Pilot project planned for COLDSCAPES winner, The Edmonton Freezeway
By Bustler Editors|
Thursday, Feb 26, 2015
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After being announced as one of the winners in the popular COLDSCAPES design competition in 2013, the "Freezeway" may become a reality in the wintry landscape of Edmonton, Canada.
Designed by Edmonton-born student Matthew Gibbs, the Freezeway is an artificial 11 km trail that uses Edmonton's below-freezing winter climate that allows users skate or walk to other parts in the city.
2013 COLDSCAPES Competition Winner: The Freezeway - Matt Gibbs - Edmonton, Canada from KSU CUDC on Vimeo.
It's not Canada's first winter route, but it sure has attracted plenty of attention over time. According to BBC News, a pilot run of the project is currently in the works for a possible launch next winter.
More about the project below.
Project Summary:
"The Freezeway’s vision is to create an iconic and vibrant city that forges its identity from embracing its climatic setting. Moreover, it aspires to create communities and a culture that longs for the winter season with excitement and anticipation."
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"Utilizing Edmonton’s cold climate, which is on average below freezing for 5 months a year, the Freezeway uses a climate adaptive approach to address the way we live, and the way we move in a winter city.
Celebrating the magnificence of the winter season in the urban environment, the 11km year-round greenway, combats the typical sedentary nature of the season by creating a winter skating lane that allows you to skate to work, the Oilers arena, or simply just to have fun."
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"It is an urban design intervention that at its heart addresses the need to promote: winter programming, active lifestyles, sustainable forms of transportation, social activity, an iconic identity."
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"Furthermore in a changing climate, land-based skating (vs pond-based), will be more resilient since it requires far thinner ice. As soon as it’s cold enough for ice it can be up an running, creating a refreshing and warming new approach to living in a cold climate.""
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