| |
Urban Design Panel
Minutes
For: Monday, April 18, 2005
Index
Present
3450 East Kent Avenue South
Present: Members of the Urban Design Panel:
EAST FRASERLANDS CHARRETTE
Alan Endall (Chair)
Margot Long
Nigel Baldwin
Edward Smith
Robert Barnes
Marta Farevaag
CC Lau
Larry Adams
Peter Wreglesworth
Recording Secretary:
Carol Hubbard
This special session of the Urban Design Panel was integrated into the East Fraserlands Charrette. The session was held in public with Andres Duany of Duany Plater-Zyberk presenting emerging concept plans and acting as facilitator. The session was not formally minuted, however, the following notes capture the key issues raised.
Key Issues Arising
- Andres Duany asked the Panel for their views on how sustainable design and community planning should be taken to the next level in Vancouver.
- Alan Endall explained that it was difficult for the Panel to comment on general themes as members were used to being asked to comment on the specifics of a particular development proposal.
- Edward Smith expressed interest in how energy use could be reduced in the life-cycle of buildings. He said that this needed to be considered right from the start of the design process and asked what initiatives were being considered at East Fraserlands.
- Andres Duany provided three possible measures for reducing energy consumption in buildings at East Fraserlands:
- Geothermal energy use
- Energy sharing between buildings
- Use of vegetation on building facades
- Andres Duany introduced some of the emerging concepts from the charrette. He explained that several concepts were being pursued concurrently by individual designers and that whilst they each had their own identity and purity some of the features were inter-changeable between the concepts.
- Alan Endall commented that the framework for the retail component and High Street concept and needed to be as flexible as possible to allow it to evolve over time as the community is built.
- Peter Wreglesworth suggested that more thought should be given to overcoming the barrier effect of the railway tracks, which if not addressed fully could sever the north and south sections of the new community.
- Larry Adams suggested that all of the concepts showed the High Street too far to the east which would diminish its accessibility for residents of West Fraserlands.
- Margot Long stated that it was important that the open space strategy should include a variety of different types and sizes of space.
- Marta Farevaag suggested that the riverfront treatment should not be so homogenous and should provide for a variety of active, passive and natural experiences on the river frontage. She suggested that the riverfront walkway should follow as direct a route as possible.
- Robert Barnes stated that it was difficult to comment on the concepts without the aid of 3-D material to help understand the massing strategy. He suggested that much more thought needed to be given to making the industrial heritage of the site breath through into its future use – perhaps through patterning of development, architectural expression and use of artefacts from the sawmill.
|
