Vancouver Viaducts

What does the city need here?

What is this? Where is this? All responses All possibilities
What is this?

What is this?

We want to look at spaces, places, architecture and design with fresh eyes – yours.

An essential question around the HCMA studios is: "What's Possible?" For a street? A community plan? A pool? A school? A...home page?

We post images and questions that relate to discussions around the studio. If you see something that sparks your curiosity, tell us what you think. You can check out other people's contributions too by viewing all responses.

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All Responses
  1. What does the city need here?
    Like
    some sort of urban art/architectural installation and seating.
  2. What does the city need here?
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    roads
  3. What does the city need here?
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    bc housing
  4. What does the city need here?
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    houses
  5. What does the city need here?
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    Giant Swing
  6. What does the city need here?
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    Play Spaces: fields + courts + outdoor music venue. Getting Together Spaces: quick good-eat + drink spots - emporia, carts, trucks, trailers, etc.
  7. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    more green
  8. What does the city need here?
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    child care
  9. What does the city need here?
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    will
  10. What does the city need here?
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    green space ♥
  11. What does the city need here?
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    Acknowledgement of the history of this area, including displacement of Black people and their homes to make this viaduct.
  12. What does the city need here?
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    en guzel karilar kalabilir sicak saatler icin
  13. What does the city need here?
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    wider roads or highways to connect the centre and suburbs, better and more affordable public transportation
  14. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    A giant farmers market
  15. What does the city need here?
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    PARK AND NO NEW HOUSING!!
  16. What does the city need here?
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    West Vancouver Community Centre
  17. What does the city need here?
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    a pool !
  18. What does the city need here?
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    beer
  19. What does the city need here?
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    Я думаю, что Вы не правы. Давайте обсудим. 2gj.ru
  20. What does the city need here?
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    Artists and cultural/social sector community working spaces built around /into the structure of the bridges with lots of hanging gardens to filter the traffic air.
  21. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    More Green Space
  22. What does the city need here?
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    European-style spaces that are meant for gathering. I'd love to see a central water feature and restaurants with patios facing a central piazza
  23. What does the city need here?
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    playgrounds
  24. What does the city need here?
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    分析王http://sport-analysis.com
  25. What does the city need here?
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    light... accessibility... another community planning!
  26. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    think new york's high line with pop up retail and possibly a few hundred container homes. a place for art, cafe's with a cool water feature like in coal harbour. with festival lights swagged across the space like that in a small european village from building to building.
  27. What does the city need here?
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    Stuart Rothnie
  28. What does the city need here?
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    light
  29. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    Parks, community spaces and multi-modal transportation options (on the ground under a green canopy)
  30. What does the city need here?
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    Children Playground
  31. What does the city need here?
    0Like
    landscaping designing and sewers
  32. What does the city need here?
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    instagram
  33. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    Demolition, natural regeneration, human disengagement, ecosystem rehabilitation
  34. What does the city need here?
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    home
  35. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    Good food open late
  36. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    More places to interact with other people
  37. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    Green Space, housing
  38. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    Vertical greenery
  39. What does the city need here?
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    a pond
  40. What does the city need here?
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    Colour, from natural sources. Green grass, flowers, trees. An urban park. So the flyover ends up looking like it just grew there.
  41. What does the city need here?
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    roof garden
  42. What does the city need here?
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    a garden
  43. What does the city need here?
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    a bridge
  44. What does the city need here?
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    vancouver
  45. What does the city need here?
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    food truck
  46. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    clayton
  47. What does the city need here?
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    light and colour
  48. What does the city need here?
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    Quality public space that integrates with the surroundings in which can provide a better environment for the city and people.
  49. What does the city need here?
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    bigger viaducts
  50. What does the city need here?
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    civic space
  51. What does the city need here?
    2Like
    flower market
  52. What does the city need here?
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    A highline garden / bike path like the one in NYC
  53. What does the city need here?
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    Inclusive Information Upon this product signs of an std for females
  54. What does the city need here?
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    public realm
  55. What does the city need here?
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    the viaducts - keep the viaducts. Essential vein out of downtown, directly into east van.
  56. What does the city need here?
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    greenspaces
  57. What does the city need here?
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    Wider road for better traffic
  58. What does the city need here?
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    GREEN SQUARE
  59. What does the city need here?
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    social housing
  60. What does the city need here?
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    a pool
  61. What does the city need here?
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    cafe
  62. What does the city need here?
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    art
  63. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    VIADUCTS.
  64. What does the city need here?
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    circus
  65. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    art installations, lights, lanterns, murals, farmer's markets, four square court, chairs, tables with checkerboards and chess set on - life and colour.
  66. What does the city need here?
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    a climbing wall with slides at the top
  67. What does the city need here?
    2Like
    A REAL PARK
  68. What does the city need here?
    0Like
    colors
  69. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    green areas
  70. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    supported yet spontaneous (informal) public space
  71. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    green open space
  72. What does the city need here?
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    Everything it already has
  73. What does the city need here?
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    space
  74. What does the city need here?
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    it needs to keep the viaducts!
  75. What does the city need here?
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    green space under the viaducts
  76. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    Skatepark, Painted murals, farmers market,
  77. What does the city need here?
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    playground
  78. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    Outdoor recreation space including a jump park/ skate park/ par-core and bouldering wall
  79. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    Food Truck Pod
  80. What does the city need here?
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    theatre
  81. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    Fruit trees, more greenery. Places to sleep, enjoy the views, soundproofing
  82. What does the city need here?
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    An Eastern Core Transit Strategy
  83. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    Use the viaducts to support interesting 1 to 2 floor housing and quirky retail - bookshops etc. Then landscape the rest of the area with lots of pedestrian friendly greenery.
  84. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    musical swings
  85. What does the city need here?
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    more viaducts or alternate routes to assist flow of traffic in to the downtown core.
  86. What does the city need here?
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    Non-specific Message Far this offshoot heat illness
  87. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    lots of livable housing where you are not higher than 8 stories off the ground. Studies have shown that residents are less community oriented when they kive above that height.
  88. What does the city need here?
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    friendliness
  89. What does the city need here?
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    sports and recreation
  90. What does the city need here?
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    Cars... oh wait. No.
  91. What does the city need here?
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    More condos
  92. What does the city need here?
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    Nature
  93. What does the city need here?
    3Like
    biergarten
  94. What does the city need here?
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    Hanging gardens
  95. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    a forest with restaurants and shopping.
  96. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    container homes
  97. What does the city need here?
    2Like
    new light industrial space for the 21st century
  98. What does the city need here?
    2Like
    Less shiny-ness. maintain some rough edges.
  99. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    green.
  100. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    Can we imagine a Vancouver version of NYC's High Line?
  101. What does the city need here?
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    Independant Workspace
  102. What does the city need here?
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    Food Scene
  103. What does the city need here?
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    basketball court
  104. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    social space
  105. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    people colour trees
  106. What does the city need here?
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    colour and a purpose
  107. What does the city need here?
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    Add a skate park, bike lanes, mini golf, or basketball courts.
  108. What does the city need here?
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    sport
  109. What does the city need here?
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    A garden...something zen and artistic- a path with art and a nature-inspired flowing stream that can double as a splash park for children in the summer. Something that resonates similar to New York's High Line. It would need a sense of place that distinguishes it from our many seaside walks. A zen sanctuary in the city.
  110. What does the city need here?
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    a gathering place
  111. What does the city need here?
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    Mural art
  112. What does the city need here?
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    aesthetics
  113. What does the city need here?
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    skatepark
  114. What does the city need here?
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    Skateboard park
  115. What does the city need here?
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    More green development. Increased vegetation. Low energy buildings. Green roofs. Renewable generation sources. Sustainable design. Transit-oriented development. Less greedy humans destroying the one Earth we have.
  116. What does the city need here?
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    green spaces
  117. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    vegetation
  118. What does the city need here?
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    plants
  119. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    parkour playground
  120. What does the city need here?
    0Like
    More dog parks
  121. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    Parks, art installations, places to play
  122. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    sculpture garden
  123. What does the city need here?
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    iconic lighting
  124. What does the city need here?
    2Like
    London Southbank for under-viaduct typologies; restaurant / coffee shop / urban beach / theatre / seating etc
  125. What does the city need here?
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    museum
  126. What does the city need here?
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    usable and accessible public space
  127. What does the city need here?
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    a road into the city - as it is
  128. What does the city need here?
    2Like
    A dynamic multi-purpose public space
  129. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    a dynamic, flexible public space that could change with the seasons to provide a realm for creatives i.e. local artists, chefs, activists, and performers.
  130. What does the city need here?
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    better infrastructure
  131. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    A place for members of all near by neighbourhoods to purchase and share food, share stories, and create a greater sense of a cohesive, inclusive, community downtown.
  132. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    greenspace
  133. What does the city need here?
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    less traffic
  134. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    colours
  135. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    please not affordable/social housing! The viaduct has created this wasteland and it is the viaduct's owner who is responsible for the land it is affecting. Shopping centre, industrial or civil infrastructure (municipal service yards, civil water or waste water treatment. Alternately "green" the viaduct by turning it into a linear park, bikeway and maybe (quiet running) streetcar way, then the land below could be put to better use including integrated urban village concepts with direct vertical access to the green parkway.
  136. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    needs affordable housing
  137. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    sustainable city = affordable housing and transit network urban regeneration within social inclusion
  138. What does the city need here?
    2Like
    A Beer Garden
  139. What does the city need here?
    Like
    Maze
  140. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    community vegetable garden and farmers market
  141. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    supportive housing
  142. What does the city need here?
    2Like
    public spaces where communities can come together.
  143. What does the city need here?
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    cars
  144. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    gathering place
  145. What does the city need here?
    5Like
    Colour, life, playground, green spaces, pop up art, food trucks, vendors.
  146. What does the city need here?
    Like
    equality
  147. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    off leash dog park
  148. What does the city need here?
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    a wrecking ball and lots of money
  149. What does the city need here?
    Like
    love love love x
  150. What does the city need here?
    0Like
    flowers
  151. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    urban farms, A place people can go grow there own food!! Socialise and gather
  152. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    Food trucks
  153. What does the city need here?
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    food carts
  154. What does the city need here?
    Like
    water
  155. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    Stormwater management, mountain bike park
  156. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    soil reclamation project
  157. What does the city need here?
    Like
    garden
  158. What does the city need here?
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    residntial waterfront
  159. What does the city need here?
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    green! playground! pop-up shops
  160. What does the city need here?
    Like
    public spaces
  161. What does the city need here?
    5Like
    Interactive public art and space - think of what they are doing beneath the Gardiner Expressway in Toronto
  162. What does the city need here?
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    bike/pedestrian green walkway
  163. What does the city need here?
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    greenhouses full of food and flowers.
  164. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    napping station
  165. What does the city need here?
    Like
    People!
  166. What does the city need here?
    Like
    design
  167. What does the city need here?
    Like
    lots of ground floor public uses accommodated in high density buildings, public pedestrian and cycling paths lacing False Creek into Chinatown, pedestrian oriented businesses
  168. What does the city need here?
    Like
    swings
  169. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    more
  170. What does the city need here?
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    livable town homes built under highways / street scape and trees
  171. What does the city need here?
    Like
    landscape
  172. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    Forward Thinking.
  173. What does the city need here?
    Like
    life and joy
  174. What does the city need here?
    4Like
    Underground Beer Garden
  175. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    Hanging gardens and fountains gurgling
  176. What does the city need here?
    Like
    donuts
  177. What does the city need here?
    Like
    place to walk
  178. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    A bike park
  179. What does the city need here?
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    skating ring
  180. What does the city need here?
    2Like
    bike lanes
  181. What does the city need here?
    Like
    A fitness centre for the Muslim community with women-only and men-only sections!
  182. What does the city need here?
    Like
    surf park
  183. What does the city need here?
    Like
    tent city
  184. What does the city need here?
    2Like
    a big park
  185. What does the city need here?
    3Like
    community garden
  186. What does the city need here?
    3Like
    art installation
  187. What does the city need here?
    2Like
    Fun! Energy. A place to party and gather.
  188. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    drainage system
  189. What does the city need here?
    2Like
    Plans
  190. What does the city need here?
    Like
    a skate park
  191. What does the city need here?
    2Like
    A low-rise mix of affordable housing, commercial and community public space called Hogan's Alley. Oops.
  192. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    a river
  193. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    grass
  194. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    A Green Promenade on Top connected to a new Urban Topography- (landscape) -on the lower level
  195. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    clean
  196. What does the city need here?
    3Like
    A Highline-style Park. Save parts of the Viaduct and repurpose them into a sky park. It would provide a interesting blend of nature and history.
  197. What does the city need here?
    Like
    skate park and music venue/market
  198. What does the city need here?
    Like
    A park, more trees and green!
  199. What does the city need here?
    Like
    green
  200. What does the city need here?
    Like
    food and artisan market
  201. What does the city need here?
    Like
    A free outdoor movie theatre
  202. What does the city need here?
    2Like
    A pedestrian high line
  203. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    disorder
  204. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    long dangling string-like-strips attached to the underbelly of the bridge- that by day blow and dance in the wind- and by night light up and pulse colored lights in waves like groups of cars...
  205. What does the city need here?
    Like
    An indoor green park space to escape the nasty weather. During the late fall/winter/early spring, it is THE place to go. A park-like setting that mimics an outdoor space so people can take their children to play, dog for a walk, get fit, seniors can be comfortable walking where it isn't too cold or slippery, etc. Creatively presented space that provides a fair weather day when it isn't.
  206. What does the city need here?
    Like
    HEALTH CENTRE, CULTURE INSTALLATIONS, SMALL SPORT FACILTIES, COMMUNITY CENTRE, DESIGN EXPO/MARKET
  207. What does the city need here?
    2Like
    green space for the public
  208. What does the city need here?
    Like
    Public transportation
  209. What does the city need here?
    Like
    plants, pedestrian walkways, bike paths, small businesses
  210. What does the city need here?
    Like
    housing parks rec small business
  211. What does the city need here?
    3Like
    Green space, social inclusion!
  212. What does the city need here?
    2Like
    a nice park
  213. What does the city need here?
    0Like
    A year-round circus!
  214. What does the city need here?
    2Like
    viaducts
  215. What does the city need here?
    0Like
    nothing else
  216. What does the city need here?
    Like
    An aquatic play environment!
  217. What does the city need here?
    2Like
    green space and affordable housing
  218. What does the city need here?
    Like
    Greenspace and sustainable techno dome
  219. What does the city need here?
    Like
    open graffiti area with benches and plants
  220. What does the city need here?
    Like
    FUN
  221. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    More green space.
  222. What does the city need here?
    3Like
    Public space to liven the area. Nobody wants to walk under a viaduct. City of Toronto is doing interesting things with the Gardiner as it has been a long-time painpoint for pedestrians who are connecting from downtown to the Waterfront as they must go under the Gardiner expressway and it was very poor user experience. Things like a skatepark and interactive public art (vs. non interactive public art) livened up the space a lot.
  223. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    community gardens
  224. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    Green space, gardens, cycle paths, activity space (skatepark, tennis?), boutique vendors serving foot and cycle traffic.
  225. What does the city need here?
    2Like
    more alternative spaces like the existing skateboard park. keep the damn viaducts and utilise the spaces around, above, and underneath them! keep it interesting!
  226. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    public space
  227. What does the city need here?
    2Like
    a promenade, restaurants, food trucks, seating, bike clinics, public art, graffiti walls.
  228. What does the city need here?
    2Like
    A HUB FOR REINTRODUCING HOMELESS INTO SOCIETY. (CAREER CENTER, COUNSELING, TEMP HOUSING, WIFI ACCESS, ETC)
  229. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    swimming pool
  230. What does the city need here?
    2Like
    Cafes by day, beer gardens by night
  231. What does the city need here?
    Like
    A meeting place
  232. What does the city need here?
    Like
    A swing
  233. What does the city need here?
    Like
    green space, street car, bike lanes, parklets, water gardens,
  234. What does the city need here?
    Like
    port moody
  235. What does the city need here?
    3Like
    market
  236. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    Functional public space
  237. What does the city need here?
    2Like
    Skate park + public plaza
  238. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    24 hour night life
  239. What does the city need here?
    Like
    mixed use buildings - homes, shops, community centre, etc
  240. What does the city need here?
    Like
    parks
  241. What does the city need here?
    Like
    A park with community ammenities and perhaps public market etc
  242. What does the city need here?
    2Like
    Innovative low income housing. I can think of lots of specifics but I want a cup of cappuccino with Mr Darryl before I give away all my great ideas ☺️
  243. What does the city need here?
    Like
    Housing
  244. What does the city need here?
    3Like
    affordable housing for young families!
  245. What does the city need here?
    2Like
    more viaducts
  246. What does the city need here?
    2Like
    homeless shelter
  247. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    a park
  248. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    Harmony
  249. What does the city need here?
    3Like
    lots of small footprint commercial/retail on a great intimate street that encourages local businesses to locate here, a little dynamic hub of them. cool unique local shops. get too big and successful... time to move and make way for another new enterprise.
  250. What does the city need here?
    3Like
    public market
  251. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    a hedge maze
  252. What does the city need here?
    Like
    greenery
  253. What does the city need here?
    Like
    Urban villages
  254. What does the city need here?
    Like
    bike park
  255. What does the city need here?
    Like
    skater park
  256. What does the city need here?
    Like
    Color
  257. What does the city need here?
    2Like
    community
  258. What does the city need here?
    2Like
    public spaces like parks, play areas
  259. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    a skatepark
  260. What does the city need here?
    0Like
    Fewer Cali's
  261. What does the city need here?
    Like
    bumper cars , and swings hanging from the concrete beams
  262. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    community green space
  263. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    Outdoor volleyball nets
  264. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    transportation
  265. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    recreational park
  266. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    bike lanes and a place to lock your bike
  267. What does the city need here?
    Like
    decentralization
  268. What does the city need here?
    3Like
    An open air market (at least one day/evening a week) where local artists, vendors, food trucks and entertainers can create something fun for the city!
  269. What does the city need here?
    Like
    New stadium, BC Place then be replaced by living and green space
  270. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    More boring glass buildings.
  271. What does the city need here?
    6Like
    MAINTAIN THE VAIDUCTS, INFILL INBETWEEN STRUCTURES TO CREATE AN ACTIVE STREET EDGE/WALL
  272. What does the city need here?
    Like
    park space
  273. What does the city need here?
    2Like
    A parkour park
  274. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    roller rink :)
  275. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    Better use of space along outdoor skytrain paths maybe.
  276. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    festival grounds!
  277. What does the city need here?
    3Like
    trees
  278. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    disco balls
  279. What does the city need here?
    2Like
    a great new neighbourhood and park that connect the site to the surrounding areas - providing affordable, accessible housing for all!
  280. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    pizza
  281. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    Integrated people spaces at ground level. not barren waste land.
  282. What does the city need here?
    3Like
    Affordable housing
  283. What does the city need here?
    2Like
    more sunshine
  284. What does the city need here?
    Like
    skate park
  285. What does the city need here?
    3Like
    A big beautiful ferris wheel.
  286. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    Less Infrastructure
  287. What does the city need here?
    0Like
    cultural park space and plaza
  288. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    Large parking facilities with other commercial space on top.
  289. What does the city need here?
    5Like
    truly affordable housing
  290. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    a rec center
  291. What does the city need here?
    2Like
    Pop-up shop markets using shipping containers
  292. What does the city need here?
    Like
    More plaza and piazza
  293. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    Public Art
  294. What does the city need here?
    6Like
    Leave the viaducts in place, take back the space underneath for an outdoor park that is bikeable and walkable. Trees, parks, green space, community gardens, an area for food trucks to park. Maintain or expand the skatepark, install public art. Re-purpose/decorate structural columns.
  295. What does the city need here?
    6Like
    an open art studio!
  296. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    Mixed use Condo Retail and open space
  297. What does the city need here?
    3Like
    Colour
  298. What does the city need here?
    Like
    nothing
  299. What does the city need here?
    Like
    condo
  300. What does the city need here?
    0Like
    hospital
  301. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    Housing, retail, outdoor recreation spaces, park, interaction between neighborhoods
  302. What does the city need here?
    4Like
    a beautiful green space and a bike track under the bridge
  303. What does the city need here?
    2Like
    climbing gym/parkour/skate park
  304. What does the city need here?
    2Like
    Green space
  305. What does the city need here?
    Like
    horses
  306. What does the city need here?
    Like
    people
  307. What does the city need here?
    Like
    park
  308. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    A park. water park
  309. What does the city need here?
    1Like
    parking
  310. What does the city need here?
    5Like
    boardwalks, dog parks, man made ponds
  311. What does the city need here?
    Like
    condos
  312. What does the city need here?
    3Like
    circulation and openness
  313. What does the city need here?
    2Like
    life
  314. What does the city need here?
    3Like
    outdoor climbing gym
  315. What does the city need here?
    8Like
    A high-line like new york!
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All Possibilities

The Faraday Café

What makes you want to spend time in a cafe?

Timms Community Centre

What makes a building accessible for you?

Arbutus Corridor, Vancouver

What would engage the community here?

How can we make buildings and public spaces more inclusive?

Coal Harbour, Vancouver

How can we engage our waterfront?
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We hope this experiment tilts perspectives and inspires curiosity and conversation about the built environment.

Invite others to join the conversation.

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