The Aartplace team was engaged by Seacliff and Reliance Properties to provide Public Art Consulting Services for their 134-acre  (54-hectare) development “Beachlands”, formerly Royal Beach. With 1.4 kilometres of shoreline along the Salish Sea, the teams of omb (architecture) and Hapa (landscape) led the design of this significant project, envisioned as a world-class waterfront community in the Westshore region of Greater Victoria, BC.

Working closely with the client and project teams, Aartplace developed and delivered a comprehensive Public Art Master Plan (PAMP), which complements the Master Plan and Parks Plan. The plan was presented to the City of Colwood and endorsed as part of the rezoning process and in alignment with the City’s vision to make Royal Beach (along with the neighbouring development of Royal Bay) a vibrant urban and cultural centre that will activate the area as a national and international destination.

The Public Art Master Plan (PAMP) for Royal Beach presents an analysis of the history and context of the project as it relates to arts, culture and the public realm. It also advocates for best practices in public art processes, provides a framework of opportunities, and proposes a strategy and vision to guide the approach to each art opportunity – outlining various typologies and highlighting the importance for artworks to be rooted in place and to support the natural and historic features of the site.