Upon entering Brunswick Bend, visitors are presented with a continuous arcing bench which frames the the park in one sweeping gesture. The bench splits to bring visitors through a symbolic gateway on the north end. Meanwhile, the bench turns its face to the bustling life of College Street, acting as an urban amphitheatre. By opening the park to face the street, it becomes a more transparent and safe environment by day and night. Cast in place concrete benches are topped with wood, creating inviting seating while requiring little maintenance and eliminating trash collecting undersides. The benches are strategically punctuated by raised concrete tables into which LED lamps are embedded. These tables discourage sleeping, while providing surfaces for picnics or chess. Brunswick Bend introduces 50% more planting, made up of robust year-round native species, adding texture and colour even in the winter. Through innovative and economical strategies, the Brunswick Bend is transformed into a vibrant urban parkette.
(From competitor's text)
A simple, open, uncluttered design that is well described by its submitters. Underground parking vents are sloped, to render them unsuitable for sleeping on (and blocking with cardboard, newspaper etc. The existing, planted, double bunker wall on KHC property is retained but lowered to bench height. Retailers who are offered space in the west end of KHC (not shown opened for business in this submission) might be attracted to Brunswick Bend Caveats: wood on concrete benches might be susceptible to rotting Misgivings remain re resistance to vandalism of vertical lighting tubes, which are recommended in this and other submissions. Native wild flower plantings proposed may require too much weeding to be practical. Drought resistant perennial grasses might be more suitable
Comments of judge Mitch Kosny (who rates this submission as #2):
For pure simplicity, and also for providing passive, year‐round use of space I thought that THE BRUNSWICK BEND did a good job and for those reasons I ended up ranking this as my SECOND CHOICE.
(From jury comments)
