This is truly a wild card submission. It does not contain specific graphics. By contrast it
presents concepts and ideas which, I hope, will stimulate innovative images of a possible reality.
Vancouver's architectural quality will depend as much on the aesthetics of public space as
on the buildings which relate to it. The design and use of public space has fundamental influences on
the vibrancy and quality of living in the city. And that quality of living is an integral past of the
aesthetics of the city.
From this perspective downtown Vancouver has some unique qualities. Because it is a
peninsula it is like a self-contained island. There is broad access from the east. From other directions
access is entirely by means of bridges. Many of the surrounding suburbs and municipalities
communicate with one another through the downtown core. This places a strain on the available
open spaces which are heavily devoted to roads and hence to traffic, at the expense of human
interaction. This issue has dominated the architecture of public space.
Paradoxically the very geography which creates this situation provides a major opportunity
for radical rethinking and redesign in which the objective will be to remove the blight of traffic,
opening up new uses for the public space, uses which will enhance the city's quality of life and
transform it to become an even more enviable city model. To explain this we must begin with
fundamentals.
It is conceptually and practically straightforward to remove surface traffic from the city.
Before we celebrate this possibility to redesign urban space we must show how this can be achieved.
The geography makes it possible to block off the entry of surface traffic entirely. Clearly to
the extent that this is done the present physical entry of traffic including through traffic must be
replaced. Part of the answer has been suggested on various occasions. It consists of building a tunnel
from the North Shore into the city, providing access for rapid transit as well as traffic.
(From competitor's text)
5 scanned / 3 viewable
- Presentation Panel
- Presentation Panel
- Presentation Panel
