The long-awaited proposals for a new urban park at Lansdowne were unveiled at city hall Thursday.
Five designs by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates of Massachusetts, Phillips Farevaag Smallenberg of Vancouver, the SWA Group of California, West 8 Urban Design and Landscape Architecture of Toronto and Williams, Asselin, Ackaoui & Associates of Montreal were presented anonymously, so they can be judged on the merit of the designs.
Design A includes an inlet for the Rideau Canal under an eastern stretch of Queen Elizabeth Drive. Under this proposal, the farmers’ market would be directly west of the Aberdeen Pavilion and the Horticulture building would not be relocated. It would also have a toboggan hill and footbridge at Fifth Avenue.
The most striking element of Design B is a large pedestrian bridge spanning the Rideau Canal and connected to Avenue Road, Riverdale Avenue and Echo Drive. The proposal includes a tall public art tower. The farmers’ market would be directly south of the Aberdeen Pavilion and the Horticulture Building would remain in place.
Design C creates a star-like design with its pathways and the Aberdeen Pavilion at the centre. Immediately east of the pavilion, which houses the farmers’ market, is a fountain. The Horticulture Building would be removed and its façade would be added to the covered plaza area.
Design D features a ribbon-like pathway leading from the pavilion to a pedestrian bridge over the Rideau Canal to Riverdale Avenue. The pond is bound by an esplanade. The farmers’ market would be inside the Horticulture Building, which would be shifted directly east to the other end of the Aberdeen Pavilion.
Design E features water running from the northeast corner of the current parking lot all the way to Brown’s Inlet. Under this plan, the Aberdeen Pavilion would have a telescopic, retractable inner skin, so the event space inside could be doubled if...more here
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