lifeguard posts become playful pavilions for toronto’s 2016 winter stations
(above) ‘flow’ by team secret (calvin fung and victor huynh) of toronto, canada

 

 

 

along lake ontario’s blustery shores, this year’s winter stations have just been revealed to the public. following last year’s successful program, previously featured by designboom here, the 2016 edition sees seven installations built alongside a newly-designed community firepit on the waterside of toronto’s east beaches. four winning designs chosen from 378 submissions are joined by three student-led projects from participating schools. each of the installations is built around the beaches’ lifeguard stations, inviting both adults and children alike to touch, climb and interact with the engaging and playful artworks.

 

initiated by RAW design, ferris + associates, and curio, the design competition is aimed at inspiring local torontonians to wander outside during the long and cold winter season.moving in to year two, we could not be more impressed with the caliber of design and dedication from each team,’ says roland rom colthoff, founder of raw design. ‘each installation brings its own unique story to the beach, demonstrating that, no matter what the temperature, design draws the crowds.’

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flow’
photo by khristel stecher

 

 

 

‘flow’ by graduate students calvin fung and victor huynh encapsulates the transitionary moment between freeze and thaw. the installation reimagines a single ice crystal as a 3D module, digitally fabricated through slot-fitting wood connections.  

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‘in the belly of a bear’ by caitlind r.c brown, wayne garrett and lane shordee of calgary, canada
photo by ben rahn/ A-frame studio

 

 

 

a team of three calgary-based artists have realized ‘in the belly of a bear’, an installation which juxtaposes a dark, charred aesthetic against the bright, sometimes snowy landscape. visitors are invited to climb inside the giant orb by a wooden ladder, which leads to domed interior lined in thick, warm fur. 

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‘in the belly of a bear’
photo by ben rahn/ A-frame studio

 

 

 

architecture collective MUDO has created a highly sensory experience with ‘floating ropes’, an installation which hides an inner chamber for people to take shelter. at the core of the multilayered rope forest, the lifeguard chair provides the perfect vantage point for visitors to view the lake from a unique perspective. 

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‘floating ropes’ by MUDO (elodie doukhan and nicolas mussche) of montreal, canada
photo by ben rahn/ A-frame studio

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‘floating ropes’
photo by ben rahn/ A-frame studio

 

 

 

composed of wooden panels, OCADU‘s ‘steam canoe’ resembles an upside down boat, forming an interior dome for the public to take shelter. evacuated solar tubes placed at the rear of the structure are designed to turn snow to steam, creating a halo of fog emerging from within.

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‘the steam canoe’ by OCADU of toronto, ontario
photo by khristel stecher

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‘the steam canoe’
photo by khristel stecher

 

 

 

UK-based FFLO has realized ‘sauna’, an immersive art installation that brings heat to the blustery shore. the interior of the timber structure comprises tiered seating — the higher the hotter, while its transparent exterior walls allow passers-by a get glimpse of thawing bathers within. solar powered lights illuminate the structure by night.

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‘sauna’ by FFLO (claire furnley and james fox) of kent, UK
photo by james fox

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‘sauna’
photo by james fox

 

 

 

made from sewn fabric, LED lights and a welded aluminum frame, ‘aurora borealis’ by a team at laurentian university is a kinetic sculpture that hovers above the lifeguard station like a spinning chandelier. as the visitor approaches and touches the illuminated tubes, they respond to body heat by changing color. 

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‘aurora borealis’ by laurentian university of sudbury, ontario
photo by ben rahn/ A-frame studio

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‘aurora borealis’
photo by khristel stecher

 

 

 

a team from ryerson university was inspired by the natural formations formed by frost in the outer layer of earth in the making of ‘lithoform’. the design serves a retreat from the harsh winter winds through cleverly designed fissures that create a polychromatic cavern of filtered light around the lifeguard station.

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‘lithoform’ by ryerson of toronto, ontario
photo by khristel stecher

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‘lithoform’
photo by khristel stecher

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the beach’s community fire place made with a charred cedar finish has been designed by architect douglas cardinal
photo by khristel stecher