CREDIT: Jon Murray, The Province Smart undermount sinks in the bathrooms (left) and the stylish, spacious bedroom.

CREDIT: Jon Murray, The Province Smart undermount sinks in the bathrooms (left) and the stylish, spacious bedroom.

CREDIT: Jon Murray, The Province This nice flex room has been outfitted as a study but could just as easily be used for storage.

CREDIT: Jon Murray, The Province The European-style elegance of the dining area could also house more traditional decor tastes.

Coal Harbour is arguably the most upscale, definitely the most up-market area of the Vancouver core, which is going some.

Yowch! This place is hot. Where Yaletown and the West End, of course, have their champions — and many might prefer the slightly more laid-back ambience there — it’s hard to contest the advantages of a spot so urban and yet so close to park and harbour as well as shopping and business. The Melville, which will be the tallest residential tower in Vancouver, has been selling briskly for more than two months. It’s at Melville and Bute, the edge of Coal Harbour and the heart of the city: as they say, downtown!

Here, you’ll be steps (and a high-speed elevator ride) from the new Urban Fare or Robson Public Market, close to theatres and concert halls and tons of restaurants and cafes, and be able to cruise out to all our harbourfronts and seawall spots as well. For an extra, super-luxury touch, take advantage of hotel-style living, with room service and maid service available through the adjoining boutique hotel. Meantime, the rooftop is planned to be a gorgeous amenities area that includes outdoor pool and hot tub, fitness centre and attractive gardens.

The condominiums are conceived so that the higher you go, the “haute-r” your world. It begins with the Copper series levels to the 18th floor, moves up to the Signature series from the 19th to the 33rd floor (at this point the eight-foot ceilings become nine-foot) and then the Elite series from the 34th to 40th floors, where the homes are larger (four per floor), air-conditioned and all have been upgraded with complementary hardwood flooring.

There are three different takes on the interior finishes and colour schemes, a “west-coast modern” mix of warm sophistication, a lighter, paler minimalist palette and one that has a rich, European-style elegance that could easily house more traditional decor tastes — the three display suites give a good idea of the variety on hand. Granite counters and either stainless or black KitchenAid appliances are standard, as are full-height cabinets, smart undermount sinks in the bathrooms, big soaker tubs and glassed-in shower stalls. Trendy electric fireplaces are standard, and all homes have open-air balconies, while many plans include a “den” that is actually a glassed-in solarium-style deck, usable as an eating nook or comfortable view perch instead.

The floor plans are unique and imaginative — our favourite was the smaller two-bedroom which has lots of contemporary lifestyle potential. It has an open-plan kitchen and entertaining area, nice flex room that can be storage or study, privately sequestered master bedroom with big walk-through closet and ensuite, nice design details such as wall cut-outs between kitchen and hall to the second bedroom.

Storage locker, bicycle storage and one parking stall per unit is included. Occupancy is slated for year-end 2006.

WHAT: The Melville is 232 condominiums in a 42-storey tower

WHERE: 1167 Melville, Vancouver

DEVELOPED BY: Amacon

SIZES: Two-bedroom plus den to three-bedroom,

1,057 sq.ft. – 1,690 sq.ft.

PRICES: $434,900 – $905,900 ($5.4 million/5,800 sq.ft. penthouse)

OPEN: Daily noon to 6 p.m. except Fridays, 1139 Melville, 604-685-0838

© The Vancouver Province 2004