If living in an Italian village is but a fleeting fantasy, a new Lower Mainland community by Boffo Developments may just bring that dolce vita dream within reach.
The family-run company, whose owners hail from a Northern Italian region close to Bassano del Grappa, has created a local homage to their heritage in this cherished place: a four-tower, master-planned urban village located on the outskirts of Brentwood in North Burnaby. It’s called Bassano, and it’s set to transform the area into an Italian-inspired vision for exceptional livability.
Picture piazzas and communal spaces where friends and neighbours can come together, along with family-friendly homes where old-world design is married with modern sophistication.
“There is a lot of great development happening in the area,” says Karen West, vice president of marketing and sales at Boffo. “Bassano is for people seeking greater quiet amid the hustle and bustle of a city centre. It’s in a private, park-like setting, with close proximity to all the exciting amenities of Brentwood.”
This legacy project for the Boffo family will augment its already impressive catalogue of timeless landmark residences, including The Smithe in Vancouver, as well as Modello and Jewel I & II in Burnaby. The Jewel project was the recipient of numerous awards for best multi-family high-rise.
“Our craftsmanship and attention to detail are second to none,” Karen says. “We build these homes ourselves and take pride in everything we do. Every building is a reflection of who we are.”
Where community comes together
Burnaby became a Canadian home for the Boffo family, and it’s where they originally founded their company in the 1970s.
“This is where they started building houses,” Karen says, “and that sense of home community is now woven into the design of Bassano, which has been in the works for over 20 years.”
Infusing welcoming and soulful communal spaces was important here—much like it is in Europe, where gathering places are common in urban settings.
“We’ve focused on amenity spaces to create an extension of the home,” Karen says.
All four towers will centre around a large outdoor park and garden, designed to include a playground, picnic and seating areas, plus a pathway around the entire community, so residents can walk, and kids can burn off their energy in a safe—and beautiful—outdoor setting. There’s even a purpose-designed dog park.
An intimate village vibe will be a running theme through all the amenity spaces. For example, the lobby lounge is designed to be as much an entranceway as a meeting space, with its cosy fireplace and reception area.
“Residents and visitors will be met upon entry by an elegant statement crystal chandelier,” says Scott Trepp, whose company Trepp Design Inc. created the interior designs for Bassano, its third project with Boffo.
“We intentionally dialed up the size of this fixture and paired it with a backdrop of rich wood panelling for maximum impact. The sparkle of the chandelier contrasts with the woodwork and dramatic marble to set a tone of luxury and comfort.”
Adjacent to the lounge, a flexible co-working space designed for concentration and collaboration offers open work areas as well as private rooms and smaller hideaways—ample space for meetings and quiet phone calls. The ground floor will also host a family lounge, with a series of spaces that can be closed off for multiple groups or opened up for larger gatherings. These include a media room, an elegant dining area with a grand catering kitchen, a games lounge and a children’s play area, all of which open out onto an outdoor garden with exterior kitchen, seating areas and the quintessential Italian bocce ball court.
The second level offers a health club, which includes a fully equipped gym, barre and yoga rooms and infrared sauna, as well as two bookable guest suites that overlook the garden. The rooftop is also designed with community in mind, with large, open lounges, dining area and quiet al fresco patio spaces anchored by stunning, unobstructed views for all to enjoy. Finally, a ground-level market café, adjacent to the lobby, provides a convenient hub to grab a coffee, lunch, and some daily grocery essentials.
An Italian-inspired legacy – inside and out
The beauty of Bassano is that it’s intentionally crafted for owner-residents, which is reflected in its timeless design and superior materials selected for elegance as well as longevity. All homes are available in two Italian-inspired colour schemes: scuro and chiaro, meaning dark and light. Combined, the words form “chiaroscuro,” an emotive Renaissance painting technique to enhance tonal contrast.
Boffo’s signature floor plan at Bassano is a 1,234-square-foot flexible two- or three-bedroom plan with 32 linear feet of window space.
“It feels more like a single-family home,” Karen says, “with a massive living and dining area, and the option to build out a third bedroom. This is the fourth building where we’ve offered this floor plan and we continue to refine it with each project.”
Like any Italian-inspired space, the kitchen is the anchor to the open-living concept, and stuns with Italian porcelain backsplashes that come in a polished black with a warm bronzy vein, or a classic polished white marble with a grey vein.
“While developing the design, we took special care to adopt an Italian sensibility,” Scott says. “We paid particular attention to influences from Northern Italy and how they could inform the design. Naturally, there was no shortage of inspiration—everything from cuisine to fashion and classic cars was considered. In fact, one of the colour palettes was inspired by espresso and amaro, and the other by white porcelain and a classic cacio e pepe.”
All appliances are Italian-made by Bertazzoni, and tapware is Gessi, which Scott says is used more often in private residential luxury offerings.
“The inclusion of Gessi fixtures speaks to the pride and attention to detail that Boffo has brought to Bassano,” he adds.
Other unique design touches include custom-built cabinetry from Italy, including bespoke wardrobes in every home. Several floor plans include kitchen window layouts that are not commonly found in condo living, Karen says.
“Every detail has been meticulously considered to create a unique brand of livability,” she adds. “We are very proud of this Boffo community.”
Phase 1 of Bassano is now in pre-sale. Find out more at boffo.ca/bassano.
This feature appeared in the winter edition of Boulevard Vancouver.
