SYLVANUS URBAN Sylvanus Urban - "The Energy Issue " | Page 11

The comparison between
the human body and a city is a
recurring metaphor throughout
the ages; with thought leaders
from Plato and Vitruvius to
Leonardo da Vinci drawing
parallels between the complex
systems that need to work
in harmony in order for both
individuals and communities to
flourish. Well, if the analogy is
good enough for Plato then...
A city's arteries and veins
are the roads and sidewalks
through which pedestrians and
traffic stream. But the passage
of time often brings with it
overuse and physical decline
resulting in urban pathologies.
Gardiner Expressway congestion
channels an "I've been eating
only pizza for the last 60 years"
vibes. And while Toronto might
not be the most architecturally
beautiful city, it does owe a lot of
its appearance and character to
concrete - the material of choice
for our humble metropolis. Like a
day spent on the beach with too
many mojitos and no sunscreen,
city life can leave you feeling
burned out. When unending
concrete starts to consume all
glimpses of green and blue - you
know, nature? - the body and
mind can feel fried.
Despite these anatomical
hiccups, Toronto resonates with
the type of energy that propels
you out of bed and around the
corner to your favourite artisanal
coffee shop every single morning.
Urban planners are now tapping
into the energy (and synergies)
that inspirational public spaces
can create. They are supporting,
not hindering, city dwellers in
their quest to both thrive and
relax 24/7.
Public
spaces
(as
the
metaphor goes) are the lungs of
a city - the lack of which makes
it hard for its citizens to breathe.
It's in these public spaces, where
people from all walks of life
converge, art is created, and
ideas are shared. Green spaces, in
particular, have been scientifically
proven to improve people’s
mental health and mood and can
even increase their lifespan. The
good news is that there are a
number of public space initiatives
- recent, upcoming and currently
under consideration - that
will transform abandoned and
underused areas into desirable
S y l v a n u s - Ur b a n . c o m
destinations. If your Linkedin title is “Public Art Strategist,” it might just
be time to dust off the old resumé.
Toronto is known for its competitive nature, even when it comes to
parks. Over 40 international design teams submitted their works to the
recent Waterfront Parks Design Competition, in hopes of transforming
two uninspiring downtown parcels of land along Queens Quay West
into lush community and creative hubs. The jury unanimously selected
Montreal’s Claude Cormier et Associés Love Park as the winner for York
Street park, whose classic design promotes freshness and flexibility. Also
unanimously elected was Rees Ridge by New York’s wHY Architecture,
a design which would see a sad, empty parking lot transformed into
a vertical garden that celebrates its surroundings by integrating plant
species native to Lake Ontario.
It wasn’t too long ago that if someone suggested spending your
well earned day off under an expressway you’d tell them to “get bent”.
But thanks to a multi-million dollar public space initiative, that whole
sentence takes on a different meaning. Upon its completion, The
Bentway will see 10 acres of unoccupied land beneath the elevated
portion of Toronto’s Gardiner Expressway transformed into a versatile,
year-round community hotspot. The first piece of the park officially
opened in January 2018 with a skating trail and has gone on to host
markets, pop-ups, and parties ever since. Daan Roosengaarde's
Waterlicht (“Waterlight”) installation lit up the underbelly of the
Gardiner with an impressive light show that made its rounds on social
media. The installation – which was free to the public – used LED
lights, lenses, and software to simulate water and was designed to
raise awareness of the rising water levels along Toronto’s shoreline. The
Bentway is not only bringing together the community in a social way
but in a physical way; with 1.75-kilometres of multi-use trails knitting
together neighbourhoods that were otherwise disconnected.
Toronto’s streets have become “stickier;” a term that has more to
do with creating avenues that encourage pedestrians to enjoy their
surroundings and less to do with the booze-soaked ground. Although
both are suitably applied to the King Street Pilot Project, which restricts
car traffic along a stretch of King Street in favour of the streetcar and
competition-born public art.
Figures released this past summer revealed that the highly
controversial “stickified” street has resulted in an increase in ridership,
faster commute times, and even a slight increase in profit margins
for local businesses. The project not only highlights new ways to
use roadways, but also the emergence and importance of innovative
design competitions (yay!) when it comes to Toronto’s public space.
Furthermore, initiatives like it – ones that prioritize active modes of
transportation like walking and biking – are better for the mental and
physical health of Toronto’s denizens, many of whom clock endless
hours in a chair in front of a computer screen.
Earlier this year, a new project called the "Public Space Incubator"
was announced that will “support tangible pilots that test new,
innovative ways to bring under-utilized public spaces to life.” Run by
Canadian organization Park People and funded by well known Toronto
architect Ken Greenberg and his wife Eti, the incubator offers grants
to candidates who demonstrate bold, radical, and creative ideas to
transform the cityscape. It offers between $15,000 and $50,000 per
project. In August, they announced five winning projects for the year.
These creative ideas included everything from a pop-up plaza in a strip
mall parking lot and community-run shipping container café, to a train-
watching platform.
So, for all the maddening chaos that colours Toronto, this overdue
focus on public spaces definitely offers an antidote for stressful city
living. In addition to the innate mood-boosting features of public
spaces, in our increasingly disconnected culture, they also offer spots
for people to connect in real life. Our city is fueled by the ideas with
which its residents provide it. So if the old adage "healthy body, healthy
mind" is true, then implementing innovative designs is crucial for a city
and its population to thrive. New parks and high-quality public spaces
are just what the doctor ordered.
The Energy Issue
11