About the building
Pearl Block is an award-winning collection of six high-design townhomes located on a unique triangular infill lot in Victoria's Oaklands neighborhood. Designed by D'Arcy Jones Architects and built by Aryze Developments, the project features a striking staggered, sawtooth exterior clad in textured stucco. Each residence offers three levels of living space plus a private 400-square-foot rooftop patio.
Pearl Block was completed in November 2020 on a triangular lot that had sat vacant for about 65 years, with RJC as structural engineer: the six three-bedroom townhomes step along the site in a sawtooth around a shared forecourt, cantilevered on cambered steel at the second floor, with deeply textured stucco over a dark fibre-cement base, an exposed steel column and plywood stair stringers. In place of backyards each home has a roof deck behind five-foot parapets, reached in one home by a hydraulic glass hatch, and a listing for one unit showed a hot tub up there with mountain views; garages have EV chargers and a Modo car-share vehicle is parked on site.
Sources give sizes between about 1,200 and 1,770 square feet. The project won an Architecture Foundation of BC Award of Excellence in 2021 and was published by Dwell, Dezeen and Canadian Architect, and Aryze noted each home sold for less than the average Oaklands house. Hillside Centre is a ten-minute walk and the Shelbourne buses run to UVic and downtown.
About Oaklands
Oaklands covers about 173 hectares in the northeast corner of Victoria along the Saanich border, between Hillside-Quadra, Fernwood and North Jubilee. The name is for the Garry oaks that still stand in Mount Stephen Park and along the Oaklands Rise walkway, and the area was the Prior family's Hillside Farm in the 1850s before a building boom between 1909 and 1913 set the pattern of modest Edwardian houses. The 2021 census counted about 3,300 households, almost all in detached houses or apartment buildings of fewer than five storeys; there is no high-rise in the neighbourhood.
Hillside Shopping Centre, which opened in 1962 at 1644 Hillside Avenue, is physically in Oaklands and is the retail anchor, with Thrifty Foods, Walmart, Canadian Tire and Marshalls. Haultain Corners at Haultain and Shelbourne is the small village, with Oaklands Elementary, built in 1913 and home to the community association, around the corner. Oaklands Park, Oswald Park and the Cridge Centre's 1893 grounds are the main green spaces. Route 4 along Hillside connects downtown and UVic and Routes 22 and 22A reach Victoria General Hospital. The City's plan calls for a Hillside town centre plan around the mall and more apartments along Hillside Avenue.
About Victoria
Victoria’s Downtown is the vibrant heart of British Columbia’s capital city, blending historic charm with modern urban energy. It is the city’s most rapidly growing neighbourhood, attracting new residents of all ages to its mix of heritage architecture, bustling waterfront, and thriving cultural scene. With scenic harbour views and tree-lined streets, downtown Victoria offers a dynamic urban lifestyle while remaining walkable and accessible.
The area boasts a rich arts, culture, and entertainment district, featuring galleries, theatres, live music venues, and festivals throughout the year. Residents and visitors enjoy an impressive variety of dining, shopping, and service options, all within convenient walking distance. Historic and iconic landmarks, such as the Royal BC Museum, the Fairmont Empress Hotel, the provincial Parliament Buildings, and Canada’s oldest Chinatown, provide both character and a strong sense of place. The Royal and McPherson Theatres further enhance the city’s reputation as a hub for the performing arts.
Downtown Victoria’s waterfront plays a central role in community life, offering promenades, marinas, and public spaces that encourage outdoor recreation and social engagement. The combination of rich history, vibrant culture, and urban amenities makes downtown Victoria a highly desirable neighbourhood for residents who value both convenience and quality of life.
Today, Victoria continues to grow while maintaining its unique blend of heritage, modern development, and coastal beauty, making it a welcoming and dynamic place to live, work, and explore.
