Bowen 1.O - Community Hub

Project idea

Bowen Island, British Columbia, is an island municipality that is part of Metro Vancouver Canada. Bowen being a wonderful island with rich flora and fauna in nature’s lap, our concept evolved responding contextually and coming up with structures blending with the surrounding mountains giving rise to various activities enhancing connection & belongingness of people towards the hub. Merging contemporary architecture with biophilic trends the spaces have been designed which connect inside out and involve nature as a key element. With universal design strategies, all roofs have been designed with infinity view of island and feeling the essence of living on mountains. Considering diverse climatic conditions, spaces are designed to have warm shaded seating areas both open n close for winter outdoor activities. Techniques are inhabited to make convertible spaces that are compatible to all weather conditions for serving various kinds of activities according to need ranging from formal, informal to recreational gatherings. Incorporating art in the design was one of the major aspects to connect people and enrich them with the rich heritage and culture of the island with getting a first impression for the people defining the Bowen Island in the language of Architecture. Aroma garden is designed to incorporate the healing power of nature to create a positive aura and a peaceful environment with community yoga and exercise spaces blending in with nature’s gift.

Project description

Bowen Island community hub is designed responding fully contextually to the people and a place where it connects the locals. The place is designed to develop and show the belongingness of natives towards the island. The design shows the rich cultural background and artistic expression of people of Bowen towards community and giving each and every individual artists the opportunity to paint their own expression on the community wall called the Bowen Wall (Front Façade) and give the community a face for others. The form evolved through the idea of blending it with the surrounding mountains and incorporating many activities making the hub for all age group and a place for recreational as well. Spaces like art gallery, skating roofs, performance areas, aroma garden, gym, Fireplace, Celebrating Courtyard, community center etc. has been designed to make the full of activity with optimum open, close and green transitional spaces. All the green roofs are designed to have ice skating, skate-boarding and gardening area making the entire site 100 % open. Contemporary architecture blending with biophilic tread was a concept evolved for our design.

Technical information

Hardscape areas for organizing various functions like yoga sessions, marriage, recreational, jamming space, fire pit and a performance stage is done for encouraging cultural activity and dedicated spaces for multipurpose activity at a time.
Transitional green areas between blocks making each block connecting outside and a celebrating central courtyard designed to make a unity connecting all sections as an open gathering space. Making green accessible roofs from ground to enable infinity view of island that blends with surrounding flora.
Arrangement of blocks is done according to the function and crowd gathering with ease of access. All the blocks are designed with transitional green spaces and all-around view with visual connection to the central courtyard.
Various activity zones are created all across site to organize micro to macro events and enjoy outdoor activity with pleasant view. Roof level activity is encouraged to use the above floor areas making it 100% open space blending with surrounding green mountains and maximum space utilization.

Documentation

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