The hillscraper is an
architectural provocation ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN downtown edmonton and
the meandering river valley below. DESIGNED
like A BRIDGE, IT SUGGESTS A WAY TO connect people in the city and in nature. ACCESSed
from jasper avenue, inside it provides SHELTER, PUBLIC PROGRAMS, AND “CIVILIZED”
CONVEYANCE. it ENCOURAGEs MOVEMENT TO AND FROM THE PARK SYSTEM AS A SIMPLE,
STRAIGHTFORWARD EXTENSION OF THE CITY.
ESCHEWING THE CITY/NATURE
DISTINCTION, IT offers A DIRECT INTERACTION WHEREIN this traditional dichotomy
is brought togeher in a close working relationship. the hillscraper opens the river valley TO A
WIDER RANGE OF CITIZENS & TOURISTS, combining outdoor activites like
exploring and HIKING with SHOPPING, ENTERTAINMENT & EDUCATION. the HILLSCRAPER combines TWO WORLDS: one, an ESCAPE
OR ENTRY FROM THE NOISE AND BUSTLE OF THE CITY and second, AN EXIT PATH TO THE
PLEASURES OF THE SPRAWLING FIELDS, FORESTS AND DRIFTING ‘SLOW TIME’ OF THE
NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER. WHETHER CONSIDERED A BRIDGE, A GATEWAY, OR A
DESTINATION into ITSELF, the hillscraper’s purpose IS TO ENHANCE USE OF THE
RIVER VALLEY BY BROADENING ITS APPEAL, ACCESS AND EXPERIENCE.
top floor: extends from Jasper and
continues south parallel with 96 Street, providing a FORMAL extension to this
celebratory boulevard TO THE PARK. AT this “bridge level” shops and vendors
PROVIDE A WAY TO CONTINUE THE “STROLL” OF WINDOW SHOPPING OUT INTO THE WIDER
HORIZON OF THE NATURAL WORLD.
third and forth floors: THE ‘river valley’ museum and auditorium provide an educational and cultural base to the facility. the museum showcases the natural history and attractions of the river valley as a way to formally consider its importance to the ecology, health and identity of the city as it flows though and divides the urban landscape. The auditorium space provides room for various presentations, lectures, AND ENTERTAINMENT. a gift shop will ALLOW EVERYONE TO BRING SOMETHING BACK TO WHEREVER THEY CALL HOME. THE MUSEUM will OPERATE TO EXPAND KNOWLEDGE AND DEBATE ON THE RIVER VALLEY, AND EXERCISE THOUGHT TO ITS FUTURE.
second floor: THE BANQUET HALL is DEDICATED TO CELEBRATION, food, and social activities. THIS LEVEL is OPENED TO THE OUTSIDE DURING THE WARM SEASONS WITH OPERABLE SLIDING GLASS panels, as a BREEZY SUMMER PATIO FROM WHICH TO DINE ABOVE THE VALLEY. this level contains the “CAROUSEL”, WHICH OFFERS An eclectic RIDE for ALL AGES, BUT WITH PANORAMIC PERSPECTIVES.
ground floor: IS THE CONNECTION TO LOUISE MCKINNEY PARK. ALREADY A SITE FOR OUTDOOR STAGE AND PERFORMANCE EVENTS, THE hillscraper offers a MULTI-PURPOSE STAGE UNDER THE SHELTER OF THE STRUCTURE. the STAGE CAN BE OPENED OR ENCLOSEd, addessing THE AREA OF THE EXISTING STAGE AND FIELD WHERE it SERVEs LARGER OUTDOOR PRODUCTIONS.
altogether, THE HILLSCRAPER EXTENDS THE TYPICAL USE OF THE DOWNTOWN WITH THE RECREATIONAL FUNCTIONS OF THE PARK BELOW WITH MINIMAL IMPACT ON THE SITE. STEPPING LIGHTLY, IT SUGGESTS A RESPECTFUL and inclusive WAY TO STRENGTHENing OUR LONG-TERM COLLECTIVE USE AND APPRECIATION OF the edmonton river valley.
THE HILLSCRAPER PICKS UP PEOPLE FROM JASPER AVE, & PROVIDES AN EASY WAY TO INTO THE PARK.
A HILLSCRAPER, B LOUISE MCKINNEY PARK,
C SHAE CONVENTION CENTRE, D RUSSIAN ORTHODOX
CATHEDERAL, E EDMONTON QUEEN PADDLE WHEEL
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