Presales on the project began late last year, and Rafael says that process has also been progressing smoothly. He says that buyers have been responding to the concept they are presenting, even though it’s not something they have necessarily seen before. “This is a bit of a prototype of a community, but I think it’s a game-changer,” he says. “This is the future for the people who understand the climate crisis we’re facing. This is a product that’s going to make a difference.” “It’s almost like an electric car,” he adds. “Even though now we see Teslas everywhere, back in the day they needed people to believe in them and commit to them.” Moving forward, Rafael’s goal is to fully deliver Driftwood Gibsonsandprove tothemarket the viability of the concept. That’s currently his main focus, but when the project gets further down the line, he does see himself looking at other development opportunities. The idea, he says, would be to focus their efforts on similar envelope-pushing and futurefacing projects. “Any project we develop will be driven by sustainability, will be grounded in the urban context, and will be pushing the boundaries of design,” Rafael concludes. “Most likely, we’ll be working in communities like Gibsons, where authorities are very ready to embrace a more progressive agenda.” FEBRUARY 2022
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