King High Line: Bridging urban life, nature, and retail in Liberty Village

Once an interstitial area of railway tracks and industrial buildings, Liberty Village has created a bustling urban identity for itself over the last two decades. However, it was short on retail diversity and lacked sufficient public amenities, including access to nature, city views, and attractions that would encourage people to come and linger in the area.

First Capital engaged Kasian to tailor their concept for an urban environment, while creating a natural relationship between the people and the buildings to maximize the location’s potential.

Kasian’s team considered the ‘in-between’, ensuring that the public realm was developed from underutilized urban spaces. To inspire our thinking, we explored how shoppers might discover retail and how pedestrians might interact at ground level.

Getting the right flow between residential and retail was the goal, accommodating many aspects of life, from daycare to grocery shopping and outdoor space, creating a neighbourhood of its own and a sense of place.

The King Highline Bridge connects the High Line to Liberty Village. With the views along the rail corridor likened to the experience along an urban river, the path offers residents and visitors a place to cycle, walk, or just sit and contemplate the panorama of the city — all while being surrounded by native plants along the entirety of the multi-use path. The experience creates a sense of community and a connection with the urban landscape.

First Capital has successfully created a mixed-use development that also accommodates large-format retail tenants. The project has created a destination for the people of Liberty Village and provides much-needed amenity space for the neighbourhood.