Architecture and engineering team publishes new proposal for Vancouver Central Waterfront

Farrells in collaboration with Arup put forward a vision for the Vancouver Central Waterfront.

The proposal focuses on the waterfront lands around the CP rail yard that separates downtown Vancouver and Gastown from the Burrard Inlet.

For the project, the Farrells-Arup team propose to bridge the urban fabric over the partially retained rail yard in a way that celebrates Vancouver’s heritage and identity, while creating a new live-work-play neighbourhood that enhances the waterfront realm and embraces emerging transport trends.

“Our goal is to create a communal place for people that serves as a cohesive extension of the city, crafting a vibrant, people-centric destination that celebrates the city’s heritage and character while also re-forging a relationship with its unique natural setting,” said Stefan Krummeck, Farrells.

The project was inspired by the site’s existing high-quality rail, aerial, and marine-based mobility options. As a result, the proposal anticipates the use of emerging transportation technologies as a way to help further enhance connectivity between downtown and regional destinations.

The proposal embraces the existing urban grid and reflects the density, materiality, and rhythm of existing streetscapes, which creates a permeable neighbourhood with visual connectivity to the harbour and North Shore Mountains. Major streets will also end at piers, connecting city and sea.

The shoreline is also unified with coastal parks, which enables a sense of connection with the natural environment and provides an extension to the seawall promenade that passes through Coal Harbour and connects to Stanley Park.

The design team hopes that the ideas in this proposal will resonate beyond the waterfront site and promote debate on broader issues of the city’s urban character and identity.

Both Farrells and Arup hope that it will address important questions such as how the built environment might work to address the social challenges of the area and create conversation on how the urban fabric can better embrace indigenous reconciliation efforts in meaningful ways.

Vancouver Central Waterfront – Proposed Vision

 

Vancouver Central Waterfront – Existing Condition