Named after English Romantic-era poet William Wordsworth, the 16-storey tower and 22 cityhomes border Mundell Park in UBC's Wesbrook Village. Designed to tie in with neighbouring buildings, the cityhomes are clad in dark grey brick, while the tower's curved north and south elevations give it a more graceful, slender profile.
A Nuanced Approach to Community Living
Wesbrook Village is no stranger to Polygon. At Wordsworth, the developer's sixth completed residential project in the neighbourhood, Polygon Homes and Francl Architecture are taking a more nuanced approach, one that aims to fold into the area rather than make a splashy condo statement. Completed in January, the 231-home project borders Mundell Park at the University of British Columbia's Point Grey campus.
Available Homes and Amenities
With fewer than 30 homes remaining, buyers can choose from move-in-ready condos, penthouses and cityhomes. Studios to two-bedroom apartments range from 470 to 896 square feet, with penthouses up to 1,144 square feet. Three-storey, three-bedroom cityhomes range from 1,565 to 1,625 square feet with sundecks, green sedum roofs and ground-floor patios, while penthouses include private garages with attached storage rooms. This new collection of concrete homes is designed to appeal to a wide range of residents, from students and faculty to young families and downsizers drawn to an active lifestyle.
Design Philosophy: Fitting In
For principal Walter Francl, that sense of fit begins at street level, where the cityhomes visually break down the scale of the project and help it sit more comfortably along the street. “The townhouses are a welcome rhythm as one walks down the streetscape at a very appropriate scale. They modulate the streetscape as you walk down it,” says Francl.
Interior Finishes and Features
Homes feature engineered wood flooring and heat-pump cooling, while main living areas have ceilings up to nine feet. The Branches and Snow colour schemes offer two soft, neutral looks throughout the suites, with custom natural wood or matte white cabinetry and engineered stone countertops and backsplashes. LED under-cabinet lighting, integrated pulls and soft-close drawers give the kitchen a sleek, practical finish. Bertazzoni appliances include gas cooktops, electric wall ovens, and integrated dishwashers and refrigerators, while select larger homes include additional features such as ice makers and wine fridges.
Exterior and Urban Integration
The cityhome facades feature canopied raised entries, eight-foot doors, charcoal grey brick and medium grey metal finishes. While earlier Polygon projects closer to Pacific Spirit Park drew on a more autumn-inspired palette, Francl says Wordsworth's setting called for something more refined and polished in character: “This is a little bit more removed from Pacific Spirit Park. It's back a block and has a more urbane feeling to it.” The darker brick, he adds, has an almost “metallic, iridescent quality” that plays off natural rock features found in the neighbourhood, while also feeling cohesive with nearby buildings.
Tower Design to Minimize Impact
That focus on community fit also shaped the design of the 16-storey tower, positioned at the north end of the site to minimize shadowing on park space and neighbouring buildings to the south. But with a 10,000-square-foot floorplate, the structure risked feeling broad and bulky. To soften its presence, the Francl team curved the north and south faces to give a more slender appearance, with balconies arranged “in a rhythm” to add further movement to the exterior. “They don't repeat all the way up,” adds Francl. “They have a language that modulates the facade, and the curves add a certain amount of grace to the building itself.”
Primary Suite and Ensuite Details
In the primary bedroom, a walk-in closet with custom shelving, drawers and lighting helps keep wardrobes organized, while large low-E glazed windows frame park, mountain or ocean views. The main ensuite layers natural stone wall tile, large mirrors, floating-style cabinetry, chrome faucets and engineered stone countertops. Showers include a ceiling-mounted rain showerhead and frameless glass enclosure, while cityhomes and penthouses step up the finishes with marble throughout the main ensuite and a tiled shower base.
Shared Spaces and Neighbourhood Amenities
Inside the building, the shared spaces follow a similar approach. Rather than carving out an oversized amenity package, the team focused on a smaller set of practical features, including a fitness studio, concierge, electronic parcel system, dog wash and bike repair area, while also drawing on the broader neighbourhood amenities around Wordsworth. Polygon and Francl point to the project's proximity to playgrounds, restaurants, shops, schools and the nearby Wesbrook Community Centre, which includes wellness programs, fitness facilities and space for meetings and events.
