斯特拉斯科纳是温哥华的第一个住宅区, 尽管今天的局外人试图讲述一个不同的故事. High-rise condos and coffee shops besiege the neighborhoods’ perimeter and development ads spin the tale of Strathcona as Vancouver’s “next great hood”.
This isn’t the first time that the neighborhood has faced threats of gentrification. Strathcona was almost torn up and replaced by a highway at the end of the 1960’s. Residents banded together with malcontent City staff in efforts that have since shaped the City in longstanding ways, 无论是身体上还是政治上. Notably, Vancouver is the only major city in North America without an inner-city highway.
Unlike the urban renewal attack of the 1960’s, todays besiege is more nuanced to defend. 鼓起的发展 环绕 整个社区, not to mention the two major long term redevelopment plans that will break ground in the next decade. 新St. Paul’s Hospital project and the Northeast False Creek Plan account for over 50 acres of redevelopment which hug the southern and western edges of the neighborhood.
Contrasting as they are, Strathcona and its peripheral extension are two sides of the same coin. The condo towers that front the neighborhood act as a reminder of contextual negligence. 堆放, block-long condos are densely billowing along the arterial while the inner streets are filled with block-long examples of a different kind of density. 柔软的密度.
Koo’s Corner: a six unit town home, converted from an old car garage (seen in blue). 图片来自谷歌地图.
Strathcona is full of compact and creative heritage projects that preserve the neighborhoods character and emphasize community living. 辜氏车库就是这样一个例子, a heritage transformation project that plays tribute to its automotive past. The old structure has been converted into family residences and sits as the tail end of a six-unit townhouse.
Once a Chinese Catholic school, the Schoolhouse is now an eco-townhome for Strathcona families. 图片来自谷歌地图.
The Schoolhouse is another innovative conversion tucked away in the neighborhood. What was once a Chinese Catholic School is now a five-unit eco-townhome. The project achieved the highest eco-rating in Canada, the Built Green Platinum certification. The homes are designed to support live-work lifestyles and adapt to residents changing needs throughout their various stages of life.
一个看似贪得无厌的房地产市场, 斯特拉斯科纳被认为“太有价值而不能重新开发”. Innovative local architects have proven that you can have your character buildings and live in them too. The residential streets prove the success of heritage conversions at a small scale, but this strategy can be taken beyond the arterial perimeters. The neighborhood has acknowledged its need to densify, and supports new growth for its community. 然而, 而不是向外寻找设计, might designers and architects find inspiration in Strathcona neighborhood itself? 密度不需要是一个有内涵的问题, but attractive housing options for working class residents and families shouldn’t be either.
引线图像 Leeann Cafferata
