A beach is a place for fun in the sun. In the winter, it should at least still be a place for fun. Architectural firms RAW Design and Ferris and Associates joined forces with public art management company Curio in organizing a competition to transform Toronto’s snow-clad steel lifeguard stands into interactive works of art.
In October 2014, the organizers invited designers, artists, and architects to design lifeguard stand redesigns that would attract visitors to the beach in winter, Torontoist reports.
“The beach is obviously super well-used in the summer months,” RAW Founder Roland Rom Colthoff told the Torontoist. “However, in the wintertime it’s rather grey, to say the least. It’s cold and windy, and not a lot of people are down there because it’s a tough environment to be in."
Out of the 196 submissions they received from all over the world, four designs were selected on Dec. 9, 2014 by a panel that included Toronto Star architecture critic Christopher Hume, as well as a city official and several people in the city’s art scene.
Organizers and the winning designers are currently working out the logistics of the building structures, which will be complete for the public’s enjoyment on Feb. 16, Canada’s Family Day.
Ultimately, five lifeguard stands will be constructed, consisting of the four winning designs and a scheme by Ryerson University architecture students.
Here’s a look at the renderings with a short description (both courtesy of each design team):
Sling Swing, by Ed Butler, Dan Wiltshire, and Frances McGeown of WMB Studio
“Playfully imagines how a group of summer deckchairs might adapt themselves to the cold winter months. Just as animals in cold climates huddle together to keep warm, the chairs cluster around a fellow seat, the lifeguard stand.”
Driftwood Throne, by Daniel Madeiros of DM_Studio
“The modest lifeguard stand is decorated with a valance of reused timber, transforming it from a simple, discreet metal object on the landscape to a strong, faceted sculptural form.”
WingBack, by Tim Olson of Bensonwood Designers
“A vibrantly stained semi-circular form is sited south-facing to capture solar energy. The bench seat configuration gathers the warmth of co-occupants while the tall walls provide shelter from north winter winds.”
Snowcone, by fourth-year Ryerson Architectural Science students Diana Koncan and Lily Jeon
“A playful outdoor project that mimics the protective organic form of the pinecone and borrows the simple, effective technology of the native igloo.”
Hot Box, by Michaela MacLeod of Polymétis Architecture and Nicholas Croft
“Entering from the harsh landscape through a cold, dark, rubber exterior, one finds themselves in an insulated, soft, muffled and light-filled space that conjures feelings of shelter, intimacy, quietude.”
Learn more at Torontoist.
Related Stories
| Aug 6, 2014
25 projects win awards for design-build excellence
The 2014 Design-Build Project/Team Awards showcase design-build best practices and celebrate the achievements of owners and design-build teams in nine categories across the spectrum of horizontal and vertical construction.
| Aug 6, 2014
Multifamily Sector Giants: Younger consumers, Sunbelt renaissance energize multifamily housing [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Multifamily housing construction is expected to remain relatively strong throughout 2014. Starts picked up in 2013, with completions due to catch up this year, finally approaching pre-recession levels, according to BD+C's 2014 Giants 300 Report.
| Aug 5, 2014
Risk scanning: A new tool for managing healthcare facilities
Using well-known risk analytics applied to pre-existing facility data, risk scanning can provide a much richer view of facility condition more consistent with actual management decision making.
| Aug 5, 2014
Shigeru Ban-designed Aspen Art Museum will open doors to public this week
After 18 month of planning and construction, the museum will open its new Shigeru Ban-designed facility to the public on August 9.
| Aug 5, 2014
Will driverless cars kill the parking structure?
A report from Deloitte highlighted how driverless cars could dramatically alter car ownership in the future, pushing the pendulum from ownership to rentals and ride sharing.
| Aug 5, 2014
K-12 School Sector Giants: Pent-up demand finally produces movement in schools market [2014 Giants 300 Report]
After a long period of anemic performance, with growth mostly driven by renovations and additions, the K-12 sector is showing renewed interest in new construction, according to BD+C's 2014 Giants 300 Report.
| Aug 4, 2014
Jean Nouvel commissioned to design Islam Museum next to WTC
El-Gamal's plans has been dubbed controversial by many industry professionals.
| Aug 4, 2014
Facebook’s prefab data center concept aims to slash construction time in half
Less than a year after opening its ultra-green, hydropowered data center facility in Luleå, Sweden, Facebook is back at it in Mother Svea with yet another novel approach to data center design.
| Aug 4, 2014
Retail Giants: Grocery-anchored centers, trophy malls among hot retail developments [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Despite the rapid growth of online shopping, the 'bricks and mortar' retail sector is faring quite well, headed by power centers, grocery-anchored centers, and trophy malls, according BD+C's 2014 Giants 300 Report.
| Aug 4, 2014
BIM Giants: Firms enhance BIM/VDC with advanced collaboration tools [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Cloud-based data sharing, rapid iterative design, and cross-discipline collaboration are among the emerging trends in the BIM/VDC field, according to BD+C's 2014 Giants 300 Report.