Toronto: The Latest Architecture and News

In this talk, Pamila Matharu and Lauren Fournier will be in conversation on the occasion of the launch of Fournier’s new book Autotheory as Feminist Practice in Art, Writing, and Criticism (The MIT Press, 2021). The two will discuss ideas that Fournier takes up in the book, including the state of the “autotheoretical turn” in recent feminist art, the role that histories of intersectional feminist activism play in contemporary conversations and trends, the ethics of disclosure and exposure, and the relationship between autotheory, autofiction, and other terms, like auto-ethnography. The two will draw from their backgrounds as artists, writers, and curators involved in feminist organizing in Toronto and elsewhere to discuss the use of autobiographical materials in critical and conceptual work. Books will be available for purchase.

The Settler Colonial City Project is a research collective focused on the collaborative production of knowledge about cities on Turtle Island/Abya Yala/The Americas as spaces of ongoing settler colonialism, Indigenous survivance, and struggles for decolonization. Trained both as architects and as architectural historians, SCCP co-founders Andrew Herscher and Ana María León will discuss the work of the collective as an intersection of practice, research, and pedagogy. In light of current prompts for change in architectural curricula, they will problematize how institutions have embraced and conflated depoliticized notions of decolonization and anti-racism.

Marina Tabassum will share her research on the Meghna estuary and its impact on climate change coupled with a complex land inheritance system introduced by British Colonial rule that to date governs the dynamic landscape of the Ganges Delta. Marina will share the development of a modular mobile home unit to be distributed to landless families living in coastal areas.

The presentation will focus an indigenous approach to architecture that is based on a synthesis of cultural sensitivity and environmental responsibility. The purpose of the presentation is to describe a methodology to designing buildings that focuses on a holistic view of man's interconnectedness with the environment based on an Indigenous philosophical approach.

According to recent studies, there are currently more than 1,750,000 active podcasts available via myriad streaming platforms. Once occupying a small niche of the media, podcasting is now thoroughly mainstream; its meteoric rise has only accelerated thanks to the solitary production and consumption of media under the social isolation brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Co-moderated by Mitchell Akiyama and Neil Verma, Hearing Stories: Narrative Audio in Isolation invites two leading practitioners, Jana Winderen and Kaitlin Prest, to speak to what it means to create sonic art in this moment. We will discuss how sonic practices can be used to create community, to tell stories, and to address pressing political issues.

Design through and Indigenous Lens explores the ways in which we, as Indigenous Peoples, approach the world We will be discussing how to improve the process of design and architecture though Indigenous Cultures with an application in contemporary society. Ideas about design process, multi-generational households, “Universal Inclusivity”, Urban agriculture, multi-service provider neighbourhoods, will be discussed. We will discuss alternates goals for urban planning and look at a case study that supports all of these ideas. Understanding Indigenous cultural knowledge can help push us back towards ways of designing and building that create healthier ways of living.

With a background in landscape architecture, international development cooperation, and social impact measurement, Jia currently leads a research, analytics, and evaluation team at the City of Toronto's Parks, Forestry, and Recreation Division to provide decision-support to improve quality of life for the public. She has a special interest in community development through design, performance measurement, and socio-ecological resilience research. Jia is also a research collaborator with the University of Toronto, working on translating resilience thinking into practical policy and operational priorities.

Drew Adams (M.Arch 2011) is a designer with a background spanning architecture, landscape architecture and urban design. He is an Associate at LGA Architectural Partners in Toronto with nearly 10 years experience leading innovative and high-profile public interest design projects. This includes affordable housing projects like Eva’s Phoenix to the Evergreen Brick Works carbon neutral Kiln Building while his own speculative work has been distinguished in numerous international design competitions. This work has received recognition ranging from the Mies Crown Hall America’s Prize nomination to material innovation awards and publication features ranging from Fast Company to Architectural Record. Drew recently co-authored a series for Azure on design and climate change, is a frequent speaker and guest critic, and occasional adjunct professor. In 2020, Drew was named recipient of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada’s Emerging Architect Award.

"The method doesn’t always pay off, and comes with a good deal of frustrating moments and necessary plot twists. Projects we love are regularly thrown in the trash bin. But more often than not, they leave place for even more lovable ones. In short, we have to be resilient and stubborn. Being optimistic is an enjoyable burden."

Space Popular directors Fredrik Hellberg and Lara Lesmes will discuss their latest projects in both the physical and virtual realms with a focus on how new technologies are changing both how we think of and experience architecture.

This book The Architecture of Point William. A Laboratory for Living shares Shim-Sutcliffe’s significant work at Point William intertwines landscape and architecture with ancient rock and water reshaping and reimagining a site on the Canadian Shield for over two decades. The project is a laboratory for experimentation at many scales of design including the landscape, built form, furniture, lighting and hardware shared in this book through sketches, model photos and photographs. Kenneth Frampton provides an insightful introduction with his own selected sketches framing a way of seeing Point William for the reader. Michael Webb’s provocative interview with Brigitte Shim and Howard Sutcliffe describes the evolution of the site. Immersive spaces have been captured by three remarkable photographers Ed Burtynsky, James Dow and Scott Norsworthy.

The Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design is pleased to announce that the 2020-21 Frank Gehry International Visiting Chair in Architectural Design is Douglas Cardinal, OC, FRAIC, a renowned Canadian architect known both for his inspiring designs and for his advocacy for the rights and dignity of Indigenous peoples. Cardinal will lead a series of public events including lectures and conversations in collaboration with the Daniels Faculty, throughout his appointment as Gehry Chair.

‘Support Black Designers.’ is a temporary mural featuring artwork & writing by Black creatives — curated by the Daniels Art Directive with designers Ashita Parekh and Tolu Alabi — installed on the north facade of One Spadina, the University of Toronto John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, & Design.

We’re excited to invite you to Danish Desire, our virtual event presented by The Royal Danish Consulate General and TORP, at DesignTO Festival, Saturday, January 23 from 2pm-3pm. Our panel of leading Danish and Canadian designers, makers and educators will be discussing the ongoing success of Danish Design, Denmark’s rich design history, and how a culture deeply immersed in and supportive of design positively affects design outcomes.⁠
⁠
Register today at:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/1016105024546/WN_V2wJTYPEReq79TEke5Ls9A⁠