The projects of Future Builders on display
Julia Van Kralingen, grade 8 of Waldorf Academy chose to build an urban tree-house, live music, cafe, and hotel venue. When deciding on the program or function of her ,'thesis,' project, Julia commented that there weren't enough interesting places to stay in Toronto, and that one thing the waterfront could use more of, was live music. Noting that there wasn't much space left to build on the ground and very few places where one could have an excellent view of the water, Julia elected to go Up, providing users with an interesting and new perspective of the waterfront. With one (reinforced) tree as the structure's base, Julia chose to continue the language of 'tree-ness' by supporting the hotel rooms with steel posts, all of which are connected by a series of bridges.Sonja Millermaier
Olivia Pestrin, grade 7 of Greenwood College School, felt that there weren't enough places to garden and grow food downtown. Olivia designed a Community Greenhouse, Local Restaurant, and Learning Kitchen Centre. Inspired by urban gardening and farming, Olivia wanted her project to look like a flower blooming up from the city. The 'petals' alternate as Greenhouse and Community gathering/market/ learning space. The centre of the structure is a restaurant serving and teaching how to prepare food grown in the Greenhouses.Sonja Millermaier
Tadios Tweodros Ncioldemus, grade 7 of Lord Dufferin Public School, felt that the waterfront lacked a community centre and adequate space for outdoor and indoor recreation. Tadios' thesis was a Community Recreation Centre, complete with an outdoor rock climbing wall (modelled in jellybeans) on the back facade of the building, and slide plunging directly into Lake Ontario. Tadios chose to clad his building with gold and silver, reflective metal siding. Inspired by his fieldtrip to Evergreen Brickworks, Tadios felt this would enhance energy efficiency, and cause the building to look like a 'glowing sun' in the centre of the waterfront.Sonja Millermaier
Future Builders project by camper Bram. Very interested in green roofs, Bram built a simple, clean house using natural materials and with a lovely swimming pool.Sonja Millermaier
At the Final Review, guest critics were brought in to evaluate the work. Standing left, designer Sherry Lin. Seated, white shirt, Jackie Beale, Architext instructor.Sonja Millermaie
Guest critics Callan Wilson-Delafield of Sustainable.to, architect Paul Dowsett, middle, and designer Sherry Lin, right, at the Final Review question Julia Van Kralingen on her Urban Treehouse.Sonja Millermaier
A closer look at Tadios Tweodros Ncioldemus' Future Builders project.Sonja Millermaier
Tyler Pace, grade 8 incoming student to Greenwood College School, chose to continue the language of the Wavedecks already existing on Toronto's Waterfront. Feeling that there weren't enough places to enjoy food on the water, Tyler elected to build a cafe with a small working garden. Tyler imagined that the Wavedecks would simply extend and peel up to create his structure, so that it blended well with what is already there.Sonja Millermaier