Interfaces: Re-Asserting the Riverine Ecosystem as a Central Part of Burnaby

Abstract

This thesis is situated on the green corridor of parks and lakes in Burnaby, BC. The system follows the Brunette River, one of three watersheds in Burnaby. This watershed comprises two parks: Deer Lake and Burnaby Lake Park, their feeder stream Still Creek, and their outflow, the Brunette River, which flows into the Fraser. The city needs to start recognizing the importance of these riverine parks - not only for the residents of this area but for the plants and animals that live here, which find a riverine habitat that is important to their survival. This thesis proposes restoring the riverine infrastructure of Burnaby and strengthening citizens’ appreciation for and use of the park and designing three architectural elements in the park system. Each site has the objective to respond to the city’s cultural, environmental, and social needs while establishing an interface between the urban and natural ecosystems of Burnaby.