Working on the same site in northwest Calgary as the Technoburb project, Erin Silsbe and I developed a concept for a town centre of our new community....S'ikksopo - which means "chinook wind" in Blackfoot.
 

The Objectives

Building on the concept of Technoburb, where the community is wired, individuals have a much more flexible work schedule, and residents desire a more urban form, S'ikksopo's town centre should have:

- a compact urban form
- a street layout that integrates cars and people in a safe manner
- a variety of uses (residential, office, retail, institutional) integrated throughout the community and within buildings

The Plan
 

Figure Ground

The figure ground diagram illustrates how the buildings will frame the public space, and pathways will be legible, yet be winding so to slow vehicular traffic.
 

Plan View

The plan view illustrates a number of things:

- school site to the southwest
- community centre to the southeast
- Smart Centre to the north of the playing fields (for a detailed explanation of the Smart Centre - see the Technoburb page)
- Omoipi Common at the centre of the location (omoipi is a Blackfoot word for "gathering place")
 

Omoipi Common Detail

Omoipi is the vibrant core of the town centre.  It functions as a gathering place and is surrounded by a number of buildings that feature a variety of uses, massing, and architectural styles.
 
 

 

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