Open-air sky gardens bring 57-story tower to life
By
Bridget BorgobelloSeptember 23, 2026
Open-air sky gardens bring 57-story tower to life
The 57-story Butterfly tower rises above downtown Vancouver, with its curved balconies framing views toward the surrounding mountains and waterfront
Ema Peter
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The 57-story Butterfly tower rises above downtown Vancouver, with its curved balconies framing views toward the surrounding mountains and waterfront
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The Butterfly tower forms the vertical centerpiece of the development, rising directly alongside the restored First Baptist Church
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The Butterfly residential tower rises alongside the restored First Baptist Church
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The Butterfly lobby features a sculptural interior and custom-designed piano
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A glazed passage connects The Butterfly tower with the historic First Baptist Church complex
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Viewed from a nearby urban plaza, the 556-ft (169-m) tower rises above the surrounding streetscape
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Open-air breezeways replace conventional enclosed corridors on the tower's residential floors, introducing daylight, fresh air and greenery
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The restored First Baptist Church sanctuary retains its historic architectural detailing and timber interior
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Pinder Hall has been returned to its original double-height volume, revealing its historic timber columns, beams and roof trusses
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The 164-ft residential lap pool is framed by custom-designed prefabricated GFRC structural ribs
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The glazed passage between the tower and church brings natural light into the shared circulation space
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The tower's sculptural base meets the century-old Gothic Revival church at street level
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The restored First Baptist Church retains its historic stone facade beneath the new residential tower
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Continuous curved balconies wrap around The Butterfly's glazed facade, creating its distinctive undulating profile
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Floor-to-ceiling glazing and curved partitions help carry natural light and views through the residential interior
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The rental housing building overlooks the public courtyard and entrance to The Butterfly lobby
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The development combines rental housing, landscaped public space and the entrance to The Butterfly on a shared site
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A previously inaccessible church courtyard has been transformed into a landscaped public space with a new public entrance
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Ema Peter
View gallery - 24 imagesVancouver-based firm Revery Architecture, has completed a 57 story residential tower alongside the restoration and expansion of a century-old Gothic Revival church. The development combines The Butterfly residential tower with the adjoining First Baptist Church complex. Located in downtown Vancouver, the 605,000-sq-ft (56,200-sq-m) development also includes a seven-story affordable rental building and a range of community facilities.
Standing 556 ft (169 m) tall, the tower takes an unusual approach to high-rise circulation by replacing traditional enclosed corridors with open-air sky gardens. Residents step from the elevators directly into naturally ventilated communal spaces planted with deciduous trees, bringing greenery, daylight and fresh air into each residential level.
The tower features a curved, sculptural form with floor-to-ceiling glazing and wide balconies, offering panoramic views across Vancouver and its surroundings. At its base, large chamfered openings break up the building’s mass and create a visual link with the neighboring First Baptist Church.
The residential interiors continue the focus on openness and natural light. Glazed internal partitions separate rooms while allowing daylight and views to travel deeper into the apartments, with curtains offering privacy when needed. The flexible rooms can be configured as bedrooms or studies depending on the needs of residents.
A major amenity of the complex is its two-lane, 164-ft (50-m) lap pool positioned within a glazed enclosure above the podium. The arched ceiling is formed from modular precast concrete ribs, while extensive glazing brings natural light into the swimming space and offers views across the city.
Alongside the market-rate tower, the development includes a seven-story affordable rental building. Over a quarter of its apartments have two or more bedrooms, while shared rooftop areas include vegetable gardens, an outdoor kitchen and landscaped play areas.
At ground level, the new complex has been built around the existing First Baptist Church, which was constructed in 1911. The heritage building received extensive structural and seismic upgrades, as well as restoration of its masonry, windows, timber structure and major interior spaces.
One of the most significant changes was the restoration of Pinder Hall. A double-height room that had been split into two floors, it has now been reopened to reveal its historic timber columns, beams and trusses. The renovated hall can host performances, weddings and community events.
A glazed passage connects the church with the new tower and provides access to additional facilities including childcare, counseling, recreation spaces and community programs. Outside, landscaped courtyards and public seating open previously inaccessible areas of the church site to the surrounding neighborhood.
The development also includes 465 bicycle parking spaces, car-share vehicles and landscaped public areas at street level.
The complex is targeting LEED Gold certification and includes numerous measures to reduce energy and water use. According to the architects, natural ventilation, cooling and daylight from the tower's open-air corridors are expected to save around 400,000 kWh of energy annually and reduce overall tower energy use by more than 10%.
Other measures include a high-performance insulated precast envelope, natural shading, green roofs and an on-site district energy system. Revery Architecture estimates that the development will cut operational carbon emissions by 68%, or up to 85% when renewable energy from the district plant is included. Potable water use is expected to decrease by 50%.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the project is how two very different forms of Vancouver architecture have been combined on the same site. Instead of separating the historic church from the new development, the restored 1911 landmark is part of a larger complex that integrates housing, public spaces and community services beneath one of the city's newest high-rise towers.
Source:Revery ArchitectureviaV2com
