A Force of Nature: Landscape Architects Paul Sangha Creative Galvanize Shoreline Restoration Through Environmental Solutions
By Laura Goldstein
A collapsed waterfront garden eroded by King Tides is transformed by an ingenious sculptural and functional retaining sea wall; a neglected dog park is reimagined as a vibrant, landscaped community gathering place and in another location, salmon return after excavation of an underground creek.
This isn’t environmental alchemy alone. No waving a magic wand as a quick fix for foreshore restoration of eroding coastlines. Instead, it’s been achieved by a long-term vision: years of planning, designing and implementation by Paul Sangha Creative in consultations with the City of Vancouver, Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation, environmental experts and clients.
“Actually, it’s been closer to two decades since we spear-headed this type of work as landscape architects in Canada,” says Vikas Tanwar, team lead and Senior Landscape Architect at Paul Sangha Creative in Vancouver. He is referring to the firm’s landmark project – Metamorphous in the Point Grey neighbourhood. When a client’s waterfront cement retaining wall eroded from wave action it led to severe collapse of their backyard garden. “It was uncharted territory so the solution had to be a win-win situation for everyone involved,” Vikas explains, referring to public, private and City participation. “Once we studied the hardships these owners were facing due to climate change and things getting worse every year from our King Tides causing erosion and more severe storms damaging private properties, that set up an example for us to create collaborations.” In describing the damage of the tides on the concrete seawall, Vikas uses an analogy of a ball constantly hitting a cement wall coming back to you with a greater force and scooping up everything in its path. “In fact, in 2012 we discovered that a resident’s patio was actually suspended over the concrete wall! That’s how the concept of Metamorphous was born, he adds.”
Metamorphous was not only a metaphor for evolving changes through nature and environmental solutions. First and foremost, “it was a big challenge to convince property owners and neighbours to invest (both monetary and time-wise,) in the future and go beyond conventional methods to save bank retention at the shoreline,” Vikas explains.
Working with environmental engineers, fabricators and biologists, the Paul Sangha Creative team conceived the idea of a sculptural seawall. While easily construed as an unusual public art sculpture bordering a private property and public beach thoroughfare, it’s actually a clever solution to a very serious problem.
Composed of waterjet -cut Corten steel panels, the 200-foot-long multi-faceted sculpture was constructed offsite in 20-foot segments before installation. It develops a rust-like patina made of unique alloys that provide superior protection from corrosion and weathering while dissipating constant wave movement. Paul Sangha and the team took design inspiration from rock formations that dot the shores of islands and coastlines in B.C. One might also interpret the assemblage to ancient driftwood, a mountain range at sunset or stylized rusty barge and ship parts. It’s abstract aesthetic belies its practicality of reduced maintenance as well as an emotional connection to the ocean.
“What was really nice was that two other clients saw the benefits and joined in and recently a third client with waterfront property has asked us to construct a similar taller, rounder 150-foot sculptural seawall,” Vikas relates. “And for the foreshore work alone we are working with seven or eight neighbouring adjacent properties in this particular stretch of coastline.”
Imagine a stunningly restored waterfront public park integrating native plants, wetlands, Bigleaf Maple trees and wildflowers; bridges traverse small rocky enclaves and daylighting (bringing to the surface,) a long buried Tatlow Creek. Paved serpentine pathways are accessible for walking and bicycles. Adjacent Tatlow and Volunteer Parks, connecting ecosystems from Point Grey to English Bay is the creation of Paul Sangha Creative. They worked with the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations, the City of Vancouver, the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation and a private-public partnership with a neighbourhood homeowner.
Ten years from conception to opening in 2025, “the before park was basically an overgrown dog park,” Vikas confides. 235 meters of creek were restored adding rain gardens and a filtration system to improve water quality. At least 90% of the plants are B.C. native species including Nootka Rose, Tufted Hairgrass, Snowbrush and Western Sword Fern. 1,840 boulders were added for creek stabilization and habitat creation.
“It has been incredibly rewarding to see the community embrace Tatlow Park and the restored creek,” says Vikas. “Families and young children now gather along the banks for picnics, creating new memories in a revitalized natural setting. One of our project team members even shared a photo of a large, informal gathering where residents came together to enjoy Vancouver’s annual Honda Celebration of Light fireworks along the coast-a reminder of how meaningful these spaces have become to the community.”
Overall, Paul Sangha Creative has contributed to the enhancement of over 2,100 linear feet of shoreline, with an additional 1,200 linear feet currently underway based on active waterfront projects under construction today. Not resting on their laurels with the success of Metamorphous and Tatlow and Volunteer Parks, Paul Sangha Creative is working with clients across the Lower Mainland right up to Whistler on coastal rehabilitation and enhancement. ” From waterfront properties abutting a lake or creek, we are working closely with homeowners and collaborating with their respective municipalities to make improvements to home, garden and public spaces,” Vikas adds.
