# A circular spaceship in Winnipeg

By [Brandon Donnelly](https://brandondonnelly.com) · 2021-04-16

5468796, airbnb, architecture, canadian-architecture, circular-building, penthouse, spaceship, winnipeg

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![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/51dbfbd697b167e8255da1faa2c03571.jpg)

Winnipeg has a building along its waterfront that, I am told, is affectionately referred to as the "spaceship." Designed by the award-winning architecture practice, [5468796](http://www.5468796.ca/#62m), the spaceship is a 41-unit circular condominium building that is raised up on 35 foot stilts in order to fabricate views outward from the site. Sans stilts, the site wouldn't have really had any.

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/726b982635e9807782da6162ceb0c9c8.jpg)

The raised up portion is made up of two circular floors, each with 20 identical units (so 40 in total). The 610 square foot units are all pie-shaped studios that splay outward to a 22 foot wide living room/bedroom. Supposedly, a circle creates [30% more perimeter glass](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/real-estate/article-winnipeg-condo-on-a-very-challenging-site-an-exercise-in-designing/) than if the building were orthogonal. So good for views. I should know this.

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/8fdce2faaee54962ba9376dbcf9b0e24.jpg)

The building is organized around a central core and circulation system. The building's common area corridors are also open and exposed to the elements. A fascinating design decision given the climate in Winnipeg, and most of Canada. But this would be good for build costs, good for the building's overall efficiency/loss factor, and probably pretty good if you're worried about things like airborne viruses.

Completed in 2017, the hard cost budget for the project [was supposedly $4.75 million](http://www.5468796.ca/#62m). The developer in me is wondering how the hell they built 28,000 square feet for $170 per square foot. And the Torontonian in me is aghast at studios as large as 610 square feet. These would be generally sized 3 bedroom suites here in Toronto (I kid).

On top of the building's two floors is also a pretty unique penthouse suite that can be [rented on Airbnb](https://www.airbnb.ca/rooms/20573647?location=winnipeg&source_impression_id=p3_1583249432_hd5w5emKeZoGtIYj) for what looks to be a reasonable price. The main living space is essentially a glass box with 360 degree views of the city. I am ashamed to say that I have never been to Winnipeg. But as soon travel resumes and [these provincial boundary checkpoints dissolve](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-ontario-modelling-warns-of-more-than-15000-daily-cases-overwhelmed/), I think it might be time for a trip to the spaceship.

_All photography by_ [_James Brittain Photography_](http://www.jamesbrittain.co.uk/)

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*Originally published on [Brandon Donnelly](https://brandondonnelly.com/a-circular-spaceship-in-winnipeg)*