Copperfield, a new community in southeast Calgary, is designed to provide inner city diversity and style in a suburban setting.  It’s another project of Hopewell Residential Communities, a five-time winner of the Developer of the Year award, whose earlier work includes the distinguished communities of Elbow Valley, Hanson Ranch and Martha’s Haven. Additional current projects include Creekside and Sagewood in Airdrie. 

“Copperfield a big project for us,” says Marion Murray of Hopewell. “We launched in May of 2002, but Copperfield will probably still be building ten years from now.” Copperfield will eventually have about 4,000 homes, with 600 already sold and 300 occupied. “We’re just getting started, but it’s already growing very fast,” Murray says. “It’s always amazing to see how much has happened since my last visit.”  

Making such a large community feel like home requires a balance of unity and variety in architectural styles. Hopewell’s Architectural Coordinates Design System pulls together three major architectural themes that pay tribute to some of Calgary’s fine old neighborhoods.   

Copperfield is a community for first-time and move-up home owners who want safe, private streets and pedestrian-friendly access to local retail centres and a multitude of local parks. 

Home buyers can choose from three different architectural styles that complement one another on the streetscapes but also express the buyer’s individual taste. The first is heritage style: “It’s reminiscent of Elbow Park with front porches, natural materials, and gable detailing,” Murray says. Classical style presents a more formal, simple front to the street, with columns, a less prominent front porch, shutters and so on.  The urban style is “reminiscent of some of the more contemporary stylings of Hillhurst infills,” Murray says. Together, the styles “make for a diverse and interesting streetscape.” 

Homes are available in Copperfield at several price points. Townhomes by Trico start in the 150s. Excel Homes and Innovations by Jayman are building starter homes from the 160s. Move-up homes by Broadview Homes, Homes By Avi, Sabal Crafted Homes and Stepper Custom Homes are priced from the 200s. 

“Because Copperfield is so large, community planning was at the core of our thinking for the project,” Murray says.  “The design principles we chose included many cul de sacs, which have the perceived value of being safer for children and a little bit more private,” Murray says.  Major streets are laid out in gentle curves with medians to calm traffic and provide more green space. Hopewell sprinkled parks and tot lots throughout the community, rather than concentrating green space in one central focal point. Within the larger community, “There will be little pockets of neighbourhoods that gravitate toward one specific park that is closer to home,” Murray says. 

Hopewell also wants Copperfield to be pedestrian-friendly. Wherever possible, the parks are linked by pedestrian routes, either sidewalks or greenbelt pathways.  Even neighbourhood shopping plazas will be designed for easy access on foot. A pathway from the community will link to the first shopping area, Copperfield Corner. “It will be a low-profile commercial site that embraces the community’s architectural style,” Murray says.  

To create more diversity in Copperfield’s streetscape, multi-family and first-time housing will be interspersed throughout the community.  Even practical engineering features like storm ponds will be amenities in Copperfield. The ponds will be off-limits to keep children safe, but residents can enjoy the views and the wildlife that’s attracted to the water.  “The natural grasses grow tall, and it looks very much like a natural body of water that you might see on Alberta prairies,” Murray says. “And pathways will run around the ponds. It’s a nice aesthetic feature.” 

Copperfield is at the corner of Marquis of Lorne Trail and 52nd Street S.E. For more details, see http://www.copperfield.ca