The Viaducts, in some sense, represent a mistake made by the city that is also part of Vancouver's heritage, a collective memory that ought to be retained, and reinforced by a new and positive character.
The site has huge potential of becoming a vibrant community due to its proximity to a diverse combination of neighborhoods. Various transportation systems intersecting at the site also help people congregate and animate the space.
Phase 1— Redefining the Viaducts
This phase offers a quick and dirty' fix to the existing condition that involves the following:
1. Heritage
Strategically demolishing parts of the viaducts opens up the space underneath to solar access, eliminating the existing gloomy atmosphere, and offering opportunities for developments in later phases.
Vehicular traffic is no longer possible and hence, redirected. The character of the viaducts instantly changes from that of an infrastructure, to something resembling a scar. The broken edges become a monumental element that reminds Vancouverites of their heritage.
2. Circulation Link
Bridging the two viaducts is a platform addition, which also functions as a recreational venue, and viewing deck.
Two pedestrian bridges extending from the platform provide a North-south circulation between Andy Livingstone Park and False Creek seawall.
3. Scenic Bike Route
Rather than' the typical single-lane bikeways, the viaducts offer an entirely different biking experience: a fourteen-meter wide expressway for cyclists carefree of danger caused by vehicular traffic; and a scenic route that offers panoramic view of False Creek to the South and that of the Downtown Eastside to the North.
A more prominent bikeway, as opposed to a mere designation of bike lanes on the road, stresses the importance and possibility of cycling as the main transportation means that replaces the current motorist model.
4. Green Viaduct
The Viaducts also takes precedent of the High Line project in New York City and implements landscaping to provide gathering pockets for cyclists and pedestrians.
Phase 2 —Occupying the Viaducts
This phase furthers the viaduct redevelopment to the ground level underneath, which involves the following:
5. Vertical Connection
A main facility for vertical circulation and a ramp physically connect the upper level on the viaducts to the ground. Amenities such as benches, ledges for informal seating, and plinths for art displays are formally incorporated into the ramp to create a landscape in the plaza that mimics a city skyline when viewed in elevation.
6. Pavillons
Pavilions erected in the plaza can be utilized for commercial activities such as coffee shops or restaurants. Which help to further animate the Viaducts project by creating a stronger sense of community. They can also be converted into sheltered exhibition spaces for traveling artworks.
The pavilions also contribute in the overall plaza landscape of the scaled 'city skyline'.
7. Gallery
A gallery wing occupies the space immediately below the original Dunsmuir viaduct, to house both permanent and traveling exhibitions.
8. Lighting Installation
Light tubes of various diameters and lengths are suspended from cables woven on to columns extended from the gallery's structure and existing viaduct columns. Together with the landscape plaza at ground level, they turn into a large-scale public art that represents Vancouver- the Rain City.
The installation also illuminates the plaza at night.
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