Tangential Vancouverism is an exhibition and publication that explores the potential for new “urban extensions” to be tenably designed as vibrant constituents of city life in Vancouver. Characterized by the proliferation of slender residential towers atop street-friendly bases, Vancouver is not only lauded for being the “City of Glass” but also for having introduced a new approach to the development of cities, aptly named “Vancouverism”. A city, however, is much more than a collection of buildings or the rules by which it builds. The density and diversity of experiences, and our relationships to them, is what makes a great city. With this in mind, Tangential Vancouverism aims to re-frame current conversations about the city by foregrounding the importance of people’s interaction in Vancouver’s urban environment. Through proposing evolutions to the very definition of Vancouverism, this project hopes to propel Vancouver beyond its status quo image, as the city of glass, and toward a city that cultivates a growing collection of meaningful experiences.
Tangential Vancouverism brings together emerging architecture and landscape architecture practices to develop new ideas for enriching Vancouver’s urbanism across topics of mobility, communication, food, event and education, while considering the political, social, and economic shifts required for each idea to take root. This project is prefaced on broadening current discourse on urban life in Vancouver by providing a venue for design research for the practices, and by opening the discussion to the public.