Castle Downs Mountain

Location: Edmonton, AB
Year: 2011
Status: Competition

This architectural competition entry addresses the issue of creating an identity for suburban parks.

Even now, soccer fields and baseball diamonds are being developed in suburban communities across the country with only the organized sport requirements in mind. This design provides an example which does more for the larger community than to provide storage and washroom facilities.

This design proposes adding a 70 foot high mountain to the currently flat Castle Downs Park. This landscape feature would broaden healthy exercise opportunities.

Whether it’s biking trails to the plateau view from the roof of the storage rooms, or walking trails to picnic tables in the trees or snow sports from the peak, this facility would provide opportunity for those who would otherwise not visit the sports fields.

A south facing rock climbing wall provides an indestructible exterior for the washrooms and storage facilities. Busy during the summer months, Edmonton’s sports fields generally sit forlorn, flat and empty during the winter.

During the winter, Castle Downs Mountain would host cross country skiing and toboggan runs of varying difficulty, served by a community warm up space and concession adjacent to the wall and plateau at the southeast corner of the development.