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Streetlife www.streetlife.nl

Zibi: an extraordinary waterfront development

By 10-10-2020

As the first One Planet Community project in Canada, Zibi represents a model for developing affordable, sustainable residential areas and communities. The Zibi One Action Plan emphasises the region’s character and the unique history of the site. The plan incorporates climate-neutral buildings with sustainable energy generation, efficient land use with ample green areas and an infrastructure geared towards cyclists and pedestrians.

The Zibi district on the Ottawa River extends across the north and south banks and is connected by two bridges. Industry had dominated the river landscape for a long time, but today new residential buildings, shops and entertainment venues occupy locations between parks and heritage sites. Car-free corridors have been implemented to provide occupants of the residential buildings access to the green strip along the north bank. In one of these corridors, a central meeting point has been created, affording a splendid view of Ottawa. Streetlife furniture has been installed in this square and offers various opportunities for residents to meet and sit.

To green the square, seating isles from Streetlife’s Solid Edge System were selected, with the borders rising up from the ground to form sitting edges. The isles have different dimensions and create a varied, playful effect. This is reinforced by the sloping front and overhanding seats, which also offer extra leg room. Free-standing, double- sided Cliffhanger benches have been scattered across the square and emphasise its informal character.

Rough & Ready Bollards serve to demarcate the square. The integration of Streetlife furniture in the plan matches the overall natural-looking appearance of an extraordinary, high-quality landscape project implemented by CSW Landscape Architects.