GESAMTKUNSTWERK

Westbank has built a practice around long-term commitments to artistry, sustainability and city-building. These commitments underlie an orientation towards projects like Woodwards, Vancouver House, Mirvish Village, Telus Garden and Oakridge – catalysts for larger change that go beyond the borders of the projects themselves. We are here to create. To provoke. To ignite. We are the vehicle for a new movement of cultural expression.

As the practice matures, we have become more ambitious. With every new project reflecting our commitment to the philosophy behind Gesamkunstwerk, or in our recent work the Japanese philosophy behind layering, the net effect is that our work becomes much more complex and far-reaching.

The core of Westbank’s mission is to create a body of work with a high degree of artistry that helps foster more equitable and beautiful cities. Westbank is active across Canada and in the United States, with projects including luxury residential, Five Star hotels, retail, office, rental, district energy systems, affordable housing initiatives and public art. Established in 1992, we are one of North America’s leading developers, with offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Seattle, Shanghai, Beijing, Taiwan, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shenzhen and over 25 billion dollars of projects completed or under development.

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April 30, 2014

Westbank Projects Corp. Announces Platinum Partnership with World Housing CCC

For those who have seen the World Housing scale-model home as part of the Gesamtkunstwerk exhibition, today marks an exciting official announcement: Westbank Projects Corp. President, Ian Gillespie, announced his company’s partnership with World Housing.

This social venture partnership model, means that for every condominium purchased at its newest development, Vancouver House, World Housing is able to build one home for an impoverished family living in a Third World landfill community; 395 homes will be gifted from purchasers of Vancouver House. This is the first Platinum Partnership – a one-for-one commitment – by a developer to World Housing.

“The vision of World Housing and its founders mirrors our own goal of affecting positive change in communities and I believe, will hold meaning for buyers,” said Gillespie. “Westbank has always put strong emphasis on social responsibility. Through this initiative, we hope to set a new norm in residential development and inspire buyers, who will ultimately be the driving force.”

“We are very excited that Westbank would make such a commitment,” said Pete Dupuis, co-founder of World Housing. “Their support will result in more than 2,200 people being able to move from living in the dump to a home with roof over head and a lockable door. The social change created for these families is truly life-changing.”

Vancouver House, an innovative world-class development designed by Copenhagen/NY-based architecture firm, Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), is slated for completion in 2018 with a vision of rejuvenating and creating an entire Vancouver neighbourhood. For each residential unit sold in this development, a home will be build and gifted to a family currently living in a shack in a Cambodian garbage dump community. A typical World Housing home is a 130 square foot, metal insulated structure that rests on elevated supports to protect from the elements. They are equipped with electricity and have a rainwater collection system to provide fresh water.

To learn more about the partnership and about World Housing, visit the exhibition space and connect with us online at www.westbankcorp.com and www.worldhousing.ca!

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