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Vancouver Terminal 1
By : PLACE
GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN 19th edition
Discipline : Landscape & Territories
Categories : Landscape Architecture / Campus, cultural & institutional : Gold certification
Where city life meets the river, Terminal 1 reimagines Vancouver’s historic port as a vibrant and welcoming waterfront district. Once defined by industry and shipbuilding, the site is transformed into a resilient civic landscape that reconnects downtown to the Columbia River while honoring the working heritage that shaped the city’s identity. The project establishes a new public edge where culture, ecology, commerce, and recreation converge in a seamless urban experience.
At the heart of the design, a green, walkable plinth lifts two office towers above an activated public realm, opening the ground plane to plazas, terraces, and gathering spaces that draw people toward the water at every turn. This elevated landscape creates a layered sequence of experiences, balancing urban energy with moments of pause and reflection. Wide steps, shaded overlooks, and gardened slopes frame expansive river views while encouraging movement between the city and the riverfront.
The Launch serves as the project’s civic spine, extending a strong public axis from downtown Vancouver directly to the dock. Inspired by the site’s shipbuilding legacy, the promenade creates a cinematic procession toward the Columbia River, revealing the waterfront gradually through framed vistas, material transitions, and changing topography. Timber structures and overlooks reference the industrial character of the port while introducing warmth and human scale to the experience.
Lined with dining, retail, public art, and shaded seating, the waterfront promenade becomes a lively social corridor that remains active throughout the day and into the evening. Flexible public spaces accommodate events, markets, and informal gatherings, fostering a sense of community and connection along the riverfront. Terminal 1 ultimately transforms a once-industrial riverfront into a layered civic destination that is inviting, expansive, and deeply rooted in place. By reconnecting Vancouver to its waterfront through design that celebrates history, ecology, and public life, the project establishes a new model for resilient urban redevelopment and anchors the continued renewal of the district.
Collaboration
Landscape architecture : PLACE
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