Inside Look: A Penthouse in One of the Biggest Converted Industrial Lofts in Vancouver

This post is brought to you by TOWER TRIP Magazine.

I’m sipping a latté on a terrace of Homer Street at Small Victory, a nice third wave coffee shop packed with yuppies from the creative side. It’s in Yaletown, a grooving young professionals neighborhood just a couple of blocks from Downtown where startups, advertising agencies, and hip new businesses provide an interesting crowd in their early thirties.

I’m about to meet with Paul Albrighton from Remax Crest Realty, a young real estate broker who specializes in modern architecture lofts in Vancouver. He’s known in the industry for selling residences by local designers and architects such as Arthur Erickson, Lang Wilson Practice (LWPAC), and Alda Pereira. After a warm handshake and a couple of jokes, we’re up on the 6th floor for a showing of one of the finest conversions in the area, a penthouse inside “The McMaster”, a 15-unit 1920 industrial building that’s been completely revamped.

The seller of this marvel was close to the original developer and was able to impose his vision during the conversion. The exposed brick walls and modern fixtures offer a seamless blend of heritage and modernism. It is actually the largest conversion in town right now.

I love the double full height garage-style sliding opening glass doors overlooking the heritage district of Yaletown.

This loft has the power to quickly transform into an airy and breezy open space in a couple of seconds at the simply touch of a button.

“Have you ever seen one of these?” asks Paul as he turns this door around to reveal the second bathroom with a unique pivoting mirror.

The entertainment room is also a must, with its 1000-bottle wine cellar (all stacked up when we visited!).

One thing I noticed about Vancouver dwellers is that most of them really know how to maximise their outdoor space. This apartment is no exception, with 1100 sq/ft of sun drenched space with blooming irrigated garden, spa, kitchen, and fireplace. All surrounded by white and blue glass and steel high rise buildings, typical of the Vancouver’s skyline.

Thanks to Paul Albrighton for the amazing showing and congratulations on the recent sale ($4, 468 000)! You can find more details here.