GRANVILLE ISLAND REDEVELOPMENT
MIXED-USE
Client: Canada Mortgage and
Housing Corporation
Services: Architecture, Urban Design,
Master Planning
Cost: $19.5 M
Size: 37.5 acres (15 ha)
Completion: 1977 - present
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Heralded by planners, politicians, and in publications worldwide as one of
the most important urban precedents of our time, Granville Island is one
of DIALOG’s trademark works. The original design and master plan for the
redevelopment of the 14.2 hectare site, prepared between 1977 and 1979, took
the formerly dilapidated industrial site and transformed it into a vibrant and
livable community. This mixed-use environment, based on the adaptive re-use
of early 20th century industrial warehouses, has become a cultural legacy for
the citizens of Vancouver. As a social focus, the Island lives up to the original
mandate of creating a “people place” in the city. Granville Island was named
“Best Neighbourhood in North America” by the New York-based, non-profit
organization, Project for Public Spaces.
As Coordinating Architect to the Government of Canada, DIALOG’s Norm Hotson
and Joost Bakker have been responsible for the Island’s Master Plan; the design
of all streetworks, waterfront shoreline edges and open spaces; an addition to the
Granville Island Hotel; the Granville Island Brewery, including a recent renovation;
the Public Market; several artist’s studios and workshops; traffic and parking
design; children’s play features and water park, and the review and coordination
of building designs done by others.
In 2008, the firm prepared an updated Urban Design Plan for the next 20 years
of development on Granville Island. The objective of the work wa