Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava is an imposing figure in his field. His creations become famous before he even draws plans for them. We’ve got a few of his pieces on this continent, morphing geometric creatures done largely in white, and Canada is home to his newest work. Buried in ice and snow this time of year, Calgary’s residents are probably not doing much biking or pedestrian-ing, but in 2011 they will have a new way to cross the Bow River into downtown. This $22 million, 20 foot wide straight-as-an-arrow span, called the Peace Bridge, is a spiral helix, which is completely self-supporting. Unlike other bridges there will be no need for supports within its 413 foot span, leaving the Bow River ecosystem intact while 5,000 pedestrians and bikers commute above it per day.
Consisting of few materials (steel, reinforced concrete, glass) this bridge meets the city’s stringent requirements for new infrastructure. No in-water support was allowed, a height restriction had been imposed (due to a Heliport nearby). Additionally the bridge needed to withstand Calgary’s one-in-100-year flood cycle, meet a minimum 75-year life span, and allow barrier-free access for people of all mobility types. All of these things seem glaringly obvious, but how much of our infrastructure is intact today as it was when installed 75 years ago? The long-term thinking and environmental restrictions associated with this project are what enhance its splendor. This is the way we must work.
Beyond the alien-like (or Chinese finger trap) nature of this idea I love that it feels like a piece of a city that is on it’s way. You know when you used to play SimCity and you’d get one or two futuristic buildings in your town and they would be basically the preview of a wealthier time that hadn’t come yet? If this bridge represents a time when long-term thinking merges with inclusive environments for cityscapes in northern Canada, I think I will start to understand why it was named the Peace Bridge. It exudes the tranquility that it was built to bring. In a city larger than Seattle, infrastructure has moved beyond the restrictions of the automotive, and into the inclusion of the planet and the humans on it.
Is it too expensive, considering the city’s $60M deficit this year? Clogged streets and a bridge with a shorter lifespan at a lower construction/design price seem more expensive to me.
Alright, this one is incredible. Built in 2009, this business is up in all my alleys. The honor of the sourced materials, the considerations of the neighborhood, the absolute dedication to creating something breathtaking and simultaneously useful. Last time I was in Vancouver the Convention Center was freshly open for business. In fact it is not a new convention center, but an extension of the already famous one. Like a mini tent-version of the Sydney Oprea House, Vancouver’s convention center probably gained an exponential amount of square footage with this addition. What’s as interesting as what is inside, grows on the roof. Behold, 6 acres of living roof, basically extending the natural habitat of Coal Harbor + Stanley Park.
The scale of this building is difficult to comprehend. Seen above, are some of the tallest skyscrapers on the West Coast, met by an expanse of green jutting out into Vancouver Harbor. At the bottom of the image is the original convention center, like canvas sails permanently at dock.
Green roofs are nothing exactly new or exciting, but it is when you know what you are doing. As posted earlier in reference to Timberland boots, the honor is in the source. And the landscape architects showed that honorable source in every aspect of this roof. The sand mixture in the soil on the roof is excess dredge material from the local Fraser River, the organic material is waste from local parks and kitchens, thus creating a unique mixture that didn’t have to travel anywhere to support its newly planted native grasses & flowers. In fact the roof is so expansive that standing upon it and looking across Stanley Park to the North Shore, it would be easy to trick your eyes out of the high density urban context you were in.
The materials inside the building are exceptionally interesting, as well as the rest of the interiors. Being the worlds first LEED Platinum convention center seems enough, but to include stunning exhibitions of local materials, incredible commissioned art, and the desire to nurture the local residents with open access to public spaces is just incredible. Am I gushing? I must be gushing.
You’ve probably seen enough videos, but check out the opening day, I missed a party.
My favorite part here in the opening ceremonies is the feeling that this is a place for the world stage. In fact it was during the 2010 Olympics, and that means the world was exposed to a way to build things in an honorable manner. This building will last, it will grow, it will invite bees and songbirds into the city, and it will be a standard for industry students, as well as the rest of us.
We are a design, culture & art blog from Portland, Oregon. Founded by Aaron Rayburn and Benjamin Vickery, FORTPORT is interested in the design community, all aspects of creative application, and sharing with you.
