Sea2City Design Challenge

Vancouver, British Columbia | 2022

The Sea2City Design Challenge was a 12-month collaborative initiative focused on reimagining Vancouver's False Creek shoreline in response to rising sea levels, urban development, and ecological revitalization. This innovative project brought together diverse design teams—The North Creek Collective (led by PWL) and Mithun + ONE—along with City staff, coastal adaptation experts, and representatives from the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. The project played a crucial role in contributing to the City’s Climate and Coastal Adaptation Plans, with a strong emphasis on decolonization.

Sea2City was characterized by a uniquely collaborative and iterative process, engaging diverse participants through workshops, community events, and comprehensive design deliverables. The project highlighted the pivotal role of landscape architects in fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration and connecting practitioners with the public.

By centring decolonization in its approach, Sea2City has significantly influenced future Coast Adaptation efforts and initiated pilot projects to test new ideas. Rather than providing a final solution, it represents a renewed approach and a deeper understanding of the relationships and connections that sustain us, offering valuable insights into how this knowledge can help tackle complex challenges.

Throughout the project, The North Creek Collective and Mithun + ONE collaborated at critical junctures, converging to synthesize ideas and then diverging to craft materials and reports tailored to specific sites and diverse audiences. Sea2City signifies a paradigm shift, setting a precedent for comprehensive, community-driven design approaches. Its implications extend beyond the immediate project, showcasing landscape architecture's leadership in creating resilient, inclusive, and sustainable urban environments.