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askews uptown supermarket, salmon arm, bc
Salmon Arm’s most successful local grocer was looking to expand to a second location up the hill to the east of downtown. During the site planning process, Florian Maurer brought a european sensitivity to walkability, pushing for pedestrian access, a cafe with exterior seating, a generous entry canopy, and a rainwater fountain at the centre of its plaza. Similar to the Maurer House, Florian pushed the building to one side of the site, freeing up space for communal features. The City of Salmon Arm granted a setback variance, allowing ancillary parts of the building to be buried beneath landscaping along the south side of the building.
The curving design uses a repetitive structural module, which optimizes the use of common framing lumber for the construction of stack-plank box panels. Local craftspeople assembled the panels during the winter months in a local warehouse, connecting the community to the construction process and to the life of the building. The sweeping curve focuses the grocery aisles on community space at the front of the store and focuses views through a glazed north facade which looks out across the plaza and over Shuswap Lake. More than a big box, this special grocery store has become a hub of community activity for the region, and has done well for its grocer.
designed by allen + maurer architects ltd
completed in 2013