Design Charrette

The Design Charrette held in July 2021, was an opportunity for the DKP Advisory Committee to regroup in person after the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions were eased. The two-day design charrette was a collaborative design process to explore design ideas and interventions for DKP through drawings, sketches and precedents. The Advisory Committee connected with the local architects, planners and urban designers to help support the design process.

The three teams met in-person at three different venues – The Library, The Coastal Community Credit Union and the Art Gallery. These venues were chosen to stay close to the plaza to draw design ideas and inspiration from the existing conditions of the site. Each group was led by an experienced architect with a design support and people with a cross-section of expertise and interests. The first day started with a tour of the plaza led by the lead architect to create a design vision. Preliminary design concepts were developed that reflected the information gathered from the past engagement events to date. The concepts were refined into conceptual site designs the following day with design interventions and precedents.

The Design Charrette outcomes from each team are captured below:

This team envisioned the development of DKP as having seven zones, each intended to encompass the themes of storytelling, discovery, and restoration. The team focused on balancing permanent and temporary activation to draw people into the plaza and ensure that the space is used year-round. Activity is encouraged by increasing the landscaping, seating, and weather responsiveness in and around the site, alongside the addition of eateries and retail. To preserve and highlight DKP’s view of the oceanfront and marina, the team added a viewing platform and explored the possibility of transforming it into a skywalk that extends across Front Street.

Team 1

Team 2

This team proposed five key themes for their design interventions. The first design theme is diversity, which is showcased in all age activities, public amphitheatre, improved accessibility, ease of mobility within the site, and employment opportunities. The site plan was also focused on being a year-round public realm, which was reflected through covered gathering spaces, lighting, and natural windbreaks. Connectivity was another key aspect of the design, including dynamic flooring, natural viewpoints, and an elevated walkway. Lastly, the team highlighted the importance of tourism and engagement. To address that, the proposed site facilitates market spaces, encourages theatre and musical performances, extensive seating and outdoor eateries.

This team envisioned the development of DKP as a short-term solution or quick fixes and long-term vision with significant design interventions. It was evident that the plaza needs efficient programming, however, there needs to be some foundational infrastructure to support and complement that. One of the biggest design interventions was to reimagine the first floor of the Coastal Community Credit Union as a retail and restaurant space to improve permeability with offices relocated to the upper floors. Another major intervention was to have a destination restaurant in the air space parcel facing the waterfront with an extended patio deck with a footbridge connecting the plaza to the Harbour Front.