409 Vision Brief

TABLE OF CONTENTS This issue of Urban Revitalization Journal documents a vision proposal for an area in Kitchener Ontario. The proposal by pdbq involves an introduction about the foundation of the firm, their visioning process and samples from an intensive charrette program they were involved in. This is strictly conceptual work completed by the firm and will be followed by an issue depicting concept and final designs for the area.

SECTION 01 / INTRODUCTION

SECTION 02 / VISION

SECTION 03 / CHARRETTE

SECTION 01 / INTRODUCTION

VOLUME 49 // ISSUE 02 // FEBRUARY // 2012

OUR EYES, AS WINDOWS TO THE WORLD, DILUTED

BY THE FILTER OF THE GREY CITY WILL ALWAYS SEARCH FOR THE GREEN FOUNDATION THAT SUPPORTS IT ALL NATURE. OUR VISION WILL PURSUE AND ESTABLISH SUSTAINABLE INTENSIFICATION

Haseeb Amirzada

Alex Hrynkiewicz

Srdjan Pejicic

Justin Taylor

Gardi Wong

John Yu

PAGE 06 / INTRODUCTION

URBAN REVITALIZATION JOURNAL

OPPORTUNITIES The proposed Kitchener transit corridor offers a variety of opportunities which begin with intensification. The implementation of an LRT route will catalyze development, introduce a new market to the area and offer a large population of established residents and connected communities. The development will encourage commercial and creative infrastructure as well as a source of capital for the rehabilitation of the channelized Schneider Creek. The addition of a new stadium proposal will cement the revitalization and allow for the development of a new district within Kitchener that focuses on entertainment and leisure.

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VOLUME 49 // ISSUE 02 // FEBRUARY // 2012

ANALYSIS CONSTRAINTS The proposal for intensification will be plagued with constraints that range from financial and environmental to physical and emotional. The industrial core located on the site relates to environmental concerns with contaminated soil and the channelized creek adjacent to this core. The most evident constraint is the floodway in which development is restricted and the surrounding neighbourhoods which will be the most impacted from tall intensification. Furthermore, the removal of industrial opportunities will cause the unemployment of a large amount of skilled labourers. The constraints will translate into opportunities for future designs.

PAGE 07 / INTRODUCTION

SECTION 02 / VISION

VOLUME 49 // ISSUE 02 // FEBRUARY // 2012

INCORPORATING A TRANSIT ORIENTED URBAN REVITALIZATION WHILE ENSURING AN ENVIRONMENTAL REHABILITATION IN A CONTRASTING DISTRICT WHICH SEAMLESSLY INTEGRATES THROUGH A STRONG CHARACTER.

PAGE 09 / VISION

URBAN REVITALIZATION JOURNAL

The established neighbourhoods within the site will function as the foundation for our design. These areas will be most susceptible to intensification and will be vital areas to facilitate connection through both green and grey networks. The transit corridor will facilitate connections to major nodes, throughout the city, however smaller connection within the site will have to be properly designed to facilitate active transportation and absorption into the core of the site.

PAGE 10 / OBJECTIVES

VOLUME 49 // ISSUE 02 // FEBRUARY // 2012

EXTEND ESTABLISHED NEIGHBOURHOODS FACILITATING PROPER CONNECTIONS OF BOTH GREY AND GREEN NETWORKS IN AN INTENSIFIED TRANSIT CORRIDOR. REVITALIZATION

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URBAN REVITALIZATION JOURNAL

The existing auditorium remains the greatest source of true character within the site. Therefore, although the proposal will include a large stadium project it is the goal of this firm to sustain the character of the auditorium and infuse a new identity into the site that focuses on leisure and entertainment. This identity will be contrasted through dense intensification and naturalized urban habitat. The arena will catalyze the development of amenities and commercial locations while the rehabilitation of the creek will ensure leisure and ecology are just as prominent throughout the area.

Although contrasting, these elements will be infused through careful site specific design that will mesh the fabrics of grey and green into a diverse and sustainable intensification that will create an identity unique to itself. Our vision will compliment the existing fabric throughout Kitchener and act as a destination for an array of demographics.

PAGE 12 / OBJECTIVES

VOLUME 49 // ISSUE 02 // FEBRUARY // 2012

ESTABLISH AN IDENTITY FOUNDED IN PLEASURE AND ENTERTAINMENT AS A COMPLIMENTARY ELEMENT TO THE ESTABLISHED DOWNTOWN AND MARKET DISTRICTS. CHARACTER PAGE 13 / OBJECTIVES

URBAN REVITALIZATION JOURNAL

IMPROVE AND REMEDIATE THE EXISTING CREEK AND NATURAL SYSTEMS WHICH DIRECTLY IMPACT THE ECOLOGICAL HEALTH OF THE SITE ITSELF AND THE SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT. REHABILITATION PAGE 14 / OBJECTIVES

VOLUME 49 // ISSUE 02 // FEBRUARY // 2012

It is vital in the vision of this firm to rehabilitate the natural systems of the site and surrounding areas for their ecological sustainability and not their simple visual importance.

The storm water system currently present throughout the site is unsustainable and could cause great flooding through the area. Therefore this firm will provide extensive research into the matter and will not offer temporary solutions which could possibly cause larger problems in the future. Proper solutions which will greatly benefit the community will allow for a truly sustainable intensification.

PAGE 15 / OBJECTIVES

SECTION 03 / CHARRETTE

VOLUME 49 // ISSUE 02 // FEBRUARY // 2012

During a formal charrette this firm began the process for a sustainable intensification in the Kitchener region.

This process produced four diagrams which outline current and proposed conditions throughout the site in a visual manner. All of the following diagram are hand drawn representation of the work of the firm.

THE FUNDAMENTAL CATALYST OF THE FOLLOWING CHARRETTE DIAGRAMS IS THE VISION CLOUD THAT OUTLINES A RANGE OF FOCUSES .

PAGE 17 / CHARRETTE

URBAN REVITALIZATION JOURNAL

THE STOPLIGHT DIAGRAM DESCRIBES DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS AND SIMPLIFIED PHASING PRINCIPLES PAGE 18 / CHARRETTE

VOLUME 49 // ISSUE 02 // FEBRUARY // 2012

GREEN NO DEVELOPMENT ORANGE INCREMENTAL DEVELOPMENT RED HIGH DEVELOPMENT

The development diagram depicts major and rapid development around the central dual transit nodes. It was the intention of the firm to ensure that all high development zones would be adjacent to incremental development in order to preserve stability and tranquility within those areas. In zones where high development is directly adjacent to existing neighbourhoods there are vacant properties and the priority for development is extremely high to ensure that blighted areas are revitalized.

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URBAN REVITALIZATION JOURNAL

THE LYNCH DIAGRAM OUTLINES NODES, LANDMARKS, PATHS, DISTRICTS AND EDGES IN A CONCEPTUAL MANNER. THE VISUALIZATION DETERMINES MAJOR CONNECTIONS THAT NEED TO BE MADE.

PAGE 20 / CHARRETTE

VOLUME 49 // ISSUE 02 // FEBRUARY // 2012

The Lynch diagram shows three important urban nodes. These nodes will function as the basis for development of the site and allow for the connection of existing and proposed networks.

An array of landmarks throughout the site will allow for active engagement and an array of dispersed destinations. The edges on the diagram serve as constraints to development and will be remedied in the concept stages of design. The industrial district will be revitalized while the commercial core will be extended.

PAGE 21 / CHARRETTE

URBAN REVITALIZATION JOURNAL

A COMBINATION OF CRITERIA COMPOSE THE NETWORK DIAGRAM WHICH DEPICTS THE FLOODWAY CONSTRAINT , LRT ROUTE , STADIUM LOCATION AND THE GREEN NETWORK

STADIUM NORTHERN LOCATION 50 M SETBACK RESTRICTION CREEK NATURALIZED APPROACH PAGE 22 / CHARRETTE

VOLUME 49 // ISSUE 02 // FEBRUARY // 2012

A northern stadium location will appease current Rangers and their fans who insist on the location for the project.

This location will also ensure the high value proposal is not threatened by the floodway or the flood fringe. It also allows a strong feature in the north to facilitate pedestrian movement from the core to the north. This move will also allow us to extend and connect the existing green network.

This firm will embark on the opportunity of naturalizing an restoring the creek framework through an updated storm water management system. This process is important because the current scenario has caused considerable erosion, sediment and chemical loading at the lower end of the stream. This endeavour will be important for the continued sustainability of the area.

PAGE 23 / CHARRETTE

URBAN REVITALIZATION JOURNAL

PAGE 24 / PRECEDENT

VOLUME 49 // ISSUE 02 // FEBRUARY // 2012 This issue of Urban Revitalization Journal documents a vision proposal for an area in Kitchener Ontario. The proposal by pdbq involves an introduction about the foundation of the firm, their visioning process and samples from an intensive charrette program they were involved in. This is strictly conceptual work completed by the firm and will be followed by an issue depicting concept and final designs for the area.

THESE PRECEDENT IMAGES INCORPORATE NATURALIZATION, INTENSIFICATION AND TRANSIT ORIENTED PROJECTS THAT EXEMPLIFY CHARACTER AND IDENTITY.

PAGE 25 / PRECEDENT