Revitalizing the Central Water Front & DownTown East Side

Downtown Vancouver - Academic work - Master of Urban Design

Introducing our urban design project focused on revitalizing the Central Waterfront and East Side neighborhoods of Vancouver, with a specific emphasis on addressing the needs of youth. Our project aims to reconnect disparate nodes of the area and alleviate deficiencies, such as housing crises, loss of history, climate change, and pollution.

Our project is signifcant within the broader context of urban design as it offers a new approach to addressing the complex challenges facing cities today. By carefully analyzing the site, we have developed a design concept that prioritizes sustainability, affordability, and accessibility. By creating a more livable and resilient urban fabric in Downtown East Side and Central Waterfront Vancouver, we hope to inspire other cities to follow suit and create a more equitable and sustainable future for all.”

Even though the Central Waterfront in Vancouver is a place that many people pass through on a daily basis, it does not have any particular features that would encourage people to stay or spend an extended amount of time there.

In order to achieve our final design, we focused on connecting the three distinct areas of Vancouver - China Town, Gas Town, and Waterfront - through an activated route that begins at the Waterfront station and moves through Cambie, Pender, and a hidden street nestled among buildings before reaching the central waterfront. Each of these cultural and historical streets has its own unique theme, including a 24-hour food street, a traditional and cultural fashion street, a food street, and an art street. The end goal is a vibrant and bustling community center, which serves as an architectural landmark, alongside floating dorms constructed with recycled materials.

Urban Design Stuidio III I University of British Columbia

Supervisor : Derek Lee

Site Location: Central Water Front , Downtown East Side - Canada , Vancouver

Completed : Dec 2023- May 2023

Applications : Sketchup , Rhino , Illustartor , Photoshop , In Design