Blood Alley Square

City of Vancouver

Vancouver, BC

Gauthier & Associates Landscape Architects (G|ALA) served as the lead consultant for the rehabilitation of Blood Alley Square and the adjacent Trounce Alley in Vancouver’s historic Gastown neighbourhood. This city-led initiative, completed in early 2024, aimed to revitalize the iconic public space while honouring its unique heritage character, creating a vibrant new gathering space that resonates with the community’s rich history.

The redesign transformed the area into an inclusive space for residents and visitors alike. Key features of the project include a new performance stage for local arts, fixed seating designed with long-term maintenance in mind, and the careful preservation of existing heritage elements throughout the square. The integration of permavoid and romex technologies enabled a careful reinstallation of the historic brick paving, preserving the sensitive root systems of existing trees while thoughtfully integrating new tulip trees into the overall design.

To ensure the ongoing vitality of Blood Alley Square, a community-led stewardship plan was developed to focus on daily management, maintenance, and programming. This plan will help preserve the square’s welcoming atmosphere for all, solidifying its role as a central hub for celebrating community and history in the heart of Vancouver’s bustling Gastown.