ACKERY’S ALLEY

NEWSWALK ENTRY GARDEN (NWEG)

PROJECT DESIGN LEAD: TERRAIN ARCHITECTURAL FIRM CLIENT: NEWSWALK CONDOMINIUM LOCATION: 535 DEAN ST, BROOKLYN, NY 11217, UNITED STATES YEAR: 2015 - 2017

URBAN PRINCIPLES

UTS ALUMNI GREEN

PROJECT DESIGN LEAD: ASPECT STUDIOS CLIENT: UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, SYDNEY LOCATION: UTS CITY CAMPUS, ULTIMO, SYDNEY, NSW, 2007, AUSTRALIA YEAR: 2015

URBAN PRINCIPLES

ACKERY’S ALLEY

PROJECT DESIGN LEAD: DVBIA CLIENT: CITY OF VANCOUVER LOCATION: 651 SMITHE ST, VANCOUVER, BC V6B 2C9, CANADA YEAR: 2018

URBAN PRINCIPLES

Figure A Redesigned urban furniture that caters to the invitation of night activity through including lighting underneath the seating and reflecting it onto the open pavement This space is the entrance to an apartment complex with the intention to become an inviting area that integrates the respective streetscape and provide an enjoyable open space for the local residents as well. At night there is a combination of lighting techniques including pole lights, bollard lights and strip lights that are attached below the custom timber benches. It is from this that it blends together the soft and hard edges in the space and ultimately creates a safe environment for people even at night. This precedent is relevant to the urban project as it inspires the innovative use of different lighting techniques in one space as a means to make it more safe, engaging and fun even at night. This is alongside showcasing how pathway edges can be softened and integrated as a part of the green space to create a more inclusive environment. The Newswalk Garden additionally acknowledges the surrounding contextual land use being residential apartments, of which influence the notion of openness that is achieved.

This precedent is relevant to the urban project as it highlights the multipupose opportunity of green space in providing a rich program of activity and uses through generic furnishings that can further instigate social engagement amongst different groups of people. This is alongside how it showcases how vegetation edges can also become unique pieces of urban furniture that allows people to stay. An understanding of inviting students to the space is also prioritised through the freedom reflected in unfixed furniture.

The precedent promotes a night life and liveability in lane ways by appreciating the interactive lighting and sound installation that are used to create personal or social performances. This idea is similar to the vision of the urban project in which it is about promoting a night life in more secluded areas like Hollis Park and more social interaction. Reactivating lane ways to become more safer and inviting is also one of the components the urban project seeks to do to connect the whole of Newtown.

KEY FEATURES

Figure B Lighting techniques soften the hard edge of the pathway and blend it with the vegetation through emphasising the urban furniture Figure C Lighting is already switched on and thus highlighting the seamless urban furniture, vegetation patches and open pedestrian pathways that are available for movement Figure D Section that reveals the contours developed by the vegetation patches, of which are further redefined by the urban furniture usage as a seating space

Figure A Floor plan of Alumni Green as the central green space surrounded by the university landscape in a city socio spatial context

OVERVIEW RELATION TO URBAN PROJECT

Alumni Green was proposed under the impression that it would offer a different landscape for learning, socialising and simply enjoying the university campus lifestyle. As a part of this it includes a social infrastructure edge that was deliberately designed to create places for people to stay and talk. The central grass area is used for both special events and informal daily activities, and then the sculptural edges of the green are also informal seating areas. As such it enables the usage to extend beyond day time into night.

KEY FEATURES

Figure B Multipurpose edge that allows people the freedom to be comfortable and encourages stationary activities both individually or as a group Figure C Reveals how the edge between green space and pedestrian pathways can also operate as a space for unique urban furniture that encourages people to stay Figure D Acknowledge that the design of the urban furniture is flexible enough to permit a range of personal comfortability levels for different users

Figure A DVBIA designs different laneways and continue ongoing maitenance. For Ackery’s Alley DVBIA worked with more partners such as HCMA Architecture and Design, Vancouver Civic Theatres – Orpheum Theatre, Property Owners and adjacent businesses, City of Vancouver and Tangible Interaction (FIELD)

OVERVIEW RELATION TO URBAN PROJECT

Refurbishing downtown lane-ways that primarily is used for utilitarian purposes into a lively public space and has potential to increase public pedestrian in the city by 30%. The alley was designed to create an atmosphere of a public theatre or performance venue in an alleyway, allowing any user to perform. In Ackery’s Alley at night time there are interactive lights and sound installation. Thus allowing any user to interact and play with their body. Thus the refurbished alley way develops a network of interconnected lanes.

KEY FEATURES

Figure B Reveals the renovation by the painted design wall and moveable urban furniture for different types of public gathering Figure C Evidence of vibrant interactive lighting playing an integral role for user interaction and public performance which creates a night life in the lane way Figure D Dual purpose lane way for cars in the day time and pedestrians for the night life and a social gathering