PEDESTRIAN ORIENTED · Swale provides a soft edge to the school site along the stream corridor, serving for filtering of greywater. Community Gardens are built as a soft edge of the

PEDESTRIAN ORIENTED

UBC URBAN STUDIO, FALL 2002 PEDESTRIAN ORIENTED BTWO NEIGHBOURHOOD PATTERNS VISIONING CHARRETTE 1

B.3 Kitsilano “House” District

District ConceptThe district is conceived as a relatively self-contained unit. Except for the regional systems oftransportation, potable water supply, hard waste,and energy supply (at 50%), the district functions asa functional unit that comprises a sustainable whole– providing opportunities for its residents to live,work and play.

The district has a strong edge condition of transitand commercial development (as mixed-use zoningwith residential). The district also has a strongcentral core, with the school or another main publicfacility at the centre of a pedestrian environment.The majority of district-organized food-production islocated here, as is a neighbourhood work office.The result of a strong edge with a strong centre is adistrict, which focuses inward, yet stays connected tothe region.

While this district formation has responded to thespecifics of the site, it serves as a “stackable” modelfor conceiving land use patterns in adjacent districts.

District Targets and Solutions:1. Increase jobs at the neighbourhood scale.Increase commercial development at districtboundaries (red), and locate a neighbourhood workcentre (orange).

2. 100% of dwelling units within 400m of basicshopping and amenities. Residential area borderedby commercial on four sides.

3. Density at 40 persons or more per hectare. Infillin back yards and lanes no longer needed for caraccess and parking. Density at approximately 60pph.

The district as a whole unto itself, and as a part of the greater multi-district or regional whole.

PEDESTRIAN ORIENTED


4th Avenue

4. 100% of all organic waste being composted.Compost used within the district on community gardenplots, private gardens, in greenhouses, or “dug under.”

5. 100% infiltration of runoff. All runoff managed withinthe block, which feeds daylighted stream.

6. At least one designated area within eachneighbourhood for providing emergency services.Elementary school.

7. 25% of land base (regionally) to be dedicated toparks. Block-sized parks, pocket parks, and linear parksare located within this district.

8. 100% regional corridors and riparian corridors to beprotected. Linear park protects daylighted streamcorridor.

9. 50% of population involved in government priorities;85% of the population active voters. Redefine electoralboundaries to the district scale, and strengthencommunity ties within the district.

10. Increase connectivity. Walking: linear park, green lotconnections, pedestrian-oriented streets. Transit:increased service, more local routes. Bike: district bikedepots with free bikes to be used within an expandeddistrict boundary; one bike depot per district.

11. Restricted access for private vehicles.Approximately 80% of streets closed to cars, but open topedestrians, cyclists, emergency and service vehicles,and transit.12. 100% of buildings that obtain at least 50% of theirenergy requirements from the land parcel or surroundingblock. The other 50% or less will come from regionalenergy sources, distributed by underground wires. Everyseveral blocks will have an energy storage unit.Dispersing energy according to the need of each parcel.

Land Use Diagram of Kitsilano “House” District in 100 years.(Corridors with thick arrows indicate transit only; thin arrows indicate vehicleaccess; no arrows indicates pedestrian only.)

4th Ave.

Broadway

Blenheim St.Alma St.

ElementarySchool

Park Park

Linear Park

Work Office

Corner Store Bike Depot

Stream Corridor

PEDESTRIAN ORIENTED


CorridorsThe streets in this site are divided in fivedifferent categories defined by hierarchyand type of use, they are:• “Stream” Streets• “Pedestrian” Streets• “Car-Oriented” Streets, and• “Transit” Streets

Stream StreetsConsidering that we have one streampassing through our site, there is aproposal for the typology of this street. Itshould be a place of contemplation,community interaction, as well aslearning from the natural processes andthe importance of taking care of thisenvironment.

Targets and Solutions:1. Increase to 100% of identified regionalgreenway corridors that are protected orpreserved, including both recreation andecological; greenway corridors by 2101;

2. 100% of length of buried streamswithin a municipality should bedaylighted and restored.

PEDESTRIAN ORIENTED


Pedestrian StreetsThese are the streets that one-dayaccommodate the car traffic, now, with thereduction of the amount of car, as well asthe need to use them, the community wasable to turn some of those old streets intopedestrian streets. They are places tomeet, to spend some time, walk, ride abike, play, community meetings on a sunnyday, and so on. Each one of the pedestrianstreets has a swale to direct the stormwaterflow to the main stream.

Targets and Solutions:1. One or more public facilities within eachblock should be used for neighbourhoodrecreational or cultural events by 2021;

2. At least one public space in each blockthat have a significance work of public artproduced by a local artist or craftsperson(the plaza would be opened for communityinterventions and artistic contributions);

3. By inducing the creation of a sense ofcommunity it would be possible to increasethe number of citizens participating inprocesses involving identification of localgovernment priorities.

PEDESTRIAN ORIENTED


Car-Oriented StreetsMore commercial streets allow car trafficand parking. Those places shouldconcentrate grocery stores, retail, andbusiness, restaurants, theatres, andservices. The parking will be in one side ofthe street, allowing two lanes of transit.

Targets and Solutions:1. 100% of the dwelling units are locatedwithin 400m of basic shopping needs andpersonal services by 2101;

2. Community interaction would beincreased by creating more pedestrianfriendly streetscape;

3. Building design should increase the“eyes on the street”, assuring safety andcommunity interaction;

4. Limited use of cars, achieved byproviding services close to the residencesand efficient public and alternativetransportation system;

5. Cars allowed only using renewable fuelsource. New cars should be lighter, andsmaller.

PEDESTRIAN ORIENTED


Transit StreetsThose are the regional connectors withother sites; they are specifically for publictransit, not allowing the presence ofpersonal cars. They will also concentratethe main commercial activity of the site,and connect the place with the region.

Targets and Solutions:1. 100% of dwelling units that are locatedwithin 400m of basic shopping needs andpersonal services, by 2101;

2. Reducing CO2 emissions tonne percapita per year to less or equal to 1 by2101;

3. 70% or greater of non-auto share inpeak period;

4. 80% or greater of non-auto share usedfor commuting;

5. 90% or greater of non-auto sharetravelling to, from, and within theMetropolitan Core within peak period;

6. 90% or greater of dwellings locatedwithin 350m of a transit stop or collectorbus;

7. Covered and connected walkways;8. Increase density;

9. Design of buildings based on humanscale, more pedestrian friendly.

PEDESTRIAN ORIENTED


BlocksThere are three main block conditions in thedistrict: Residential Infill, Greenhouse Infill, andPublic Facilities.

Block Targets and Solutions – ResidentialInfill

1. Density of more than 40 persons per hectare.Infill in back yards, lanes and garages, whilekeeping access for pedestrians and services.

2. 100% of dwelling units within 400m of basicshopping and amenities. Blocks close to theedges of the district are more densified andhave high access to commercials at the borders.

3. 50% of population participating in processesinvolving identification of local governmentpriorities. Re-define the scale of “local”-municipal government down to “block” level,having representatives from every block.

4. 100% of buildings that obtain at least 50% oftheir energy requirements from the land parcelor surrounding block. Alternative energy creationat the parcel-block level: Solar voltaic, bio-gasand geo-thermal.

5. More than 30% affordable residential units.Mixed types of homes/apartments, SFH / MFH,rent/own, mixed sizes of lots and homes, taxincentives to work from home.

PEDESTRIAN ORIENTED


Block Targets and Solutions –Greenhouse Infill

1. More than 20% of food that eachneighbourhood consumes annually that isproduced within the neighbourhood.Encourage community gardens and infillgreenhouses (backlanes).

2. 100% of all organic waste beingcomposted. Creation of on-sitecomposting facility integrated with acompost demonstration garden,implementation of user-pay strategies,extension of “blue-box” recycling to allmulti-unit buildings and can be compostedto be soil amended given/sold back tourban agriculture/ community gardens.

3. 100% of rain falling on block infiltratinginto the ground or collected for reuse.Decreasing the paved areas andincreasing the green open spaces.

PEDESTRIAN ORIENTED


Public Facility - School Site Targets andSolutions:The public facility block – in this case anelementary school – is a site layered with uses.The intent is to combine education, recreation,community building, and environmental activitiesand functions on one block in a way that usesspace efficiently. To this end, a program for thisblock structures use throughout the day,evening, and weekend, and brings together inone place all members of the district.

1. School facilities are used for neighbourhoodrecreational and cultural events, and as anevening and weekend community centre. Thiscan be achieved by having public access to theschool facilities when they are not used bystudents.

2. A portion of the food that each neighbourhoodconsumes is produced by the educationalgardens located within the school.

3. The school is designated as an emergencyshelter disaster response centre.

4. 100% of rain falling on the school siteinfiltrates into the ground, with additionalcollection of rainwater for reuse. This can beachieved by a permeable school yard, cisterns,and rain barrels.

5. Greywater treatment occurs at the schoolsedge, providing further educational opportunitiesand supporting stream base flow.

Swale provides a soft edge tothe school site along thestream corridor, serving forfiltering of greywater.

Community Gardens are builtas a soft edge of the schoolsite along the pedestrianstreet, supplying food for theneighbourhood as well aseducational opportunities.

Schoolyard serves for stormwater infiltration. School facilities are shared byresidents during different timeof weekdays and holidays.

Section of the soft edge alongstream corridor.

Section of the soft edge alongpedestrian streets.

PEDESTRIAN ORIENTED


ParcelsParcels are structured to allow for infilland for private and public functions.Three parcel described here are:Greenhouse/Community GardenParcel, Commercial Mixed-UseParcel, and “Green Lot/Public Lot.”

Parcel Targets and Solutions –Greenhouse/Community GardenParcel

1. More than 65% of roof area ofbuildings that are vegetated anddesigned to support plant life. Taxincentives for retrofitting.

2. More than 20% of food that eachneighbourhood consumes annuallythat is produced within theneighbourhood. Urban agriculture(household scale) and higher taxincentives if roof is food producing(rooftop gardens).

PEDESTRIAN ORIENTED


Parcel Targets and Solutions –Commercial Mixed-Use Parcel

1. 100% of dwelling units within 400mof basic shopping and amenities.Increase in commercial developmentwill provide the increase inemployment positions withinneighbourhoods. More commercialspace can fit into existingneighbourhoods through infill andmixed-used zoning.

2. Buildings present a friendly face tothe street. Commercial Buildingentrances directly at the sidewalkwithin a few steps of transit.

3. 20% of businesses that are either a:1) provider or exporter of green, cleantechnologies or services, or 2) CEDoperation. Set policies to require thetargets.

4. Density increased to more than 40persons per hectare. Residential infillatop commercial buildings assists inthe achievement of approximately 60persons per hectare.

PEDESTRIAN ORIENTED


Parcel Targets and Solutions – “Green Lot” and“Public Lot”

1. Include at least 1 public facility within each blockthat is used forneighbourhood recreational or cultural events. Thefacility takes the form of either a building or anoutdoor space, and is strengthened by having agreen lot adjoining.

2. Provide for at least 1 public space in each blockthat has a significantwork of public art produced by a local artist orcraftsperson. This public area provides space forsuch a work.

3. 100% infiltration of runoff. Lots infiltrate runoff forown area, with capacity for runoff from adjacent lots.

4. 100% onsite treatment of wastewater. Green lottreats greywater from block.

5. 25% of land base (regionally) to be dedicated toparks. Green lot contributes to this percentage, andensures that park space is distributed throughoutdistricts as well as throughout the region.

“Green Lot and Public Lot” Above: Condition #1 with “green lot” and “block house.” Below: Condition #2 with plaza or park instead of a “block house.”

PEDESTRIAN ORIENTED


PROBLEMS & CONTRADICTIONS

Heritage - Very little discussion wasgiven over to cultural sustainability andpreserving the city's heritage.

Water Supply - While the groups supportlight, decentralised infrastructure, wecould envision no way to disconnectneighbourhoods from the regionalprovision of safe, potable water.

Technology - The groups foundthemselves regularly assumingtechnologies – that is,assuming they would be invented orassuming they would work like weimagined. The 100 year projection and alimited understanding of even availabletechnologies made such assumptionsunavoidable.

Standing Water – While natural drainageis good for ground water recharge, isn'tthe possibility of standing water a concernfor human health?

Methods

As a collective of three smaller groups, the Vancouver Team agreed on certaintechnological and sociological guidelines and visions for the future of theVancouver region. We envisioned a Vancouver 100 years from now which keptmuch of the spatial framework that the city works with at present, but focused onsustainable systems and lifestyles. This saved the group from apocalypticvisions, philosophical disagreements and the difficulty of imagining and planningfor a future wholly different from life as we know it.

Beyond these basic agreements it was understood the three smaller groups –representing three different neighbourhood structures - wouldaddress the sustainability targets collectively agreed upon in ways appropriate tothe specifics of site. The over-arching goal of the groups was not to design amodel that would fit any Vancouver neighbourhood, but instead to address eachsite's unique attributes in order to craft possible solutions. The hope was that inpresenting varied versions of Vancouver's sustainable future we would provide amore provoking platform for discussion as the strengths and weaknesses of eachvision can be directly compared.The Vancouver Team utilized target information from Sheltair, adopting most ofthe targets and amending the rest. The smaller groups drew heavily on the workfrom the previous two projects to achieve a coordinated synthesis of sustainablesystems for each site. In thinking about sustainability not simply as isolatedissues of transportation, socio-economics, or infrastructure, but rather as thewhole of the urban fabric, the vision developed in the previous projects wasexpanded. The decentralisation of urban infrastructure, and even of urban life, isseen as a key to sustainability. A diversified and complete neighbourhoodoffering environments to live, work and play provides a vision of sustainabilitythat retains the themes of liveability that are so valued today.

A multiplicity of visions means there are many possible solutions and manypossible paths that can take Vancouver to a sustainable future. The finalrequirement is political impetus, which we can only hope that reports such as thiswill stimulate through the presentation of a necessary, desirable, and workablefuture.

Documents

PEDESTRIAN ORIENTED · Swale provides a soft edge to the school site along the stream corridor, serving for filtering of greywater. Community Gardens are built as a soft edge of the