Courtyard on Bear Street
Banff , Alberta, Canada with William McDonough + Partners Architects

The content and form of this project is derived from a combination of cultural and environmental contexts. Banff, a town within a National Park, has both a clear urban fabric and a location that is truly wild. Bears, wolves, elk, and mountain lion are not uncommon visitors to the streets of the town. A project for mixed-use urban redevelopment for commercial, housing, hotel, restaurant, offices, a guiding company and a hiker’s hostel evolved around the context and history of Banff National Park. Formally the new building program was organized around an outdoor courtyard that allows for optimal interior daylight, air movement, and frontage. An existing 19th century cabin acts as a centerpiece along with a series of functional microclimate gardens that help collect storm water, store snow and create habitat. A wildflower meadow, a bog garden, and an aspen island sit atop a subsurface parking area. The floor of the courtyard is paved with recycled concrete and local stone. A series of second level roof gardens create additional outdoor space while helping to meet storm water collection requirements. The courtyard will be open to the public as an extension of the urban street system. It will also serve as an event venue for programs such as the Banff Film and Music Festivals.

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