Aviva Willoughby: Designed with functionality at the forefront

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The vision for designing new developments can spring from myriad sources, such as the practicalities of location, target demographics for price point or scope of the development. For Amar Mundi, CEO and president of Zail Properties, the inspiration for creating a 68-townhome project in the expanding Langley neighbourhood of Latimer was a personal one. The starting point for him and his team — in collaboration with Ciccozzi Architecture, P&G Landscaping, Calvert Design, Momentum marketing and a veteran builder — was to design and build a project where they would want to live, where they could envision seeing their own families grow up.

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That approach for the Aviva Willoughby project began with the intention of evoking a sense of community by grouping the eight distinct buildings of homes — ranging from six to eight units per building — around a communal courtyard. They incorporated different exterior finishes, a variety of window sizes, rooflines and unique features like rooftop decks for visual interest to steer away from the look of a cookie-cutter block of townhomes.

“We spent a lot of time looking at different types of architecture and rather than just doing one type throughout the development,” Mundi says. “We decided to provide some esthetic appeal and differentiate ourselves … So that’s why we introduced the rooftops [decking] to give it that different look and feel.”

Inside the homes, which range from two bedrooms with den to four bedrooms, the primary driver of the floor plans was optimum functionality, which was melded with an upscale esthetic.

“In terms of the units themselves, we spent a lot of time thinking about functionality, of how families would actually use them,” Mundi explains.

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The imagining of how living space would be used extended to exterior spaces, which is why, Mundi says, every home has a generous outdoor area to foster a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor living.

Inside the homes, the kitchen design combines functionality with elevated details like open shelving, apron sinks, vertically stacked tile backsplashes and pendant lighting over the islands. The dining area can include an upgrade of a built-in storage and bar unit that can serve as a buffet. It features open-shelf wine storage and an integrated beverage fridge tucked in below. Gas fireplaces ramp up the cosiness factor and provide a stylish focal point in the living rooms.

“It’s really functionality,” Mundi notes. “You’ve got the D plan [the three-bedroom unit with tandem parking] with the skinny island in the middle. We’ve elongated that island … so people can have a seating area at one end of the island —[to] maximize your seating and functionality if you’re entertaining. What if you wanted to have buffets or small plates? You could easily have Christmas dinner there. Those details are different.”

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That eye to optimal functionality extends to the bathrooms where the sink vanities have drawers with u-shape cut-outs to increase storage, without which storage is limited and awkward due to the position of the plumbing. Showers boast frameless glass to give the rooms an airy and spacious feel.

The interior finishes reflect a departure from the industry standard light and dark colour palettes. Mundi’s team chose to combine a mix of wood finishes and painted kitchen cabinetry to bring a sense of lightness to the living areas and boost the spacious feel of the open-concept floor plan.

“The palette is kind of modern,” Mundi observes. “Back in the day, it was either a light or dark colour scheme. What we’ve found is that preferences have changed and evolved, and people like a mix.”

Mundi says the whole design concept aims to offer an upscale living experience in the township of Langley.

“We didn’t cut any corners,” he says. “We went above and beyond on every single thing that we do.”

Aviva Willoughby

Project Address: 20164 81A Ave., Langley

Project Scope: A collection of 68, two to four-bedroom townhomes, which range from 1,310 to 1,993 square feet, in the centre of Langley’s bustling Latimer neighbourhood.

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Developers: Zail Properties

Architects: Ciccozzi Architecture

Prices: Two bedrooms start at $859,900, three bedrooms start at $919,900 and four bedrooms start at $1,174,900.

Sales centre: Unit 61 — 20164 81A Ave., Langley

Sales centre hours: Saturday to Wednesday, noon to 5 p.m.

Sales phone: 604-259-7219

Website: avivaliving.ca

Occupancy date: Some homes will be completed for summer 2024 and the next phase completion will be spring 2025.

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