UBC Graduate Research

The Heart of Britannia : Utilizing Care Ethics to Envision a DIY Skatepark Williams, Alexander

Abstract

Britannia Courts, a DIY skatepark in East Vancouver, has become an important hub for skateboarders across Greater Vancouver since its inception in 2017. The skatepark helps to meet the needs of the community with a new space for skateboarding, which Vancouver has not seen since 2011, along with a novel community-oriented design. All of the features at Britannia Courts are built by the community and made primarily out of wood, allowing them to be rearranged for different skateboard skill levels and a variety of events that take place there. As wood degrades quickly in Vancouver, the materiality also requires the community to work together to repair and maintain the space. This has led to a level of care, respect, and responsibility for a public space that is rarely found in Vancouver. Despite Britannia Courts’ vibrancy, it has yet to be included within the Britannia Renewal plan. This project, in response to this, envisions Britannia Courts within the Master Plan, particularly within the central commons (referred to as ‘the heart of the community centre’). Inspired by the profound sense of care at Britannia Courts, this project establishes a novel design approach that extends care ethics to landscape architecture and tactical urbanism. In doing so, it exemplifies the interconnected roles of landscape architects and communities to create inclusive public spaces.

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Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International