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238 competitions documented	478 competitions listed
6 156 projects	63 582 documents

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Competitor

West 8 Urban Design and Landscape Architecture + hcma Architecture and Design + Native Art Department International + MinoKamik Collective + ARUP + KG&A + ERA Architects + A.W. Hooker

Winner

229 Richmond Street West Park / Parc du 229 rue Richmond Ouest

Presentation Panel

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Perspective

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Site Map

Context

Site Plan

Sunshine Paradise

Plan

Floor

Plan

Roof

Cross-sectional perspective

North-South Section, Looking West

Cross-sectional perspective

East-West Section, Looking North

Cross-sectional perspective

Enlarged

Elevation

Enlarged

Axonometric Drawing

Layered Approach

Axonometric Drawing

The Eastern Gateway 01

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The Eastern Gateway 02

Axonometric Drawing

The Balcony

Axonometric Drawing

The Riverbed Playscape

Axonometric Drawing

The Grove

Axonometric Drawing

The Green

Axonometric Drawing

The Source

Axonometric Drawing

The Canvas

Schema

Accessibility Plan

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Topography Plan

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Daily Use

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Sunset in the Park

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Solstice Ceremony Programming

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TIFF Screening

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Three WCs + Public Water Source

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Common Waiting Area

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Sight-lines from Waiting Area

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Sight-lines from Park

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The Source

Diagram

Sample Program: "Calendar of Events"

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Presentation Panel Excerpt

Four Seasons, Night and Day

GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE COMPETITOR

Competitor	ERA Architects Inc
	eraarch.ca

	West 8 Urban design & landscape architecture b.v.
	www.west8.com

	HCMA
	www.hcma.ca

	ARUP
	www.arup.com

	Native Art Department International
	www.nativeartdepartment.org

	MinoKamik Collective
	www.minokamik.ca

	Kim Graham & Associates
	www.kga-inc.com

	A.W. Hooker
	awhooker.com

Manager	Adriaan Geuze
Team	Shelley Long
	Madeleine Ghillany-Lehar
	Donna Bridgeman-Rossi
	Michael Henderson
	Ali Kenyon
	Shelley Charles (Mandakwe)
	Jonathon Araujo Redbird (Saugeen)
	Melanie Sifton
	Lynn Short
	Maria Hupfield
	Jason Lujan
	Felix Rui
	Graeme Stewart
	Nick Copeland
	Matt Humphries
	Tudor Munteanu
	Geoffrey Iwasa
	Liberty MacDougal
	Chuck Ormsby
	Elvan Eryoner
	Kim Graham
	Samantha Lem
	Kimberly Riddell

Distinction	Winner
Doc. level	75%

Description

WÀWÀTESÍ

Wàwàtesí is a park with a night life and a winter attitude, who is not afraid to share silenced stories and urgent agendas. In a place where skyscrapers have eaten up the city, Wàwàtesí becomes the compass, lighting the trail to renewal and transformation. She is the boutique and alternative backstage platform of Toronto's Downtown Arts district: an authentic place for people of all walks of life to discover unique integrated experiences of landscape, light, and performance. Wàwàtesí will be Toronto's first park with a curator and her own tailored calendar of arts events and installations. This is a place where traditional myths are given contemporary mediums.

Wàwàtesí (Anishinaabemowin: firefly) symbolizes the cycle of life, healing, and the passage of time. Along with the creek that used to cross the site who was buried by Toronto's rapid urbanization, fireflies have all but disappeared from the urban landscape. Her name calls attention to the power of the unseen and supernatural.

(From competitor's text)

Jury Report

The West 8 team rose to the the challenge of meeting the eight ambitious design goals while communicating a clear and poetic narrative, written with a sensitivity that was manifested in the design. They used the design competition to challenge conventions around public space and public art.

The team's rigorous analysis of the City's event requirements provided a clear rationale for their unique solution: to create a second level for the park with the Balcony. The team had a thoughtful approach to providing a green oasis, with particular attention to the location of trees, the planting palette, and the intent to provide shade tolerant planting in the microclimate under the under the Balcony. Jury members felt that West 8 and Minokamik Collective worked interactively as team, and that the Seven Stepping Stones teachings should be privileged even more in the design going forward. The jury appreciated that the team addressed the unhoused in a dignified way, truly meeting the goal of welcoming a diverse community of users.

Regarding the relationship between architecture and landscape, the cluster of pavilions were well positioned and integrated into the park concept, fitting with the narrative and integrated approach presented in the team's submission. While the submission included a strategy towards meeting Carbon Net Zero, the building design did not move past best practice, which is not sufficient in today's climate crisis.

Jury members were impressed by the thorough responses to the Juror's questions and the team's commitment to working with the City to resolve issues.

The City's Steering Committee was concerned with the ambitious approach to public art, which included a 10-year program of curation. While the jury appreciated that showcasing a range of diverse art would encourage return visits to the park, they understood that the ambitions may not align with the City's capacity to run such a program.

The City's Steering Committee was concerned with the height, size and winter maintenance of the Balcony, noted that its location may need to be adjusted to allow greater flow from north to south, and expressed concern about the use of the space below. The jury shared those concerns. However, most jury members appreciated the intent to create more space in the park and liked that the Balcony functioned as a porch connecting the pavilions. The jury appreciated the idea of the Balcony as "canvas" and was intrigued by its potential to support public art, exhibitions, and events.

The Jury has concerns about the above and offered the following qualifications, which should be taken as advice in design development:

-The ambitious 10-year curation program for public art is not likely feasible given current City staff and resource requirements. Look at scaling back the plan or focusing on permanent art work.

-The height and scale of the Balcony will need to be adjusted to ensure it is not a barrier and pedestrian flow is maintained through the park.

-Ensure the Balcony has a delicate and beautiful form, so that it doesn't become imposing infrastructure on the site.

-Pay careful attention to accessibility throughout the site.

-Re-consider the central lawn, looking for options that will be more maintainable in a downtown setting.

-Ensure the Seven Stepping Stone teachings are prioritized and lead the project.

(From jury report)

List of accessible documents

53 scanned / 53 viewable

IMPORTANT NOTICE : Unless otherwise indicated, photographs of buildings and projects are from professional or institutional archives. All reproduction is prohibited unless authorized by the architects, designers, office managers, consortiums or archives centers concerned. The researchers of the Canada Research Chair in Architecture, Competitions and Mediations of Excellence are not held responsible for any omissions or inaccuracies, but appreciate all comments and pertinent information that will permit necessary modifications during future updates.
info@ccc.umontreal.ca

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