Project Information

VanDusen Botanical Garden
Facilities Renewal Project

• Summary
• Description
• Background

Description of VanDusen Botanical Garden

This spectacular 22-hectare (55-acre) garden in the heart of Vancouver has matured into a botanical garden of international stature since opening to the public in 1975. The mild Vancouver climate allows the cultivation of an outstanding plant collection which is a delight any time of the year. VanDusen boasts over 255,000 plants representing more than 7,900 taxa from around the world. The plant collections represent eight different ecosystems that range from tropical South Africa, to the Himalayas, to the Canadian Arctic, as well as plants native to our own Pacific Northwest. The plants are displayed in picturesque landscape settings according to their geographical origins such as the Sino Himalayan Garden or by plant families illustrating their botanical relationships, such as the Rhododendron Walk.

These areas are set amidst rolling lawns, tranquil lakes and dramatic rockwork with vistas of the mountains and Vancouver cityscape.

History

In 1910, this site was an isolated acreage of stumps and bush. It was owned by the Canadian Pacific Railway and was leased by the Shaughnessy Golf Club from 1911 until 1960 when the golf club moved to a new location. The railway proposed a subdivision, but was opposed by many citizens. In 1966, the VanDusen Botanical Garden Association was formed to assist the Vancouver Park Board with saving the site. This effort was successful and the land was purchased with shared funding from the City of Vancouver, the Government of British Columbia and the Vancouver Foundation with a donation by W.J. VanDusen, after whom the Garden was named.

Development started in 1971 and VanDusen Botanical Garden officially opened to the public on August 30, 1975. The first Master Plan was developed by W.C. Livingstone and Dan Matsushita in 1973, and Curator Roy Forster managed the Garden from 1977 to 1996.

The Floral Hall and Garden Pavilion were designed by Underwood, McKinley, Wilson and Smith with Herb Wilson, designer and architect. The award-winning Forest Centre was designed by Thompson, Berwick, Pratt and Partners with Paul Merrick, design architect. This building is currently used by the education department, and is not open to the general public.

Capital Project

The Planting the Seed Capital Project will ensure that VanDusen Botanical Garden continues to grow as a vibrant centre of botany, horticulture and environmental learning. It will include:

• A new Visitor Centre off Oak Street, 'a living building' that in itself will attempt to model carbon neutral, 'zero ecological footprint' building concepts based on the most up-to-date principles of sustainability. A living building is one informed by its eco-region's characteristics, and that generates all of its own energy with renewable resources, captures and treats all of its water, and uses resources efficiently and for maximum beauty. This project will be aiming for a LEED platinum rating as part of the overall sustainability strategy. Within the building, orientation to the garden will begin along with an engaging and inspiring interpretive program. Also included within the new Visitor Centre will be:
  • A 'light fare' Garden Cafe; and
  • A Gift Shop, doubled in size, and featuring an impressive collection of plant and garden books, top of the line garden accessories, and plants that are represented in the VanDusen Botanical Garden collections.
• A new and separate Garden Pavilion which will become the educational, cultural and social focus of the Garden.

Living Building Philosophy

At the heart of the Living Building concept is the belief that our society needs to move quickly to a state of balance between the natural and built environments – to define the highest measure of sustainability possible in the built environment based on current thinking.

The Living Building elements have been attained in many projects around the world – just not all together. It is hoped that VanDusen's project will accomplish this.

• Site
  It is understood that the buildings would cause no negative impact. The idea is to reverse the trend of land degradation and invite nature's functions into a healthy interface with people and buildings.
• Energy
  A living building relies on current solar income. The building's energy needs would be supplied by on-site renewable energy on a net annual basis.
• Materials
  Those used will be safe, healthy and responsible for all species.
• Water
  A Living Building is water independent. The plan is for 100% of VanDusen's occupants' water use to come from captured precipitation or reused water that is appropriately purified without the use of chemicals. Water would be cleaned using juncos, iris and carex grown in the garden.
• Indoor Quality
  Healthy for all people – the design will focus on the major conditions that must be present for a healthy interior environment to occur.
• Beauty & Inspiration
  A Living Building Tells a Story. As a society we are often surrounded by ugly and inhumane physical environments. This project will contain design features intended solely for human delight and the celebration of culture, spirit and place appropriate to the function of the building.

Video

VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre as seen at the Vancouver Art Gallery

Video Courtesy Perkins+Will Canada Architects Co.

Related Webpage

• VanDusen Botanical Garden Webpage