Apartments are grouped in four house-like forms, each of which enjoys shared indoor and outdoor living rooms. Photo by Ed White.
LOCATION Vancouver, British Columbia
ARCHITECT MGA?Michael Green Architecture (project commenced

by mcfarlane | green | biggar architecture + design)
Ronald McDonald House BC (RMHBC) provides a home for families whose children are receiving treatment at BC Children?s Hospital. From the outset, the design team sought to create a solution that would feel like a home and not a hotel. The architect?s ambition was to preserve the nurturing, closely bonded social connections found in the former RMHBC 12-family house with the design of this new 73-family facility. The design focused on inclusiveness and community-oriented spatial strategies. The site, located on the edge of the hospital?s grounds, borders a suburban-scale neighbourhood. The architecture bridges between the quiet residential fabric and the institutional architecture of the hospital. The building forms are accessible and driven by modesty, endurance and a warm aesthetic. Iron-spot brick is used to durably protect a highly innovative structure of mass timber walls and light wood floor construction. A carbon-neutral embodied footprint enhances the performance of the building, which exceeds LEED Gold standards.
Natural materials and soft colours contribute to a soothing environment in the dining rooms. Photo by Ema Peter Photography.
The design layers various spaces to help families find so...