Creating a sense of place

With any large-scale, master-planned urban development it becomes important to consider the feeling that the environment will evoke. After all, any truly great community is striving for its own unique “sense of place” that both sets it apart and draws people to it.

When our talented group of consultants began thinking about how Harbourside could  evolve into a mixed-use community with its own special sense of place, they began by first recognizing the site’s characteristics and attributes. Harbourside’s location is uniquely in tune with the natural world – it occupies a prime waterfront location with trail connectivity and magnificent views of the ocean and the North Shore mountains. The property also has a dynamic history as part of a working waterfront which remains in operation to this day. The team spent considerable time envisioning how exactly they could create something which would simultaneously acknowledge the site’s unique position in the City while at the same time paying homage to the working nature of this stretch of North Vancouver’s waterfront – all in an effort to make Harbourside a destination for those across the North Shore and beyond. 

After much careful consideration, the resulting plan strikes a balance between all of these objectives. The creation of animated shopping streets filled with unique, boutique retailers along with dynamic gathering places would help establish Harbourside as a destination. The integration of recreational areas, including a generous amount of park space and an expansion of the Spirit Trail would further this goal – especially since an expanded Spirit Trail would provide opportunities for walking, riding, rollerblading and running for kilometers east and west of Harbourside. These efforts are intended to make Harbourside into a destination while preserving the site’s connections to the natural world. To further maintain this connection, the team is prioritizing the preservation of public and private views of the mountains and ocean. Harbourside’s uniqueness would be further accentuated with the careful selection of materials throughout the buildings and landscaped public spaces. Materials which connect to the natural world and weather authentically would be combined with elements which evoke an “industrial chic” language – think soft colored brick, concrete, wood and steel. To contrast, smooth metal panels and flush glass would be used as a subtle reference to the shine of a boat in the harbour. 

We are confident that these considerations will result in a community which possess its own identity and sense of place, allowing it to become one of the most dynamic and desirable communities in the Lower Mainland.