2025 Gastown Summer Pilot
Vancouver, BC
The 2025 Gastown Summer Pilot reimagines Vancouver’s most iconic historic district through a series of temporary, site-specific design interventions. In collaboration with the City of Vancouver, Urban Forum Associates, and the Gastown Business Improvement Society, Hapa Collaborative developed a flexible public realm strategy that supports walkability, enhances local business presence, and creates space for everyday gathering.
Starting from the western edge of Water Street, a cluster of prominent planters and custom wood benches marks the gateway into Gastown. This entrance feature invites visitors in, while offering a place to pause and gather. The planters — filled with native species — not only introduce a lush streetscape but also establish a cohesive planting language that continues throughout the Water Street corridor.
Moving east along Water Street, the streetscape comes alive with vibrant planters, indigenous artwork, public site furnishings, and open zones for pop-up games, markets, and outdoor dining. Painted white street circles help delineate pathways for pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles, enhancing safety and encouraging active mobility. Each block is designed to respond to the adjacent context, carefully balancing the needs of businesses, movement corridors, and open space opportunities.
At the heart of Gastown, our design for Maple Tree Square amplifies the spirit of place. Drawing inspiration from the site’s Indigenous origins — ləql’əqi (“grove of beautiful trees”) and qəəmqəəəmələəp (“place of maples”) — the reimagined square centers around memory, movement, and gathering. Three sculptural wood seating elements, each housing a native maple tree and lush planting, anchor the central mound while preserving views to the iconic Flatiron Building. These elements integrate with surrounding patios and help transform the space into a welcoming public node.
