The architectural Institute of British Columbia together with the city of Vancouver recently held a competition to develop and improve the city’s livability through greener, denser development known as the 2030 Challenge.For the competition Public Architecture + Communication developed a point tower typology that is closely associated with the city.The project won a honorable mention in the category ‘Vancouver Wildcard’.All winning entries: www.formshiftvancouver.com.From the architects’ project description:‘The point tower has become the backdrop building typology most closely associated with Vancouver’s identity in the last 20 years. In a city that has adopted the high rise point tower as a typology for both dwelling and commerce, it is worth speculating how it would accommodate Vancouver at play. How does a building form frequently associated with a thin cloak of singular corporate modernism adapt to express the individual and affinities that form communities? In this context this proposal speculates about the character of emerging districts of work and public life such as the Broadway Corridor and asks the question what would a sustainable high rise community building look like?This proposal explores four distinct building programs integrated into a vertical topography – media tech, library, community broadcasting studio, gallery and theaters using the following framework:REEF individuals using a shared infrastructure like a coral reef, the core building provides weather stabilized vertical topographiesthat create a variety of spatial experiences and inhabitable spaces. Variation in cross section creates an array of spatial characteristics from large scale public performance spaces, to small, intimate and private spaces.JELLYFISH individual as collective Some Jellyfish, such as bluebottles, are actually a colony of four different types oforganisms that work together to survive and, as a result, express themselves as a single entity. Like a jellyfish, this building consists of four distinct buildings terrains that can be understood as a single entity. These terrains inhabit different sides of the cross section and overlook each other in longitudinal section. These terrains consist of a Performance and Events Center, a Media Center, a Research Library and an Interdisciplinary Educational Center. Each individual terrain further breaks down into three distinct zones: individual cells expressed on the facades, enclosed areas in the core for group work, and exterior covered spaces for meeting and activities beyond the scale of the enclosed spaces. Individual primary circulation cores give each terrain autonomy, while secondary circulation provides interconnection between and within terrains.LEAF BUG mimetic amongst the corporate towers Surrounded by corporate towers proclaiming singular entities, this building absorbs the built language that surrounds it. The scale is that of a corporate tower and the building expression references existing constructed languages of the Broadway corridor, including advertising billboards, hotels, gas stations, and car dealerships.However, rather than projecting a singular expression, it can be understood as school of fish.DANCE STEPS adaptability, movement, change as constant Core building programs are arranged when possible as open floor plans, creating large tiers of adaptable space with furniture providing definition to changing programmatic needs. These tiers spill into exterior covered spaces that are immediately adjacent. From the core spaces, bridges span to individual cells that express to the facade and can be expanded into a vertical favela.TRANSPARENCYThe building is completely open air and spatially permeable at grade. Facade screens shade and protect from weather, as well as generate electricity. Double glass facades enclose interior spaces but allow for air movement. Sustainability is demonstrated by living within climatic extremes and eliminating HVAC systems, except in localized zones requiring conditioning, such as computer labs.PUBLIC is an integrated design studio formed from the collaboration between architects and communication designers. We work together and separately on projects involving environments, brands and information. Our designers share space, resources and ideas.Further information and pictures about this project: www.formshiftvancouver.com.
