UBC Graduate Research

Creating a square in the heart of the city : exploring the opportunities and challenges of creating a pedestrian plaza on 800-block Robson Street O'Connor, Ryan

Abstract

London has Trafalgar Square, New York has Rockefeller Plaza, Rome has Piazza Navona. Around the world, public spaces help define a city and its residents. Often imbued with meaning and pride, these civic spaces provide room to breathe and to celebrate the city. Despite its internationally renowned standard of livability, Vancouver is sorely lacking in its inventory of urban public squares. With abundant greenspace and a pastoral setting, Vancouver’s public spaces emphasize an extroverted perspective. Rather than celebrating the city’s urbanity, Vancouver’s public realm provides outward views of the ocean, mountains, and natural elements that contribute to the city’s beauty.

Item Citations and Data

Rights

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International