Robson Square, Vancouver

List of all Squares

Activities

Documentation

Classification

❖Robson Square, Vancouver, Canada, 2010[open in full screen]

Previous Don Mills Plaza, Toronto

Story about urban squares in British Columbia is similar to the stories about rest of the squares in North Ameriaca in general. With very few exceptions like this one in the centre of the downtown Vancouver, specially built as a social space, squares are actually non-existent. As you will see in next 6 squares on our list they don't even have characteristics of the public gathering space.

Reason they are still in our collection is to encourage planners about need and potential some of these spaces have.

We lodged during our stay in Vancouver. in nearby hotel, after long flight from Toronto and three hours time difference 8:30 am was not very early for us [11:30 in Toronto]. To our surprise, this space was almost totally empty. We had to wait until 9 to see first open cafe to have a breakfast.

Together with murky weather, on and of rain and wind and heavy reconstruction going on, this first impression of B.C. , "the best place on earth" was disappointing.

We were more impressed by the number of homeless people in this city called capital of the homeless.

Next Canada Place, Vancouver

❖..c l a s s i f i c a t i o n ... s y s t e m..❖
more about evaluation method		more about types of squares
sociability	9	ceremonial	x
uses & activities	9	religious	x
access & linkages	8	social	x
comfort	8	residential	x
image	6	courtyard	x
tourist value	8	with park	x
total	48	street, shopping	x