A well-designed masterplan is not only a vision of the future, but it is a framework that allows a place or organization to evolve and grow over time. A good masterplan must present a strong idea of the future, while being flexible to accommodate an array of future possibilities. VWA's masterplans build a framework that incorporate architecture, the environment, organizational strategy and human experience into a strong and adaptive plan for the future of your organization.
Kanata North
Beaverton, ON
Markdale, ON
Nestled in Kanata North, the Marshes Village is a serene community where nature and design exist in perfect harmony.
Designed for an adult lifestyle, this tranquil retreat sits beside the Marshes Golf Club, offering a seamless blend of comfort and natural beauty. Built in 2006 by the Kanata Research Park Corporation, the two-phase development consists of 104 townhomes. Winding streets preserve the beauty of the surroundings, including existing trees, rock outcroppings, and tranquil marshes. Each home is thoughtfully crafted with natural materials, with unique floor plans that reflect a connection to the environment.
Fair Havens Bible Camp has been a beloved retreat for campers of all ages for over 80 years. The masterplan, completed in 2022, takes a holistic approach to revitalizing the camp's buildings and ecology while restoring its connection to the Trent Severn Waterway. The plan aims to modernize amenities, streamline site traffic, and unify the architectural language, all while preserving the camp's relationship with nature.
The site is divided into seven zones, each reflecting the programmatic and ecological diversity of the camp. These zones are designed to nurture natural features, enhancing the camper experience through intimate family camping in the woods, open grassy fields for group activities, and a riverside route that links all areas together, offering spaces for communal gatherings and reflection.
A key goal of the masterplan is to reconnect the camp to its natural environment by addressing ecological issues. Mapping the site’s hydrology revealed drainage bottlenecks causing seasonal flooding. Removing these barriers and rewilding natural drainage channels will not only improve the camp’s serviceability but also enhance the local ecology and water quality of the Talbot River.
Campfire! is a Summer Youth Camp with year-round facilities. The camp is located on sprawling a 100 acres of forests, rivers, ponds, and grassy open fields, north of Markdale, Ontario. VWA were engaged to plan and design the camp from the ground up, locating the camp buildings and amenities, plan for new road, power and water infrastructure, and create a place for children to camp, play and learn in nature. The design of the camp strikes a balance of providing an authentic wilderness experience, while providing full amenities and being fully accessible.
The heart of the summer camp is the Main Lodge. Campers arriving at Campfire! are greeted by the sweeping lodge veranda. Life at camp revolves around the lodge veranda. It is where campers muster every morning to hear the plans for the day. In their free time, campers and councillors sit on the steps or the many muskoka chairs, and the porch roof is a welcome reprieve for people running from their cabins through the rain to breakfast. The Lodge was built into a hillside affording a practical use of space that is accessible at grade on two levels. The low welcoming verandah on the entry side of the lodge wraps around the building, out over the hillside to become a breezy deck overlooking the sports field. Inside, the lodge houses the great hall for dining and gathering, a fireside room, a fully equipped commercial kitchen, games room, accessible washrooms with showers, Camp nurse office, and staff offices and staff sleeping accommodation.
Additional amenities include an outdoor pavilion, amphitheater, sports fields, a wheel-chair accessible comfort station, and a beach-entry swimming pool. Sleeping accommodations support over 100 guests weekly, serving youth, families, and community groups year-round, including a Forest School and the Anchor Association, which rents the camp each summer for adults with developmental disabilities.
Development of the camp included building an outdoor chapel, a firepit amphitheater, sports fields, accessible comfort station and a large, accessible beach-entry swimming pool. We designed sleeping cabins for more than 100 campers a week, including youth counselors, staff and families. The facility is used year-round by various groups, including a Forest School during the school year. Families also enjoy retreats at the camp in the fall, winter and spring. Recently, the Anchor Association, an organization that supports adults with special needs, has rented the camp for their community to the camp each summer. The Anchor Association chose Campfire for its well-considered accessible design in an authentic wilderness setting.
The main lodge was built using insulated concrete forms, long span, concrete core slab floors, and light wood framing with exposed wood trusses in the great hall.
Our team is committed to crafting innovative and functional designs that enhance your living, working, or community spaces. We understand that every project is unique, and we pledge to bring creativity, attention to detail, and a keen understanding of your needs to every aspect of our work.
