On our Stories page, we have put the call out for you to share a story, observation, or idea (big or small) on how you re-imagine downtown Vancouver. Here is how Bob Ransford re-imagines downtown Vancouver:
All of Vancouver’s public gathering spots are located at the edge of the city, whether it’s the Jack Poole Plaza on the Coal Harbour waterfront; Stanley Park; the Olympic Village plaza on False Creek; the miles of seawall around the downtown peninsula and Kits; Vanier Park;, the PNE at the city’s eastern border; or the Fraser River trail. There are no public gathering spots in the heart of the city; no public city square.
Yet, Robson Square has functioned as a magnet for the public in the heart of the downtime, as much as it is not a square nor is it well designed for gatherings. It is time that we designed this civic precinct as Vancouver’s main gathering place.
That means respecting the two majestic buildings that anchor it at either end: Rattenbury’s magnificent courthouse of old, and Erickson’s splendid contemporary courthouse with Oberlander’s wonderful landscaping. The two sunken wells north and south of Robson should be brought to grade with massive skylights that the public can traverse and that end up being the new surface of an expansive plaza stretching from the south steps of the old courthouse to the waterfalls of the Robson Square complex. The front plaza facing Georgia should also be converted to a functional expansive area.
The Robson Square office complex should be fully converted to a new Asian contemporary museum and the old courthouse to the Museum of Vancouver. Alternatively, both buildings could be combined and could house an expanded Vancouver Art Gallery.
—Bob Ransford is a communications and urban design
specialist with Counterpoint Communications
Your Turn
Do you have a downtown Vancouver story, observation, or idea (big or small) you’d like to share? We’d love to hear from you! Share your contribution with us on our Stories page. Your contributions will help us re-imagine downtown Vancouver!
