City seeks public input on Vancouver Art Gallery plaza redesign

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      Vancouver residents are getting a chance to give their input this week on the design of a prominent public gathering space in the city’s core.

      The north plaza of the Vancouver Art Gallery is slated for excavation to repair the waterproof membrane protecting the facility’s storage vault. As part of the redevelopment set to begin next year, the city is looking at revamping the design of the popular space, which is frequently home to demonstrations and other events.

      At an open house this evening (October 1) and another on Saturday (October 5), the public is getting a glimpse at three different design concepts for the site, which is bordered by West Georgia, Hornby, and Howe streets.

      An illustration of the lighting ring proposed as part of one of the design concepts for the art gallery plaza.

      Matthew Soules, whose architecture firm is one of four partners on the design team led by Nick Milkovich Architects, said all three designs propose a hard surface for the area that is now covered by bark mulch.

      “Part of our work is how do we make the plaza as successful for as wide diversity of use as possible, and we think that having a nice, attractive hard surface on the ground will help facilitate that,” Soules said in a phone interview, noting that this kind of surface is seen in public spaces the design team visited in Portland, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

      Another common feature among the three conceptual designs is the removal of the fountain that currently exists in the centre of the north plaza.

      “We looked very closely at the size of the plaza, the size of the fountain, its position, and came up with the conclusion that the fountain in its current location makes the space very challenging to use for many types of events,” said Soules.

      An illustration of the ground view of one of the design concepts for the art gallery's north plaza.

      The design concepts also propose the incorporation of a small pavilion on the east side of plaza to allow for a café-like element, and an increased amount of seating, from benches to the potential for moveable seats or tables.

      Another component the public is being asked to weigh in on is the potential incorporation of some form of water element in the plaza. Design proposals range from a long fountain along West Georgia Street, to a flexible option that could see fountains rise out of the pavement in a circular pattern.

      Lighting is also a central element of the three conceptual designs, Soules added, with options including a circular ring that would hang above the plaza and could be lit differently depending on events.

      The architect noted that the concepts are all “long-term visions” for the plaza, with elements that could be phased in over time.

      “The first phase of the plaza installation will occur starting next summer,” said Soules. “But then we’re developing the concepts of how at later dates things will be potentially added to it to achieve...the best possible vision for Vancouver’s most prominent, well-used public space.”

      The design team, which consists of lead architect Nick Milkovich, Hapa Collaborative, Matthew Soules Architecture and Urban Forum Associates, will incorporate the feedback received during the open houses, and through an online survey that has been launched, into the final plan.

      The budget for the redevelopment is $3.2 million, according to Kevin McNaney, Vancouver’s assistant director of planning.

      The project is taking place as the city continues to study the possibility of a permanent pedestrian plaza on the south side of the art gallery. Soules said that as the future of the south side of the building is unknown, the architects tried to develop a concept for the north plaza that would fit any scenario.

      "We’re thinking about what happens on the plaza itself, we’re thinking about all the neighbouring buildings, and then the larger three blocks of Robson Square, of which 800-block Robson is one part," he said. "So in some ways, we’re kind of imagining that the redesign of this plaza space represents a sort of completion, so to speak, of the whole Robson Square precinct.”

      McNaney said the city’s objective is to ensure that events can continue to take place at the plaza.

      The site has hosted events such as the Vancouver International Jazz Festival and gatherings during the 2010 Winter Olympics, and is frequently used for protests. In 2011, Occupy Vancouver demonstrators set up a tent city on the lawn.

      “Things like the jazz fest and various food fests all happen within that area,” McNaney told the Straight by phone. “It’s an important public gathering space, so it’s a function we’re interested in maintaining.”

      Soules sees the north plaza as a site that has the potential to become the “outdoor living room” of Vancouver.

      “We believe that public space is a very important component in a democratic society, and a really great public space should be open to an incredibly wide range of different uses, by different types of people, for different reasons,” he said. “So we’re trying to make something that is open and adaptable and flexible for everything from a large protest, to having lunch with a friend, and everything in between."

      An illustration of the ground view of a second design concept for the north plaza.

      Today’s open house will run until 8:30 p.m. at UBC Robson Square’s Plaza Lounge. A second event will be held at the same location on Saturday (October 5) from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.

      Comments

      48 Comments

      ericka van iperen

      Oct 1, 2013 at 9:26pm

      i say no! the building is beautiful already! why change it!

      Alan Layton

      Oct 1, 2013 at 9:37pm

      Good! I'm glad they're going to finally reconfigure that space.

      No more ugly things

      Oct 1, 2013 at 10:08pm

      Don't change anything architecturally. Fix the existing elements. Consider simple gardens. That's all.

      Forest

      Oct 1, 2013 at 10:21pm

      For god's sake, it's fine the way it is. Why make it uglier. Just get rid of the hog-fuel (or bark-mulch) that's been sitting there since the Olympics. And why has it been sitting there for the past 3 years?

      HawkEye

      Oct 1, 2013 at 11:13pm

      The Actual reason if to block this space not to be used for protests any more.

      ACMESalesRep

      Oct 1, 2013 at 11:39pm

      Forest: The mulch been there because crowds have made it impossible to maintain the grass and the need to excavate to repair the underground structure has been known for some time. No sense rehabilitating it only to tear it back up again.

      cathy

      Oct 2, 2013 at 12:40am

      What the hell? Suggesting "a flexible option that could see fountains rise out of the pavement in a circular pattern" like there isn't enough water falling from the sky already??
      How stupid is this??

      Looks like they just want to break up the space so there can't be anymore demos there-pretty hard to have a demo when there is water "rising" from the pavement you're standing on.

      Probably will become another corporate/tourist spot -not much use to anyone especially those who live in the city.

      Frank Mimensey

      Oct 2, 2013 at 12:49am

      Thank goodness the city is finally doing something with this space. It has been an embarrassment to Vancouver that bark mulch has covered the place for so long! C'mon City Hall ... how could you leave it that way?

      I'm happy to see that City Hall is showing some leadership to change the plaza into the great space it deserves to be.

      I only hope they follow through on these design ideas. They all will enhance the public realm for all citizens.

      If I had to choose one ... I vote for the floating ring. Now that's something I would be proud for Vancouver to have. Hopefully this city is finally growing up. Look at the great public spaces in Europe, the States, and Asia ... they all are better than anything this city has to offer. Great public spaces enhance all our lives ... and, from these design ideas, it looks like the folks at City Hall now understand this.

      Good work!

      Freddie Heartline

      Oct 2, 2013 at 2:57am

      I hope the city installs a swimming pool. That would be great.

      Keep it green.

      Oct 2, 2013 at 3:56am

      Why does everything in the city have to be covered in cement? Make it green, plant some trees, sow some grass. It would be nice for some of the people that work in the area to go for lunch in a green space.