Alberta is a land of contrast, but like the yin yang symbol, inherent in the contrast is a sense of balance.
Think of the iconic image of the prairies with an expansive wheat field, a horizon fine and the big blue sky. The contrast between land and sky is clear but a sense of balance is the overriding feeling of the scene. We sought inspiration for our design in images like this.
First we looked into the traditional ways of place-making on the Alberta landscape and chose to focus on a few key elements; berming, boardwalks, wind rows- and water retention ponds, while referencing the ingenuity of rural farmers in wooden lattice work.
Secondly, we looked at the sites themselves, specifically focusing in on the Victoria and Castle Downs parks. Within these sites, we first looked at the existing paths through winter and summer; then the road systems within the park and the surrounding neighbourhoods; and lastly, sun angles, wind direction and use. The results of these studies inevitably informed the orientation and location of the pavilions.
Use of park facilities also became very informative for our designs. The parks were very formally organized, revolving around very structured play areas including baseball fields, soccer fields and hockey rinks. There was no real place for informal gathering. This created an opportunity to develop a place for informal gathering within a formal park setting.
(From competitor's text)
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