Canadian city?s proposed winter guidelines seek to fight frigid temps with smart design As residents of cities in colder climes shudder due to dropping temperatures and predictions of serious poler vortex this winter, city officials aren?t feeling much holiday cheer, either. Winter brings salted roads, traffic delays, and numerous small but onerous transportation and public works problems.
In Edmonton, Canada, a city that knows plenty about putting up with a long winter, planners and community advocates want to take a different approach. A new series of proposed winter design guidelines have been sent to City Council for approval, according to the Edmonton Journal, part of a larger initiative to make this cold city more active and engaged all year. How do you design against winter" According to a report that outlines the guidelines, the main strategy is diverting the worst of winter weather. Buildings and public spaces should be built to block the wind, maximize exposure to sunlight, utilize color to ?enliven the winterscape,? create visual interest with light, and provide infrastructure to support the desired activities and aspects of life during wintertime.

City of Edmonton
Principles of Winter Design, according to Edmonton?s Winter Design Guidelines

In practice, this means a series of smart tweaks that can make a frigid landscape more bearable. Raise crosswalks to keep boots and wheelchairs out of snow. Narrow balconies to allow m...