Reflective shingles on the facade of a proposed new residential tower on the West Georgia corridor are intended to make the building as ephemeral as possible, according to the Japanese architect who designed the building. Kengo Kuma designed the 43-storey tower at 1550 Alberni with two deep recesses or scoops that set it apart from the traditional rectangular cuboid form of highrise towers. “We wanted to respect our neighbouring towers by recessing our tower as much as possible,” Kuma said in an email interview. “Not only does this preserve their views, but also creates an urban space, which in turn becomes the main entrance to the tower. The design is therefore based on an urban strategy that aims to improve the city and its relation to nature.” Kuma is one of Japan’s leading architects. His design was recently chosen for Tokyo Stadium for the 2020 Summer Olympics. The tower at Alberni and Cardero will be his first major residential tower in North America. [Via.](http://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/west-end-condo-tower-facade-designed-to-be-ephemeral)