Our vision for Market Lands is both sensitive and ambitious: to meet the guiding aspirations of the brief, create what the city needs, and deliver extra. We want it to be the best place in town to live, meet for drinks, share great food, buy fresh produce, experience art installations and open-air cinema; the go-to place in the Exchange District and a catalyst for wider regeneration.
The proposal recognizes the ghost creek that cut through the site long before First Nations Settlers, and Modernists came. Inspired by these histories, and connections to trade, we've created an 'eroded soft grid' layout with buildings and spaces that encourage continual flow. Albert Street through Old Market Square is extended diagonally north, the ancient route taken by Browns Creek; flowing water is symbolically exchanged with footfall. Careful consideration of position, function, and character of each building provides flexibility now and in future; the northern plot offers a framework for a variety of footprint sizes, heights, and investment opportunities.
The Plaza is a playful invitation to the public on the south-central portion of the site. It works as a place of social exchange providing year-round transformation: in warm weather, it hosts an extended market and offers services, seating, shade and water; in winter, a realm of fun and games. Year round, the Plaza provides pedestrian access from every direction. The Plaza retains mature trees in the south-west corner but is largely open, with shifts in paving to incorporate furniture, lighting, planting, water, and sound/light installations within the modulated Tyndall stone surface.
Market House is conceptually a carved block of wood with a changing silhouette when seen in the round. The 100-unit building is kept compact to maximize the Plaza. The form is subtle but sophisticated, directing west sunlight into the Plaza and embodying movement. A glassy footprint addresses the needs of the Urban Shaman Gallery and includes two commercial units, with the housing entrance core. On the east, facing Market Hall, is the Gallery entrance, whilst exhibitions can spill out onto the Plaza on the south side. All apartments face east, south, or west. The timber waffle structure provides all residents with big views from full-width sheltered balconies, sustainable Canadian wood.
Market Hall is the dynamic destination on the new diagonal route through the site. The soaring, column-free roof is an engineered timber 'hyperbolic paraboloid' structure, generating movement with economic straight lines and requiring only the support of stairs in two opposite corners. The sculptural rooftop is accessible; the Plaza here is symbolically 'lifted up' to provide an event space for cinema or snowman competitions, depending on the season, with great views. Beneath the big warm roof, the open space of Market Hall is framed by full-height glass façades. This connects to the south and west Plaza, with fixed shops, washrooms, and storage. Above sits a mezzanine bar on the north and east sides.
Deliberately dramatic and intimate, the design is a year-round celebration of civic generosity, activity, and inclusivity.
(Competitor's text)
1x1 Architects, Winnipeg and dRMM Architects, London UK
The Jury appreciated the vivacity and humour in the design proposal that focused around sustainable mass timber structures for both buildings. The orientation of both buildings on the site was thoughtful as was the flowing connection to the centre of the northern site. The Jury thought the typology of the market building as a corner-supported hyperbolic paraboloid was an ingenious solution for a transparent and permeable market building. Especially successful was the openness of the market structure from Old Market Square. Also appreciated was the open plaza surrounding the market building. The Jury did appreciate the risk-taking commitment of the proponent in proposing the design of the housing in the cutting edge and sustainable mass-timber technology, even though it has not currently been approved for use in (Manitoba for a ten storey residential building. The Jury also appreciated the colourful graphics and playful approach to the project as well as the thorough and comprehensive sustainability approach. The Jury appreciated the reference to an open-ended plan for the Gallery in order to allow for the self-expression by the Indigenous Community.
The Jury did express however that the graphic nature of the proposal was difficult to interpret in several areas - the character and indoor areas of the market, ramps and mezzanine were difficult to read, there was limited indication of form, character and program for the plaza the overall aerial view of the site did not enable a clear vision. The Jury was concerned about the proposed functionality for the market roof and for the extensive costs for this addition to the program. Also, there was little sense of community for the residential tenants as only a limited entry vestibule on the main was illustrated with the remainder public amenity space sprinkled throughout many levels of the residential tower. A key issue for the Jury was one of risk with the design of the residential building predicated on mass timber buildings. The Jury expressed concern that the approval process for this new technology could become a major scheduling and cost issue. A final concern was that the cost framework evaluation did not have any discussion or did not show any premium add-on costs for additional features such as the ramp and roof of the market building and any premiums for the mass timber construction in a new market area.
(From jury report)
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