The Vancouver Model
February 15, 2010
Vancouver is no longer a well kept secret but rather a global attraction. Its picturesque scenery, mild temperature and its access to year round activities is now attracting a global community of family vacationers, thrill seekers, business elites and international athletes alike. The development of this once hippie beach side community is now geared toward a high density society with all the glitz and glam typically found in other large cities but without the massive populations which makes Vancouver an ideal city to live in.
The most recent and dramatic plan for urban land development in Vancouver, dubbed ‘The Vancouver Model‘ (downloadable PDF) was largely endorsed by Larry Beasley, the former co-director of planning for the City of Vancouver. Guided by this model, urban planners, architects and developers building in this city must provide walkable neighbourhoods, mixed income housing communities and public transit oriented development. Vancouver as we see it now is the result of a vision for the future of urban development.
Drawing from examples such as the local re-development of Vancouver’s historical Woodward’s building to the ambitious Masdar City project in Abu Dhabi, the challenge now is for us develop our urban context to enforce sustainability and strengthen social and cultural networks through forward thinking design and planning.
Vancouver is on its way to meeting this challenge and Architrix is proud to be part of it.
