[Robynobotica]

The photos remind me of Lance Berelowitz's argument in his book Dream City: Vancouver and the Global Imagination:

"Berelowitz argues that Vancouver's natural blessings have made its citizens lazy, smug about their environment, even as they ignore it in city making. He is particularly critical of the lack of more traditional public open spaces at the city's centre.

He points out that a significant portion of the city's public realm is located along the waterfront, with public beaches and formal seawall walkways. These 'edge' places attract Vancouver's public life away from traditional sites of civic activity, like city halls, court house squares, etc., changing the emphasis to use of public space to one of personal leisure."