Nathan Phillips Square preliminary design VUW
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Contents |
Group 1
Final Design
Our intention is to emphasize and enliven the access ways and pathways to, from and within Nathan Phillips Square using lit pavers. For everyday use, tables, seating and marquees can be inserted into the pavers. Only the pavers which are away from main pedestrian routes within the square have the capability to cater for this street furniture, to encourage people to linger away from the pathways, keeping the pathways free for foot traffic. During crowded times, the furniture can be moved to a lower use area, to allow for a large mass of people with no obstructions.
Two sides of the pool have been sloped to encourage people to wade in the pool in summer to cool down. This alteration to the pool will not effect its use as a skating rink in winter. During colder months the marquees will provide shelter from the cold wind and in the summer will provide shade from the sun.
Here are some of the guiding principles we followed with our design:
- Retain the open and accessible qualities of the space that make it well used and valued.
- Improve the pedestrian accessibility of all areas of Nathan Phillips Square and its connections to the surrounding environment.
- Improve the capability of accommodating outdoor performance events in keeping with the overall design.
- Re-establish Nathan Phillips Square as a pedestrian-only and vehicle-free public space
- Revitalise the entire area of the site, both within and outside the elevated walkway.
 Plan view of Nathan Phillips Square - Red circles show main access points, Orange circles show points where perspective photos are taken from. The dotted areas show where our lit pavers will be, and where it is possible to utilise street furniture. |
 Plan view showing where the lit pavers will be, emphasising pathways. |
 Section showing the holes in the ground. |
 Section showing how park furniture (tables, seating, marquees etc)can be inserted into the holes in the pavers. |
 Section showing the two different sides of the pool. |
 Perspective showing a main path route through Nathan Phillips square. |
 Perspective showing path ways and the lights. |
 Perspective of a seating area in use. |
 Perspective of marquees covering a seating area used to block wind or sun. |
For individual submissions of material investigations within Nathan Phillips Square click on each of these user links:
Previous project stages
Group Programming Proposal
Our intention is to emphasize and enliven the accessways and pathways to, from and within Nathan Phillips Square using multi funcitonal lighting. The lights change function depending on the demands put on the Square. During crowded times, the lights are embedded into the ground so as to create an obstruction free area. During weekeday lunch hours etc, many lights will be raised from the ground to provide a seating opportunity. During cold days and nights some lights are elevated to expose heating poles for people to linger around. The lights change function to meet the needs of the people. The lights contain sensors so when people are in a two metre radius the sensors pick them up and provide heat if the internsl thermostate is below 15 degrees, this way the heaters are only in use when required.
The four pictures below show how heating and air-conditioning will be provided at different times of year in areas where people are encouraged to linger, rather than in the pathways.
The sides of the pond will also be sloped to encourage people to enter the pool during the hot summer months.
 Reprogrammed Nathan Phillips Square during the day in the cooler months |
 Reprogrammed Nathan Phillips Square at night in the cooler nights |
 Reprogrammed Nathan Phillips Square at night in the warmer months |
 Reprogrammed Nathan Phillips Square at night in the warmer months - small LED lights embedded into the ground suggest pathways and bring the space to life. |
 The embedded lights change in function to meet the needs of the people using the space |
 The pond could be altered to provide extra uses. |
Preliminary Design
 Section through square to show how seats move up and down |
 Close up section |
 Section through showing the sloping sides of pool. |
 Context plan of Nathan Phillips Square within Toronto - showing surrounding main attractions, and the main roads in the area. |
Plan view of Nathan Phillips Square - Red circles show main access points, Orange circles show points where perspective photos are taken from |
Plan view showing lights and pathways. |
 Perspective showing the seats up and people using them. |
 Perspective showing the path ways and the lights. |
We decided on changes for the heating and cooling functions. For cooling - the pond has been altered to make it accessible and inviting, so during hot days, concerts etc people can wade in the water, or dip their feet in to cool down. For heating - the lights in the elevated seating block will be designed to expel warmth for the people using the seating - encouraging people to linger in the non-pathway areas during cold times of year.We decided that heating poles were not energy efficient when there were already a lot of lights being utilised which already could create heat. The heat poles were also another obstacle and could discourage people from lingering in the areas as they could block views for people using the seating - hence the heat pole idea was scrapped and redesigned.
 View from the South East corner |
 View from the North East corner |
 View from the South West corner |
 View from the North West corner |
These pictures show how the sun would fall during mid day in July when its summer in Toronto.
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Group 2
Initial Analysis and Design
How do you program a city square? How do you create an environment that caters for an entire city, a city with as much diversity and as many cultures as Toronto?
Our answer is not to simply have one program. We want to enhance the skating in winter. We want a beach area in the summer. We want interactive ground tiles which change colour as people walk over them. That’s just the beginning. What we propose is a City Square which evolves as Toronto evolves, a park that is alive. Because if we limit Nathan Phillips Square in terms of programs, how will it then cater for the city to which it belongs?
Our concept is to have a movable ground structure. A grid of square tiles which can be moved up or down, tiles which can be manipulated into setups according to the program. These tiles can be arranged to create an outdoor theatre for a classical music concert one day and then the next day be levelled out to create a basketball court with temporary hoops. So in a period of 48 hours the square can cater for, and be enjoyed by, two vastly different groups of people.
What we are essentially proposing is a starting point. We do want specific programs such as the skating network, the beach area and tiles which form patterns as people walk over them. But more than this we want the people of Toronto to have a park which suits them, a park which can be changed daily if required, going from peaceful and relaxing one day to dynamic and exciting the next day…
or week…
or year…
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Final Individual Materials Programs
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 three sections through the basketball court |
 main axis points through Nathan Phillips Square + how it connects to the basketball court |
 the two different types of seating - permanent + temporary |
 various programs |
 experimental model working with rubber |
 experimental model working with concrete |
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Group 3
User:Naomi
• Development:
This image shows the development of my 1:2 scale model of the concrete seating. From the initial stages of the boxing, to the mid-stages with the polystyrene top, and finally the redeveloped final design.
![A precedent image; Exchange Square by Martha Schwartz. [www.donaldsharp.com/exchange%20square.htm]](/wiki/File:Precedentimagefrommarthaschwartz001.jpg)
• Precedent Image of Martha Schwartz work: A precedent for the development of Nathan Phillips square was the designer Martha Schwartz. I enjoyed looking at her work and especially her personal philosophy behind what she does. This image shows Exchange Square where Schwartz tried to focus on “the landscape we make and occupy.” [www.donaldsharp.com/exchange%20square.htm]
• Concrete: During our presentations of our group designs for Nathan Phillips square, the material surface of concrete and its vast use throughout the square was looked into by a number of people. I choose to bring this aspect out in my design with my focus being on the seats on rails. I looked towards Martha Schwartz as a precedent designer because she has completed large scale square designs successfully.
• Seating: I developed the idea of the moving blocks on rails. This seating is mounted on a type of rail system that allows people to push and pull the seats around. This gives them the option to form new clusters therefore constantly bringing change to the space. The seats carry out functions such as being lunchtime or leisure seating, permeable boundaries, barriers for events, linking area’s together and even allowing people to be able to stand on them for a better view at concerts. These seats are restricted from crossing main pathways and access areas.
• Material: Concrete is a very durable material with a long life span and is relatively cheap to manufacture.
• Weight: Having a solid concrete block as a seat was not an option though as it would mean the blocks would be too heavy to move around. I used a polystyrene inner for the seats to reduce the overall weight.
• Durability: I designed a durable thicker concrete top for the seat that could also be doubled to be stood upon with a small wood inlay. This is asethically pleasing and provides a link between the seating to the other features of the site
• Form: I used a square shape for the seating so they would be in contrast to the other areas of the square that followed the motif of a circle. Because the seating gives a sense of direction and provides orientation to the square I felt that it was appropriate to define this.
• Design
By creating a design that works on a rail system I have re-defined the way people can use, interact and negotiate their way through Nathan Phillips square. I have also made the design of the concrete seating blocks functional so that they can be used without the rail system as well, as permanant structure in some areas. The form of the rail system or layout of the concrete seats depends on the events carried out in that area, as this will influence how people meet and greet, mingle, socialise and hang out.
User:Carl
Tiles
After initial presentations is was noted that Toronto was adequately catered for when it came to providing green park spaces within the city and that Nathan Phillips Square functioned adequately in it’s present form. The current extensive use of hard surfaces creates space and form that caters to the demographic of its users and this needed to be maintained. By creating a Maple Leaf motif to be used in the tiles of the main plaza area I will be able to soften the hard linear terrain and introduce a natural element into the space. These tiles can also be used to define possible pathways through the space and add an element of interest.
Reflecting Pool Roof
The refined design for the Reflecting Pool Roof will offer shelter from wind, rain and sun for spectators and users of the pool. The new design takes its precedent from the spaces created under the raised walkway nearby and the numerous levels within the space. The different levels of the roof will help disperse wind moving through the current exposed site and provide protection from sun and rain.
Its design provides a light airy space with good natural light levels. Collection of rain water from the roof surfaces could be used to maintain pool water levels while the slanted surfaces will allow easy removal of snow during winter months.
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User:David
GLASSED STRIP LIGHTING – this strip lighting devised for Nathan Phillips Square will provide a colourful linear definition to our network of paths while adding emotion and ‘temperature’ to the space overall. The element consists of five glass panels laminated between exposed aggregate concrete, punctuated by blocks of hardwood endemic to North America. By laminating glass, my selected material, I have created a dynamic filter for various colours of beamed light; with cooler blues in winter and warmer hues in summer being one way the square’s management team may wish to fashion added atmosphere to an already vibrant space. Changing the light colours is simply a matter of rolling out various coloured transparencies between the glass panels and a fixed tube light.
I have taken into account various precedents of strip lighting, including that used in ‘An Eventful Path’ by Australian design firm Aspect (aspect.net.au) to mark significant cultural and sporting events at Sydney’s Olympic Park. I also considered the way glass and light combined to add definition to projects at Holmbladsgade, Copenhagen (Topos magazine, March 2004) and Brogards Plads, Albertslund, Denmark (Topos, September 2002). All three incorporate glass-filtered light to attract and direct the pedestrian, as does my strip lighting.
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User:Averill
 Yellow - The area which the wooden blocks can be moved. This area is controlled by electromagnets in the seats and cannot be moved outside of the boundary. Red - The track that seating on rails can be moved along. |
 The blocks are able to be shifted to the perimeter and locked then stood upon for a better view of activities in the square. They can also be used as a permeable boundary to divde the space. |
 The wooden blocks are made form Jara, a long lasting, untreated wood. The redness of it, gently brightens up the plain of concret. |
 There are three joining rod holding the plains of wood together. They are arranged in a triangle for maximum strength. |
 On the top-side of the seats, the grain of the wood has been arranged to form a decorative detail. |
 At night the wooden blocks are alluinated and are not an obstacle for pedestrians. They can be arranged to line pathways. |
 Around the perimetre of the pool/ice rink a single rail is sunk in to the concret. In Winter the tracks will freeze and the seats cannot be moved so will be arranged before hand. |
 The blocks are made of resin around the ice rink and looks similar to ice. This links the social space and the activity space via form and texture. |
 A light is inside the blocks and are lit at night making the reference to ice stronger and acts as a visual boundary to the pool. |
 This perspective shows the how the two types of seating are arranged in relation to eachother. |
 People can push the blocks around and lock them so they are safe to stand on. This space is highly used by business people in their lunch break. |
 At night both sets of blocks make themselves visible and are not tripped over by pedestrians, while also looking elegant. |
Group
 An initial idea on how we could re-develop the path system and improve pedestrian accessibility. An initial sketch to play with the possinle workings of the site. |
 Looking at the main access points pedestrians have to the area and how these connect in with the site. |
 Area's of influence in Nathan Philips Square. This includes how the path system links in, an aerial view of the city, and a close-up of the main access routes used to the site. |
 The round dome top of the New City Hall has been used a motif for this redeveloped site. Its influence can be seen in the new Peace Park, Pool Roof and Cafe. |
 The addition of a cafe will add movement and vibrancy to a currently under utilised area. The addition of a Pool roof will extend the use of the space. |
 Relocating the Peace Park and incorporating it into the existing green spaces will allow for uninterrupted movement through the plaza creating options for further community activities such as concerts and gatherings. |
 Long section showing the pool's roof angle and circular void in relation to Revell's rounded New City Hall. |
 A newly created peace park helps extend the circular motif of New City Hall on to the square itself. |
 This shows how the area can be utilised as a cafe space and link in with the outdoor soroundings in summer. |
 This shows how the cafes can still be operational even in the winter months. |
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 Seating in the form of moving blocks on a rail system, can be positioned by the individuals to form various seating patterns. This ever-changing feature activates the space. |
The blocks are able to be shifted to the perimeter and locked then stood upon for a better view of activities in the square. They can also be used as a permeable boundary to divde the space. |
 At night the blocks can be alluminated adding further interest, visibilty and security to the square. |
 Concerts in the square - one of many programmes made available by our open space design |
Our aim:
When Viljo Revell originally designed Nathan Phillips Square, café’s and restaurants were not central elements of socialising, leisure, business and pleasure as they have become today. Our preliminary design aims to facilitate these aspects of cafe culture - plus casual outdoor eating. The introduction of a café on the plaza, the redevelopment of the path system, relocation of the peace park and developing a covered roof over the ice-skating rink will help users meet and mingle, sit or skate, and - most significantly - communicate at a social or business level. We aim to focus on the needs of people today, in the year 2006 and develop a design that functions well to accomodate these needs.
Development of cafe scene and moveable seating clusters:
As a way of linking the cafe scene with the rest of the park and activating the space, we propose extending the seating in the form of blocks on rails that could be pushed along to form clusters. The blocks will be able to be locked into place so that when events occur they can double as seating, barriers or can be stood on during concerts for a better view. The rail system will be limited from crossing the paths of the heavily used pathways and will be derived from the existing buildings and new areas of interaction e.g. social areas and activity areas. The materiality of the blocks could allow them to be illuminated. We insured that the main corridoor of heavy use was through the middle of the space. This means that people will constantly be in the square and will subconsciously be a spectacle for the cafe users and draw others in (i.e. people attract people.).
Peace Park relocation:
Relocating the Peace Park into the other green areas allows easy flow of the seating elements on the plaza and creates options of using the larger uninterrupted plaza space for other community activities.
Instillation of a floating roof over the Ice-skating rink:
The installation of a floating roof over the ice skating rink/reflecting Pool will offer protection from the elements all year round and encourage visitation. Spectators wishing to view activities will now have the benefit of shelter. The glass panel motif in the roof will allow natural light onto the space during the day and create options for innovative lighting during the evening.
Lighting, Pathways and Safety:
The illumination of the seating elements, improved pool lighting and the introduction of a cafe to under the City Hall over-hang will improve safety in the area by providing increased lighting and people into currently under utilised spaces.
To soften the lines of the concrete we will introduce a simple leaf mosaic tile into the plaza. This will help indicate possible paths through the site, denote points of interest and add a natural element.
The additions will also fill one of the necessary requirements in that they will endeavour to enliven and integrate the city hall, podium roof, the elevated walkways and the path system. Advances in engineering means that establishing an infrastructure to support these redevelopments can be easily achieved.
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Group 4
In the new stage,we are going to increase the interaction between people and space.our group try to add some modern technological element in this site, music around us and visual changing on the surface of the pool/rink. It makes fun for people.We also wonder some environmental improvment among the building group. For example, the roof garden which can be used by officer after work break or during events time,so it gives more civic space for people. There are two parts that we are going to redesign on the Nathan Phillips Square:
- VIRESCENCE --- In order to get more widen green area , provide outdoor living space, attract people resting, view and admire the square lanscape from upper place. We designed a roof garden on the top of the lowest roof surface. It is including plant collocate, urban furniture(sitting, private space etc.),idiographic solution for irrigate,drain,soil and so on.
- DIGITAL USING --- There is a computer programming language called “PROCESSING” now commonly used in interior and media field. It’s for people to react with programmed images, animation, and sound. The program I designed is camera projections formed Canada’s flag and showing animation and sound with people’s reactions by using “processing”.
 Plan view of our design. |
 Perspective view of our design. |
 The drawing is showing how people fit into the site and how the skylight being used during daytime. |
 The "PROCESSING" ice skating field. |
 The day and night view of the site. |
 Different shadow in winter and summer. |
 Standing on the edge of the cafe,also showing the skylight and how the space being used. |
 Waling throgh the glass walls. |
 view from the glass house. |
 Standing on the roof and looking down the whole square. |
 Digital model. |
 Digital model plan view. |
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I looked at Nathan Philips Square and our group design concepts and decided to do the skylights up on the roof. I placed the skylights outside the city hall. They make a double usage for the site. Whatever programme goes under the roof (i.e. cafe), the skylights provide sunshine and light down through during daytime; when the night comes, those lights under plaza also provide light through to the roof, and that's a source saving. Even the roof is not being used as a garden, the skylights are still useful as landscape units. Glass is the perfect marterial for making skylight and I showed the connection between the concrete, aluminum and safty glass when making the phycical model.
 Plan and section drawings of the skylight itself and where they are going to be placed. |
 How the skylights fit into the space. |
 The view from the plaza (under the roof level). |
 The scale of the skylights in reality. |
 The phycical model scale of 1 : 5. |
 The phycical model scale of 1 : 5. |
 The phycical model detail from the bottom view. |
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The problem existed in our group design is the glass walls are not fit for the roof garden, so I deleted it. However, in order to protect people from wind or rain into a safe space, I designed shelters beyond the two edges of the roof garden. And the shelters not only supply a rest area but also make the roof garden to be a close space. I followed the same idea as the 'Bridge' sculpture on the pool/rink. I designed the shape to be a curve, and the shelter on the roof garden will be consistent with the bridge on the square. Every shelter is about 6 meter long, and about 10 people can sit under the shelter. The materials I used almostly is stainless steel, that is strong enough, and its bending moment can make the frame to be a tension curve. Also, it has high compression and wind load stress. The material made for the shelter is a water proof material, it resist not only wind and rain, but also ultraviolet radiation. I made a potted holder on the handrail, the plants, such as liane bring virescence into the shelter area.
 I deleted the glass wall in the group design, and design shelters beyond two edges of the roof garden. |
 Perspective drawings for my shelter. |
 Section drawings to show the shape and "I BEAM" structure. |
 Different perspective views for my physical model. |
 Joints in my physical model. |
 Potted holder is designed on the handrail. Plants also can be in the shelter area. |
 Physical model added in the original roof. People collage to show the scale. |
 Physical model added in the original roof. People collage to show the scale. |
 How people use the shelter in the roof garden? Supplying a safe space to have a rest. |
 Backview of the shelter in the roof garden. |
 Overview the shelter groups on either edge. |
 Connection of the shelters and planting (grass and bush) area. |
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Group 5
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A short video is available to view on YouTube. The quality is unfortunately rather poor, but it provides insight into design inspiration and a quick tour of a 3D model...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6H8ghVycLyA
Our intent is to take our individual programmes and combine them in a way that will revitalize the original designs of Viljo Revell. The programmes target different aspects of how Nathan Phillips Square is used by the people of Toronto. On a structural level a stage will allow more events without the need for major monetary backing. Seasonal art exhibitions and excercise orientated "wheels days" provide activities for the public to come and experience. Because of these differences, they can be worked together easily to create a coherent whole.
Presently, the site is divided into two aesthetically different parts; the modern, curvy town hall, and the older, more linear remainder of Nathan Phillips Square. Adding a degree of curvature to the Square will unify the entire site, as well as accomodating the proposed programmes, particularly the stage and excercise elements.
These changes will enhance Nathan Phillips Square visually, as well as reinforcing the strong community sentiment valued by many of Torontos citizens.
 "Only in freedom can the human spirit soar"...Toronto is a city of many museums, galleries and art. These dance images reflect on the city's culture, events and attitude towards art. |
 The feature seating/slab will accommodate many events that is Beneficial to the public. Concrete texture will apply on only the high-lighted slabs. |
 The slab seats are pre-cast concrete with a smooth finish for the top surface and four texture surfaces. It will be a mixture of finely crushed stones, (limestone) clay, sand etc... |
 The position of the concrete squares allow people to interact within the space. It provides seatings all year round and allow the public to enjoy sculptures that are put out for display. |
 The size of the squares are 1500mm x 1500mm x 500mm. The abstract pattern is signifigant to art and representation of the liveliness of Toronto. |
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The new design element the waterfeature allows a flow between the new upper area and the existing lower area. This water feature connects to the existing reflection pool. This water feature is cirular which is based on the existing curves already in the site. Following images show how the water flows down onto the reflection pool, frezzing in winter and acting as a waterfall in the other seasons. The waterfeature is like a sift, sifting the water into different directions.
 Drawing showing detail, section and perspective |
 Detail of icicle underneath waterfeature |
 Detail of waterfall |
 Perspective of the space |
 Light beaming through the holes |
 Frozen surface in winter |
Toronto is a name given by the Iroquios, meaning "place where trees stand in the water". This served as the inspiration behind my individual design, as well as allowing a corner of the reflection pool to be enlivened and provide colour. The lamps that protrude from the water represent the trees. Each lamp reflects light in a direction completely unique to itself, rather like trees themselves (The uniqueness, not the ability to reflect light, that is). The lamps tail off into the square, bringing people too and from the place where these "trees" stand in the water.
 Larger Section detailing basic layout of components and immediate Landscape. |
 Close up Section, represented also by Model. Shows the connection between component and the land, and how water is intergrated. |
 This plan shows the basic layout of the lamps, and also details their various heights. |
 Simple Sketch showing the lamps varying heights and positions of lights. |
 Construction process, wax drying in mould. Made quite a mess. |
 Coming out of its box, concrete crumbled a bit but held together reasonably well. |
 This picture details the connection between the concrete and mounted steel, and how water forms around it. |
 Again connection detail, hard to see where steel is. Refer to section above for more detail. |
The amphitheater has planting of grass and trees in certain concrete squares. For these plants to survive the concrete square needed to be treated as a pot with hollowing it out right through to the ground allowing soil to pass through the base coarse. This will alow the passing of water through and taproot in trees. The squares with trees would also need to be lined with a galvanized steel box around 4mm to stop the trees roots as they mature from breaking up the concrete.
 Section of the layers required to make the amphitheater |
 Plan section showing positions of details in model |
 Image of model showing the different layers |
 Sketches showing how the plants will be able to grow in the concrete squares |
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Group 6
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Strategy
In attempts to create a better public space one can miss the mark entirely by focusing solely on major programmatic decisions that are built strictly around the occurrence of activities. In order for Aesthetic and functional cohesion to last, the site must be able to conform to dynamic activities. The main objective of the design is to create a space that is alive and interactive with the people that populate the site all the while creating exterior conditions that are favourable to social activities.
Experience of Gliding around the Square: (Winter)
Create series of pathways that lead from the reflection pond to the adjoining green space that boarders the square. These path ways lead to and from a second smaller pond, which in winter are flooded and freeze to allow people to skate freely around certain areas of the site but without hindering or restricting walking citizens. This is a very seasonal programme that relies on environmental conditions but works strongly to keep the site dynamic and changing
Elevating Nature: (Summer)
The existing Path system along the elevated walkways has much potential for creating a unique experience. By planting this area, connecting it with city hall in a cyclic pattern and making it more accessible. This area in the spatial programming is a lure for people who want to escape and retreat from the city for a short while. This is an opportunity for people to walk through gardens with out the intense hustle of the activities going on below.
Social Programming for the Masses: (Day)
Programmes that rely on physical objects or interaction often loose their initial appeal and cannot be used alone. By allowing and promoting specific commercial/retail and Café business in the site, we have come up with an effective way to continually draw people in to the square. This is a daily approach at programming the site.
Moody Park: (Night)
At night parks become empty as people go home or move to other areas in the city. We have introduced nightlife by creating bars and a restaurant in and around the square with stimulating lighting to support these activities. Lights that change intensity colour or leaves marks depending on have many people are in the space or as move past and touch certain areas and furniture. This allows the site to interact with people while creating a total new experience.
conc
Our proposal has temporary, seasonal and permanent programming that works with spatial, physical and social environment. The design is to create a space that functions for the necessary activates of day to day life, but done so in a way that encourages unprogrammed and spontaneous events that can only be possible by having large groups of people not being told how to enjoy a space but giving them the means to.
User:Ben
[[MARK Ben's PPT. R/DRIVE BEN LAMASON]]
User:Lizuog
[[Full power presention + animation is in R/DRIVE Hand-ins_Folders under Li_Zuoguo]]
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1.3 perspective views of new element of ice rink.the ice rink lead from the large reflecting pond to a small pond which in winter are flooded and freeze to allow people to skate freely around certain areas .
2.This is one of the section details about the the ice rink.There is a pipe with series of hole attach on the right edge of ice rink.These pipes will relase certain amout of water when the surface are over scratched.it act the role of resurfacing the icerink.]]
3.Another section detail, light will be set up on the left edge of icerink.]]
4.structure of this ice rink.]]
Group 7
A Connection and extension with the PATH system would be proposed from the map above.
Site One: Yonge-Dundas Square represents a bold civic intervention and a unique City, business and resident partnership to create an active, vibrant focal point at one of the City's busiest intersections, therefore the it seems only logical to situate one of our PATH POINTS at this location, as a way to broaden the public domain. The introduction of seating areas and green space within the tent will act to facilitate public interaction, generating a program spontaneous in its nature.
Site Two: Nathan Phillips square serves as one of Toronto’s meeting points for people and culture. The cities PATH network caters for extremes of weather connecting public and private buildings through a series of underground tunnels. Through this analysis a primary symbol of the human mark or settlement on the landscape has been selected as a programme in the square. Large glass tent like structures would be situated in strategic locations along the path network under the square and around the city catering for café and meeting spaces.
Site Three: The grange park is situated in downtown Toronto, providing a green backdrop and recreational space to the Ontario Art Gallery and the Ontario School of Art and Design. The park originated as a gift from a scholar Goldwin Smith who donated the original manor house and grounds in 1910. The space now serves as a public park and a connection to the Ontario Art Gallery. The park features heavy planting and a children’s wading pool. The design for this connection point originated from the traditional and modern use and form in the site. The old manor house has columns, traditional classical styling and box like forms. This is juxtaposed by the School of Art and Design which presents clutter free architecture and an illus ional structure by International architect Will Alsop. The juxtaposition between old and new is also similar to the transition process between the public and private space to and from the path system. These opposing factors were taken into consideration and a form was developed. The triangular space which one walks through to access the PATH system leads to a box like square form and heads underground. The space is split into two levels, with skylights from below creating an atrium affect, exposing different processes of connection.
The situational aspect of the tent structures allows for a connection between the privatised culture of the path system and the more open public spaces above ground. Confirmed spaces include Grange Park, Younge Dundas Square and Nathan Phillips Square, an extension of the path system would be a feature of the proposed design. Other possibilities include tents connecting the University with the path system, and or the General Hospital.
 Precedent image. |
 Precedent image. |
 posed sites for PATH POINTS. |
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 The use of lighting and the scale of the PATH POINTS act as a beacon in a busy crowd. A meeting point. |
 Assimilation of PATH POINTS to surrounding space.jpg |
 Plan. |
 A point of interest. |
 Development |
 plan for PATH POINTS in square. |
 The PATH point acts as a meeting place for all. |
 Shelter can be obtained in the square with path points. |
 The square takes on a new dimmension when viewed through the structures. |
 Connection points situation in Grange park. |
 Entry to path system. |
 Connection point would act as a beacon or landscape marker at night time. |
 Connection point would hold meeting space and or exhibition spaces. |
 Where site is situated in Toronto. |
 Sketch showing underground connection. |
 Model of Space visible above ground. |
Group 8
PROBLEM
The current issue within Nathan Philips Park that our group is focusing on is the lack of seating and spaces that is avalable to the people of Toronto.
(1)Seating is not there when most needed. During lunch hours flocks of people from nearby work places are left standing, but in order to provide so many seats a large space is needed.
(2)Throughout the year large concerts take place in the main free space which people occupy during normal lunch hours.
How can we provide a solution for both problems that works within the one space?
DESIGN PROPOSAL
Our group proposes to use the idea of Steven's mechanical 'blocks'.
The mechanical-operated blocks or seats with varying levels will symbolise the use for the different programmes in the space.
During the day, seats are set to rise just before rush hours in the park, each block or seat will be at different heights once they have all risen slowly (aprox 1 hours). After rush hours or during the night, the space is fully open in order to retain the open space so people can walk through without obstacles in their path.
The advantages of having this 'moveable' seating is that space can be occupied when there is no one to occupy it. The blocks serve as a fill in the landscape which people can not only interact with but use for seating.
During work breaks, high amounts of people come to the park to get fresh air and space from their bosses, the blocks can be raised to provide seating. At large functions the blocks can be risen to provide a concert stage, and blocks can be lowered at certain areas to provide spaces for crowd moshing.
Other benifits this design can provide is, the blocks can be raised or lowered to generate a path that people can take. The design offers a landscape that can be changed and manipulated to suit any occassion.
Areas we will focus on:
1. Restore the green space which the square once used to be, investigation into plants and flowers used in Toronto.
2. Traffic flow, times of day it is most busy, pedestrian accessibility, entries and exits, the direction people take through the space.
3. Where people sit during their lunch breaks, how they use the space as it is now.
4. Existing events that happen and where in the space that they happen.
5. Investigation into hydraulics for the mechanincal seats.
6. Investigation into the material that the blocks can be made out of.
7. Investigation into height and spatial qualities of the underground car park.
The path from certain points in the square to the city hall is crucial so must be obtained during the busiest times.
Final Design Part Two
Development of the multi-functional block system
Based on the feedback from the first presentation that there was too many seperate elements within the design that didn't coherantly link together; I focussed on individually developing our groups initial idea of the blocks. I achieved this by spreading the blocks like a carpet over the site.
Having this foundation surface for the whole flooring of the site means that the seperate elements such as Daniel's sculpture can interwine and link with the floor depending on the height level of the surrounding blocks.
I intently focussed on the spacing and positioning of the blocks, as well as the height and purpose.
As well as the blocks acting as seating they also have a sculptural element to it that people can view when they walk through.
 Concrete mould to surround the box block. |
 Block made out of Acryllic, wouldn't be as expensive as class to instore, easy to maintain and is effective with lights. |
 Block lit up, effective especially at night acting aesthetically and as a path indicator. |
 Plan showing concrete spacings between each block and the lights inside. |
 Perspective showing varying heights of blocks and expressing the idea that they can be manipulated depending on events. |
 Section showing the concrete spacings between each block and the lights which will be inside. |
 Showing how blocks function as a movable flooring structure and as sculptural art. |
 Scale, safe height so that people can climb on, sit and view. |
Group 9
Individual material studies located under the following names:
In this group design we are bringing in all three of our design ideas from the individual part of this assignment. Stephen Jarvis: Focusing on the development of a skate park, witch during winter becomes an ice skating park. The park will be somewhere near the fountain and not out in the open so that it doesn’t disrupt the feel of the square. Laura and Rebecca: Combining ideas by incorporating a water feature into a seating plan. Using concrete block elements to build up a multi-level seating arrangement, in which the lower layer of blocks, which boarder the ice rink perimeter, house a waterfall feature where the water flows over the blocks and merges with the liquid in the ice rink. This link between the seating and the ice rink mimics the connection between people and activities – “people come where people are” the public are drawn to the square to witness the various activities performed by other people, or in-turn be participants themselves.
Proposed Design Elements: |
 Skate Park |
 Seating Structures |
 Water Feature |
 Preliminary Design: Site Plan of combining elements |
 1:100 Plan of pool corner with surrounding seating components and lawn path cutting through the structures |
 Perspective of seating arrangement |
 Plan view of water feature |
 Perspective of water feature |
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 section |
 section |
 final perspective of water feature |
 final perspective |
 plan view of our area |
 final |
 final |
 final view |
 final second water fall |
