Partisans create vision for next-gen, sustainable and healthy community
by Stu Robarts | 17 Dec 2019
– Partisans
Partisans have unveiled their vision for a new community of the future where "small town and rural lifestyles are enhanced by the benefits and attributes of urban living."
The concept was developed for the town of Innisfil in Ontario, Canada, which is situated about 60km (37mi) north of Toronto.
A new transit hub is set to be built in the town over the next four years, which will provide access to better regional transportation and is subsequently expected to drive growth in the town.
Partisans' proposal – The Orbit – seeks to harness this growth and channel it to create a "Next Generation Community" that is based on its new connectivity.
The Orbit integrates how people will live, travel, interact, play and work into one overall masterplan that could grow to cover 40 million sq ft (4 million sq m) with an eventual population target of 150,000 people.
Innisfil, as it is currently, is characterised by Partisans as "a municipality of clustered hamlets".
They propose joining these together and integrating them into a larger, unified masterplan of concentric “squircles” (a shape between a square and a circle) radiating out from the new transit hub.
The proposed approach makes use of intelligent design and technologies to create an efficient town, a progressive community and a robust economy.
Development would be limited to certain areas so as to preserve natural landscapes and habitats, with walkability baked in to help promote health.
Mid- and high-rise mixed-use buildings would be favoured over a low-rise topology so as to focus the town within a more sustainable 2km sq (0.8mi sq) area, rather than what would be a more typical 50km sq (19mi sq).
A fibre-optic network would support innovation, an autonomous electric vehicle ride-sharing system would move people around the town cleanly and a variety of accommodation-types and shared equity schemes will ensure homeownership opportunities for all.
Partisans said: "The Orbit is a clean slate to reimagine how a community of tomorrow is built today. Inspired in part by the suburban masterplans of the Garden City movement of the early 20th Century, reinventing the concept with density, some planned irregularity and embedded technology."
Partisans Canada
A new transit hub is set to be built in the town over the next four years Credit: Norm Li
The transit hub will provide access to better regional transportation and is expected to drive growth in the town Credit: Norm Li
The new transit hub is at the centre of the masterplan, both literally and figuratively Credit: Norm Li
A masterplan of concentric “squircles” radiates out from the new transit hub Credit: Norm Li
Development would be limited to certain areas so as to preserve natural landscapes and habitats Credit: Norm Li
The aim is to focus the town within 2km sq (0.8mi sq), rather than what would be a more typical 50km sq (19mi sq) Credit: Norm Li
Partisans have unveiled their vision for a new community of the future where "small town and rural lifestyles are enhanced by the benefits and attributes of urban living." The concept was developed for the town of Innisfil in Ontario, Canada, which is situated about 60km (37mi) north of Toronto. A new transit hub is set to be built in the town over the next four years, which will provide access
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