Granville Island

Why are the only play spaces in the city for kids?

Research has shown that the benefits of play are not limited to children. Adult play can relieve stress, improve overall well-being, nurture critical thinking and benefit our relationships. Despite the many benefits, it’s hard to find examples of adult play spaces in the city outside of the standard sports fields, pickleball courts, and ping pong tables.

What kinds of play are there, what dimensions of design can help facilitate play, and how can cities provide more opportunities for play for adults?

From Damnoen Saduak in Thailand, to Siring in Indonesia, to Cai Rang Market in Vietnam, floating markets have existed for millennia and can be found across the world. 

In this studio, we imagined the possibilities for floating markets in the Vancouver region to answer questions like what would it mean to use the water and docks for more than just moorage? How might they connect to the 28 km seawall, aquabus transit systems, and rivers? What might floating structures look like as sea levels rise?

The Granville Bridge is the main way to connect from downtown Vancouver to Granville Island.  While the bridge spans across Granville Island, the actual connection point is at some distance from it.  This causes wayfinding challenges, increased travel time, and barriers for access.

Through this studio, we explored different possibilities to create an interesting, functional connection between the Granville Bridge and Granville Island - while considering how this connection (or elements of the connection) can be accessible for everyone.

The city is changing. Studio space is disappearing. How can we tackle this problem?

There has been a steady decline in Vancouver studio space over the last 10 years, with existing spaces facing precarious and uncertain futures. 

It’s an incomplete, often inaccurate and harmful commemorative landscape out there. As many municipalities work on their commemoration policies, how can we rethink the way we design, maintain and debate public representation? What would a reorientation of the status quo of monuments be? 

In the era of hybrid work culture, how do central business districts adapt? Downtown’s across the world are needing to change in the pandemic world. In the North American context, Downtown Vancouver is seen as a good mixed-use downtown where people can live, work and play; however, a study showed that 62% of Metro Vancouver home workers would likely leave their current job if their supervisor did not allow them to work from home as much as they wanted.

What do you like about splash pads and community water parks? How can we make them exceptional, sustainable and multigenerational? What are some of the best examples around the world? How would a year-round splash pad function? Questions, questions, more questions!!