Breakwater Cafe
James Bay
Thrifty Foods
Discovery Coffee
The Bent Mast
Bank of Montreal
James Bay Fish and Chips
James Bay Veterinary
Clinic
The Blue Room Hair Studio
Sushi Matsuri
Red Barn Market
BC Liquor Store
Irving Park
Legislative District
Ferry Terminal
BC Legislative Assembly
BC Legislative Dining Room
Capital Park
Victoria Public Library
Good Earth Coffee
Floyd’s Diner
Il Covo Trattoria
Nourish Kitchen & Cafe
Fisherman’s Wharf Park
Chinatown
The Market Square
Jam Cafe
CANOE Brewpub
Downtown
The Bay Centre
The Atrium
Victoria City Hall
Cook Street Village
Mother Nature’s Market+Deli
Pizzeria Prima Strada
The Hot and Cold Cafe
Big Wheel Burger
Moka House Coffee
Paws on Cook Pet Store
The Village Taverna
Starbucks
Rexall
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c.
b.
d.
a. Holland Point Park
b. Discovery Coffee
c. Red Barn Market
d. Rotunda Context
Pearl Block
Pearl Block is six superior quality 3-bedroom townhomes in the Oaklands neighbourhood of Victoria. These are missing middle townhomes, meaning halfway between a single-family home and an apartment, in a neighbourhood close to downtown.
Pearl Block townhomes come with spacious rooftop decks, quality interior finishes and fixtures, panel ready appliances, and its very own lifetime membership to Modo carshare.
a. A unique architectural statement along Shelbourne Street
b. Open concept living with black contemporary accents throughout
c. Bold and functional kitchen with sleek cabinets and integrated appliances
b.
c.
a. Staircase framing cross section
b. Laminated plywood—an honest and simple material—adds texture and drama to the interiors at Pearl Block
c. Well-placed windows bring in light throughout the day
The Aryze team has been taking snapshots on site, capturing the framing and interior progression of this remarkable project. Pearl Block is 6 family townhomes with generous living space and storage on a previously neglected urban lot. Through creative architecture and robust structural engineering using cantilevered steel as part of the light wood frame structure, Pearl Block is a marvel of design.
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Aryze Presents
Pearl Block: A case s tudy in tr anspar ent homeo wner
Get in touch:
2910 Shelbourne St re et aryze.ca/pearlblock
hello@aryze.c a 250 940 3568
@AryzeDevelopments
Aryze Development and Construction Services
#transparenthomeownnership #opaqu etot ransparen t
Meet Aryze
Aryze’s mission is to gather the best people, use our business to create beautiful, healthy places for our community to call home, and realize projects that shape our city in a positive way.
Aryze is a Victoria-Based Infill Development & Construction Team
A CABIN WITH FOUR DOWNSPOUTS
2020
Designed by D’Arcy Jones Architects, this rugged but finely detailed cabin in a North Pacific rain forest was constructed by Aryze for the Dick family.
DOUBLE HEADER HOUSE: A MODERN, MULTIGENERATIONAL HOME
2019
This 2,438 sqft residential new-build is an attainable architectural home that showcases a creative, intelligent approach to urban infill housing. Opening up equally to the front and back yards and with a regular city lot footprint, this home creatively houses three generations of one family. Double Header House was recently nominated as a finalist for the 2020 Azure Awards.
We Create Spaces That
THE CHORD
A solar powered, green built, contemporary styled building featuring 27 spacious homes with modern décor and thoughtful design features. Designed by Low Hammond Rowe Architects (LHRA), and built by award winning Aryze Developments, The Chord has high-quality interiors, outdoor patios, and durable exposed concrete floors in all homes.
A NEW LANDMARK IN VICTORIA’S ROCKLAND NEIGHBOURHOOD
2019
Designed by D’Ambrosio Architecture + Urbanism (DAU) and built by Aryze, this five-bedroom home consists of three levels centered around a wood clad staircase and boarded concrete fireplace. Contemporary interiors by Bidgood + Co. Shou sugi ban exterior siding, milled locally from western red cedar, is framed with corten steel. The existing vegetation, including expansive laurel hedging and a mature canopy of Gary oak and maple trees, was preserved by landscape architect Biophilia, and set the tone for the lush, modern landscape.
Aryze
Aryze is an infill development and construction company that approaches the built environment as an ongoing search for knowledge. They blend traditional construction practices, intelligent design, and high performance building technologies—always striving to push the future forward.
Aryze likes to think of themselves as entrepreneurs with an underlying goal of building better communities. They would like to shape the city they live in and help Victorians live in their ideal neighbourhood. This has led Aryze to build homes and develop sites that are in line with their creative and social values.
Meet Matty
Our team’s visionary, Matty founded and co-owns Aryze. A true creative, he’s sought to apply his passion for design and form to each project Aryze has delivered over the past 18 years. Today Matty oversees Aryze’s project management and construction teams and is involved intimately in each project the Aryze team delivers.
Paying it Forward
Aryze is a partner of the Canadian charity One Degree Forward; the focus of the charity is to relieve poverty for Cambodian villagers by providing basic necessities including clean water and sanitation facilities, and advance education by building schools, funding basic teaching programs, and providing books and equipment for Cambodian schools.
In 2019, Aryze funded and coordinated a new school in the village of Samrong; the project completed in April 2020.
