Quote:
Originally Posted by Metro-One
It is funny how sacred the views are for the mountains, to the point where they trump allowing proper tower heights around major existing and soon to be transit hubs, but outside of City Hall there is no care for preserving views of major landmark buildings. Hell, they even allow them to be torn down
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Ever since I moved here decades ago, I have never been happy with the bias in favour of outward views, to mountains and ocean, to the near exclusion of how the city looks inward to itself. The worst part is that this subjective 'preference' has interfered with our city's planning of urban public space. Progress is slow, but perhaps coming. Coal harbour to the convention centre and most of false creek, English Bay and Stanley Park are all of the old order (and there is nothing wrong with that). Granville Street downtown, the new Art Gallery/Robson Street squares, Emery Barnes Park, Hinge Park/Olympic Village Square - all are moving us in a good direction.
Hopefully, the city's old bias for nature over itself is becoming more balanced as it matures. The increasing concentration of our built environment makes true urban spaces increasingly necessary. We, of course, need both. The North Vancouver and New Westminster waterfronts are both well designed, and while they are obviously outward looking linear strips, they also have a stronger character unto themselves. You can see a progression from Stanley Park and Sunset Beach strips, to False Creek's Seawall, to Olympic Village & Coal Harbour, to the North Vancouver waterfront. Each becoming more complex, active and balanced between inward and outward focus.
Who knows where this project fits.
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