TORONTO, ONTARIO
TAKING INSPIRATION FROM THE CONCEPT OF SITE CONSERVATION AND ADHERENCE TO CUT AND FILL PRINCIPALS, THIS PROJECT ATTEMPTS TO AVOID OVER DEVELOPMENT OF THE SITE AND THE DOMINANCE OF ARCHITECTURAL FORM OVER THE PARK. THE WALKWAY PEELS BACK THE EARTH OF THE PARK CREATING THE FORM AND STRUCTURE FROM THE TOPOGRAPHY OF THE SITE ITSELF WHILE PROVIDING ACCESSIBILITY AND SHELTER FOR INDIVIDUALS UTILIZING THE PARK.
FROM THE HIGH POINT OF RIVERDALE PARK, ON THE WESTERN EDGE OF BROADVIEW AVENUE, THE VIEW SHOWCASES THE PANORAMA OF TORONTO’S DOWNTOWN CORE ON THE HORIZON. THE WALKWAY AVOIDS OBSTRUCTION OF THIS VIEW, VISUALLY BLENDING INTO THE PARK BELOW, CONSEQUENTLY PERMITTING THE BEAUTY OF THE TORONTO SKYLINE TO CONTINUE TO BE A DOMINANT FEATURE OF THE PARK.
THE INDIVIDUAL PADDLE FORMS, CREATED THROUGH THE PROCESS OF PEELING-UP SITE TOPOGRAPHY, ARE DETERMINED BY THE RHYTHMIC SEASONS AND THE SHIFTS IN PROGRAM THAT THEY BRING. RESTROOMS AND A CAFE FUNCTION YEAR ROUND, WHERE AS RIBBONS EXTEND OUT TO PROVIDE SEATING FOR SPECTATORS OF THE SUMMER SPORTS ON THE LOWER FIELD. DURING THE WINTER, A PADDLE AT THE TOP OF THE SITE ACTS AS A SHELTER AND RESTING SPACE FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN TOBOGGANING ON THE HILL BELOW.
