Shape Vancouver is an online poll for citizens of Vancouver and beyond to have their say on the future shaping of Vancouver's downtown peninsula. What will your city look like? Pay attention to the 'graphic equalizer' at the bottom of the screen, and see how your manipulation of the City's skyline affects Carbon Savings, Energy Consumption, Infrastructure Costs and Automobile Usage. Although a fully maximized city has sustainable benefits, there are limits to what can be achieved through density alone.
Shape Vancouver has been developed on the assumption that each person added to the downtown core is seen as one less person outside of the city core. Therefore savings in Carbon, Energy, Infrastructure and automobiles, as illustrated, simply reflect the difference in established lifestyles.
Shape Vancouver metrics are generated from estimated baselines and are not meant to be exact, but representative of the effect of adding buildings to the downtown core rather than areas outside.
This survey is intended to gage the public's opinion on Vancouver's skyline, density and their effects on a few environmental factors. For simplification purposes, adding density is illustrated as building height only, and is not intended to be considered as the only means of sustainable densification. The survey simulation does not provide metrics for more complex issues, such as affordability, amenities, transportation or other social issues. Obviously all these factors are important considerations and the 'comments' section will allow users to express their thoughts on these complex issues.
Participating in Shape Vancouver offers an opportunity for the community to have their say on building height and density. This information contributes to an ongoing research project on the role of sustainability in the future of The City of Vancouver's Zoning regulations.
About Busby Perkins+Will
International architecture firm Busby Perkins+Will is considered one of North America's leading green practices with the largest portfolio of built green projects in Canada. The firm also researches, educates, and is heavily involved in the development of public policy and sustainability guidelines.
Our History + Mission
Busby Perkins+Will (then Busby Bridger Architects) authored the City of Vancouver's View Cones in 1989, originally conceived as a living document, to evolve with our city. Over the last 20 years, Vancouver has changed dramatically. Our downtown core has transformed into a picturesque metropolitan gateway that is recognized around the world for its beauty and livability; our water's edge has changed from service areas to a vast and vibrant urban amenity; our attitudes have changed from being vehicular centred to being more pedestrian and cycling centred; and most importantly, sustainability has become critical to our city and to all facets of our lives.
Busby Perkins+Will and Concord Pacific share a common interest in the future of Vancouver and have jointly developed this study in an effort to gage public opinion on the future of our city skyline, density and environmental impacts.