Artists
Robyn Goh
Camille Gratton
Helveg Lam
Samantha Lu
Chase Matthews
Fiona Nixon
Daniel Russell
Tara Sangra
Joshua Taylor
Ghazal Torkaman
Deqa Youssouf

Lead Artists
Graham Smith, Architect AIBC
Netsanet Tsegaye

Guest Artists
Amy Nugent, Executive Director, Urbanarium
Surabhi Shakkarwar, Urbanarium Studio Artist
Kristen Elkow, Urbanarium Studio Artist
Neda Roohnia, Urbanarium Studio Artist
Stina Hanson, Urban Planner, City of Vancouver
Angela Danyluk, Biologist/Sustainability Specialist, City of Vancouver
Dustin Dilts, Landscape Architect, PFS Studio
Bryan He, Intern Architect AIBC, Human studio

Curators
Roxanne Gagnon, Artistic Director, Art & Design, Arts Umbrella
Jocelyn Sanchez, Coordinator, Art & Design, Arts Umbrella

Once the site plan was developed, each student designed a building in response to the plan and its parameters. Over the course of their design work, students were provided with ongoing advice and technical support by the faculty and guests. The students were encouraged to incorporate various (and redundant) resilient strategies into their designs to ensure that their projects are able function individually, while relating to their immediate and surrounding urban setting.

Throughout the process, students were also asked to examine the integration of resilience into the overall composition, function, and appearance of their designs, keeping architectural design and aesthetic in mind. Compositional elements include form, orientation, colour, and material, all of which were to be used consciously and deliberately. Their learning objective was to see architecture as a functional, three dimensional art form in which all components are examined and used to serve the design intention of any given building. Finally, once their designs were complete, the students reconvened for discussion and critique.

It was originally planned to have a ramp, but to have an accessible grade it would be too long for the property. Sustainability is demonstrated with the floor to ceiling windows that maximize natural light, as well as the rain sourced waterfall on the side of the building. The structure incorporates many wooden elements along with diagonal lines in the slanted wall and butterfly roof.

Green roofs, which can be used for urban agriculture and recreational spaces, as well as solar panels and green walls, were added with the natural environment around in mind, and all contribute to the sustainability of this building. The synthesis between the rigid geometric cubes, the free-flowing nature of the ocean and river, and the organic, natural forms of the plants on the green roofs will make this building stand out from the ones around it, while also fitting in harmoniously with the natural elements around it.

The green roofs of the building are connected to the ground which allows the building to have a natural insulator and gives the people space to hang out. Large windows are placed on the north side of the building to provide the residents with a view of the mountains.

The intentional curvature of the building around the field’s edges also enhances this experience. Overall, the mall consists of 3 floors, roof parking with access to the Cambie bridge, a spacious food court with glass ceilings, a plant-filled atrium that carries throughout the levels, and finally a greenspace on the very top with seating that overlooks the whole park.

An elevation gain is present, with a staircase which leads to a courtyard area. The elevation gain can also act as a buffer to rising sea levels, along with the river-fed lake in the middle of the site. Both the residential and retail buildings have accessible green roofs, as well as some rooftop trees and other vegetation.

I wanted it to be accessible from the road to the waterfront through an open green community space. The community gathering area has a lot of space, greenery and shaded seating. The building itself is a rectangular shape with a contrasting cylindrical side, it is covered in balcony space which wraps around the building, for breathtaking views of the waterfront. The building will have a modern look and will be aesthetically pleasing, I further added support around the building to enhance interest and create visual individuality that separates the different building uses.

I added green roofs to make the buildings look and act more sustainable, as well as a public plaza, community garden, shaded canopy at the top of a building, fields, beaches, benches and seating areas. I added a wheelchair/stroller/bicycle ramp from the bridge to ground level to make the development more accessible. I left the heritage building in its place to preserve it, and the plan is for it to be restored to fit the area and have a good use.

The bubble building also has greenery on the floor of the building to help naturally cool the air. On top of indoor greenery the cylindrical buying includes rooftop gardens where residents of the building have a community garden. The Seawall in the site is raised above so that rising sea levels won’t affect the path, and it is also clear so that people can observe marine life.

On each of the taller towers there is a giant glass recreational room for all the residents that overlooks the water, and seaside path with industrial styled benches. There was originally a creek that travelled alongside the left of the property so I decided to let that peek out from in between the towers for entertainment as fish may swim through these waterways. Lastly the shortest buildings are entrances to an underground water-propelled subway that connects to the Canada line and doubles as a tourist attraction.

Inspired by the Micheal Lee Chin Crystal, the shape of the building displays different geometric shapes with white panels, glass, and solar panels as well as a geometric landscape design. The building neighbours a pond with a lot of seating areas allowing for circulation within the site.