Bownesscape

Oct 1

Breathing life into back alleyways to support local businesses

By: Angat Desai and Kim Hoang

Departing from the traditional design strategy of revitalizing the front of the main street, Bownesscape aims to breathe life into the often forgotten and overlooked back alleyways to support the development of a healthy urban environment. Tying together the community name Bowness with landscape and escape, Bownesscape expands the main street beyond the frontage into a holistic urban landscape where all are invited to support local businesses and safely socialize in the midst of the pandemic.

While the alleyway’s primary use is car storage and garbage pick-up, further observation revealed that some people use the area as an informal social space. Backyards bordering along the edge became spaces for residents to expand their patios, interact with their neighbours, plant beautiful gardens, and walk their pets. Harnessing these existing activities, Bownesscape seeks to reclaim underutilized spaces by implementing a series of multidisciplinary design installations that will facilitate opportunities for formal and informal social encounters to support people’s wellbeing and restore confidence in outdoor public spaces.

To encourage environmental responsibility, low impact design strategies such as permeable pavement and green spaces will replace gravel and expand equitable access for those with mobility devices. Incorporating native plants in gardens will provide rich ecosystems for urban wildlife, and bring beauty and joy to passersby. Other design interventions such as courtyards and patios expand businesses into the outdoors, and publicly encourage a vibrant pedestrian corridor to keep businesses afloat during the pandemic while following public health guidelines.

Details:

Budget: Total budget of $2.3 million for materials and master plan: 5 large connectors costs $9,000 each; 2 small connectors costs $3,000 each; pavement costs $1,500 in total; planters costs $40,000 in total; seating costs $30,000 in total; benches costs $20,000 in total; patios costs $15,000 in total; sod costs $17,500 in total; trees costs $11,105 in total; trees + shrubs costs $22,500 in total, patio lights + decor costs $5,000 in total, paint and murals costs $30,000 each, garbage collection station costs $360,000 in total, consultation costs varies, and shipping and transportation costs varies.