PFS Studio
Site: Downtown Vancouver
Downtown Vancouver, 2021
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Vancouver has the longest accessible waterfront path in the world, spanning from Stanley Park, around False Creek, and to Jericho Beach. While Vancouver’s identity aligns with that of a waterfront city, people do not have many opportunities to interact directly with the water, especially in False Creek. The water has a long contamination history and infrastructure such as the hard seawall edge creates a distinct boundary between land and water. Vancouver’s downtown core will need to accomodate a population increase of around 40% by 2100, which will cause a strain on already limited public space.
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Looking towards the future, how can Vancouver respond to these pressures on top of the projected sea level rise? How can Vancouver’s identity of a waterfront city be enhanced in a way that will positively impact the larger community?
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By 2100, sea level rise and storm surges have eroded away downtown Vancouver and have drastically impacted many city systems. While large areas of land such as the False Creek Flats and Granville Island have become permanently inundated, accessible waterfront public space has drastically decreased and there is a loss of public connection to the waterfront.
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Major city transportation systems have become disrupted as a result of this inundation, as vehicular bridges are the only connections that stitch the downtown core to greater Vancouver. Therefore, there is a strain on these limited transportation corridors. The population growth experienced by the downtown core has become squeezed, especially as public space was decreased by rising sea levels.
The flooding of Lost Lagoon has disconnected Stanley Park from the downtown core and has become less accessible to those visiting and living adjacent. With an increase in storm surges, the city is forced to fortify the new shoreline edge to protect important infrastructure, public space, and habitat, or risk retreating further.
Downtown Vancouver, 2100
“Do Nothing” Approach
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When faced with the threat of sea level rise, a combination of approaches have been considered to protect major systems and maintain downtown Vancouver’s identity as a waterfront city.
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While rising sea levels have returned the False Creek Flats to the ocean, the land surrounding Science World along Main St has been diked to protect transportation corridors (i.e. Skytrain footings) and public space for the larger community. Waterfront Station has also been fortified to maintain the connection to the North Shore. Transportation has been recentered with an increase in water transportation at multiple scales to promote connectivity across communities and to the water. The smaller scale ferries of False Creek have expanded their frequency and routes to reach more downtown communities.
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In order to promote greater transportation connectivity as well as to reduce the strain on areas that are becoming flooded more frequently, small channels have been carved along Carrall street and through Lost Lagoon. Small ferries and human-powered watercraft such as kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, are able to use these routes. While areas along Kits Beach and False Creek have retreated, wetland planting has been established to protect the shoreline from future flooding, and has provided intertidal habitat to bring back a diversity of species into False Creek.
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To protect shoreline communities in False Creek such as Granville Island, Olympic Village, and Science World, a series of man-made islands have been created. While the larger islands that make up the ‘spine’ of these communities are stationary, the smaller ones can be moved across communities via tugboats to share public space programs with neighbourhoods that lack public space.
Downtown Vancouver, 2100
“Hybrid” Approach
Granville Island, 2100
Granville Island has become almost completely inundated with sea level rise and frequent storm surges. In response, a new community identity was formed around pedestrian and watercraft access. While most of the island is permanently inundated, a series of man-made islands have been configured to house the original infrastructure and many of the existing businesses.
Seven larger islands make up the ‘spine’ of Granville Island, each with programs that represent the spirit of the former island: community, arts and culture, and recreation. The six medium islands (a-f) that surround the spine and the major boardwalk circulation route consist of supporting programs in the community.
The smallest islands host a range of programs including artist studios, pocket parks, habitat patches, and swimming pools that can be moved between communities via tugboats. When not anchored alonside Granville Islands, these smaller islands add to the experience of the accessible waterfront along False Creek.
Yaletown, 2100
Rising sea levels and increasing population densities have resulted in the need for a modified podium-tower typology along the downtown waterfront. Podiums house local businesses such as cafes and shops, and serve as an extension of waterfront public space. As human-powered watercraft transportation has increased, the podium businesses serve both land- and water-access pedestrians. These podiums also include human-powered watercraft parking for residents of the towers.
Residences along the water have many new opportunities for community green space, and waterfront community gardens have been replaced by aquaculture initiatives such as kelp forests and controlled shellfish farming. This new urban waterfront provides critical support for the skyrocketing density within the downtown core.
Carrall Street, 2100
A channel has been carved down Carrall Street to connect people to other communities while accomodating the rising sea levels. While vehicular connections still exist at bridged cross streets, removing vehicular traffic along Carrall Street has created more public space for those living in or visiting the neighbourhood, as well as the potential for local businesses to spill into the street. The channel creates its own microclimate that is enhanced by increased street tree canopy, and also provides habitat for some intertidal species and birds. The accessible edges are designed for boarding small ferries, human-powered watercraft, and engagement with the changing tides.