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Revived Toronto Quayside master plan is making headway

2023-02-03T17:16:00-05:00

A clearer vision is emerging for the futuristic Quayside project planned to transform a stretch of Toronto's waterfront, one that is shaping up to be one of the most architecturally-distinct pockets of development in the entire country.

Following over two years since the cancelation of the Sidewalk Labs plan to develop Toronto’s Quayside, a new approach to bring a mixed-use community to the lakefront site is being led by public entities Waterfront Toronto, the City of Toronto, PortsToronto, and private landowners. This past December, Waterfront Toronto’s Board of Directors approved an agreement with development partners Great Gulf Group and Dream Unlimited. The development is set to feature buildings designed by the likes of Adjaye Associates, Alison Brooks Architects, and Henning Larsen.

A recently-presented master plan update highlights new details about upcoming features at the site, including information on the Adjaye Associates-designed Timber House, the Alison Brooks Architects-designed Western Curve, and the Overstorey by Henning Larsen. The development will feature residential spaces, including affordable housing, retail, food, and cultural offerings. The master plan also aims to achieve near-zero greenhous...

Toronto’s Quayside is back with projects by Adjaye Associates, Alison Brooks, and Henning Larsen

2022-02-17T10:07:00-05:00

Toronto’s Quayside project is back online, almost two years after Sidewalk Labs’ plans to develop the site were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The new development will instead be delivered by a consortium led by developers Dream Unlimited and Great Gulf Group, featuring buildings by Adjaye Associates, Alison Brooks Architects, and Henning Larsen.

Quayside Aerial - Full view of proposed development. Image courtesy of Waterfront Toronto

The 12-acre (4.9 hectare) site will contain five towers, as well as one of Canada’s largest residential mass timber buildings. Over 800 affordable housing units will be contained in the scheme, with an emphasis on family-sized units. The team behind the development also claim the project to be “Canada’s first all-electric” masterplan.

A rendering of the Western Curve Building. Architect: Alison Brooks Architect. Image courtesy of Waterfront Toronto.

New buildings along the waterfront site will include the Western Curve Building by Alison Bro...

London Design Festival has revealed a host of installations for 2016

2016-05-04T12:29:00-04:00

Installations announced for LDF 2016 include a giant curved walkway made of sustainable wood, a takeover of a disused stairwell and sit-in boxes that aim to address the housing crisis. The Smile, designed by Alison Brooks Architects, is an outdoor installation supported by the American Hardwood Export Council and ARUP, and is a 36m-long curved rectangular tube made from sustainable timber.

Here are some more of this years offerings:

Baboushka Boxes are design by dRMM and supported by financial company Legal & General as well as the homeless charity Shelter.

Created by consultancy Gilthero and supported by Italian watch maker Panerai, The Green Room will be based in a stairwell at the V&A and explores the concept of time.

The much discussed crazy gold course conceived by Sir Paul Smith which still needs to raise £120,000 through Kickstarter to happen.

Already announced the live robotically sculpted canopy at the V&A.

For related installations, check these out: