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230 competitions documented	469 competitions listed
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Competitor

Peters, Cenete, Radford, Gibbs

re:CONNECT : Visualizing the Viaducts / re:CONNECT : Visualiser les viaducs

Presentation Panel

01

Presentation Panel

02

Perspective

view towards the bay

Perspective

view of plazza at BC place

Perspective

west view

Perspective

Georgia st. towards 'science world'

Perspective

west view towards downtown

Perspective

wormhole slide exit

Perspective

picnic area_children's play area

Perspective

Plazza gathering_event area_water features

Perspective

seating picnic area

Perspective

small gathering_seating_wading pool

Plan

masterplan

Plan

water system

Section

longitudinal_AA

Section

longitudinal_BB

GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE COMPETITOR

Team	Paul Peters
	Glenis Canete
	Terrence Radford
	Matt Gibbs
Doc. level	50%

Description

Free Flow Park reimagines the Georgia and Dunsmuir viaducts as a vibrant pedestrian corridor connecting Vancouver's downtown to the Eastside. Staged as a series of unique moments the Park proposes the treatment and use of stormwater as a key design feature in promoting Vancouver's global identity as one of the world's Greenest City. Handled in the manner of a fairy tale the overall narrative is one of wonder and discovery.

“Once upon a time…” a great ruler had a dream of a dragon named free-way that would liberate the people and allow them fast access across its back into his kingdom. However, only the dragon's tail ever touched the ground. The citizens arose in anger and cut off the tail. For years the tail, a skeleton of steel and concrete skin, lay dormant bridging the east and west. Time passed and the fires of industry died leaving the great appendage alone in a baron-disturbed landscape. The kingdom grew under many rulers and one day it was decided the beast's tail must be dealt with. So with much labor and love, the citizen's set about to transform the derelict site into a place of escape. With the wisdom they had discovered over many years the set about to introduce a new nature onto the beast's body. The water they had once wasted was collected and purified so it could be used to wash away the disease and allow life to reclaim this place.

So from the heart of the kingdom the wastewater was collected and transported to lush beds that cleaned it of its impurities. From there it flowed into a fissure at the tail's base and gurgled through reeds and irises flanked by grand paths and edged in dense conifers. It cascaded over a drop at citadel, down the escarpment where it picked up speed and entered into an impressive plaza. The water here formed sleek curves and disappeared into the ground where it waited. In a great burst of excitement the water exploded from the ground and rained down on the crowds of spectators. Then in sheets it gathered itsef back together and flowed on. As the water neared the center of the immense tail it slowed, feeding beds that flourished in bright bands of color and scent. It neared a great hole, which a mighty magician had pierced through the tail. The water could circle it once, tempted by the descent but would continue on its way through the many textured beds that surrounded. At the edge of this urban meadow it crossed a threshold where a tamed beast screamed as it made its regular journey. Then the water seemed to defy gravity as it entered into the leafy canopy of a grove of Ginkgo Biloba. In the dappled light of the trees the water paused and meandered to and fro. It explored the walls that screened the buildings and caressed the soft grassy mounds that poked their heads through the deck. Then abruptly it found itself exposed and hurriedly crossed the street where views of the North and South opened. Finally now tired from its journey the water rested in spongy beds. It worked its way slowly down as the Ginkgo trees fell away to leave traces of the grove where it had been. And as it reached the ground at last it fell silent and was absorbed into a deep sleep, enveloped by the darkness of the rich earth. Water gave life to the people and now it found new life on the dragon's tail. It had once been wasted and dumped into the ocean, but now found new purpose. The pedestrians who once had been blocked by this petrified tail now flocked to its welcomed embrace and lived happily ever after.

(From competitor's text)

Jury Report

List of accessible documents

22 scanned / 16 viewable

Presentation Panel
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IMPORTANT NOTICE : Unless otherwise indicated, photographs of buildings and projects are from professional or institutional archives. All reproduction is prohibited unless authorized by the architects, designers, office managers, consortiums or archives centers concerned. The researchers of the Canada Research Chair in Architecture, Competitions and Mediations of Excellence are not held responsible for any omissions or inaccuracies, but appreciate all comments and pertinent information that will permit necessary modifications during future updates.
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