Five finalists have emerged from the 196 submissions of Toronto’s first international Winter Stations design competition. Drawing proposals from 36 countries around the world, the competition challenged entrants to transform the lifeguard stations on Toronto’s east beaches into public art pieces for the winter. The finalists’ designs were constructed in mid-February and will be displayed until March 20, 2015.
Take a look at the completed installations, after the break.
Toronto’s Winter Stations competition is the brainchild of RAW Design, Ferris + Associates, and Curio, and encourages artists, designers, architects, and landscape architects to reactivate a popular summer destination during the winter months through public art installations with the theme of "warmth."
The 2015 Winter Stations finalists are:
Sling Swing / WWB Studio (London/Liverpool, UK)
To provide warmth, Sling Swing relies on the body heat of its visitors by transforming the typology of deck chairs into a series of swings, encouraging visitors to group together. Bright canvases catch the eye of passersby because of their color and movement as the wind activates them.
Driftwood Throne / DM_Studio (London, UK)
Using the form of the lifeguard stand as its canvas, Driftwood Throne employs an additive process with reused timber to make it a sculptural shelter. Beneath its faceted walls, visitors are invited to sit and escape the harsh winter weather.
Wing Back / Tim Olson (New Hampshire, USA)
Drawing inspiration from a wingback chair, the installation acts as a gathering space and seating area. The extended lines of the lifeguard stand create shelter from the prevailing northern winds, and the semi-circular form captures the warmth from the central fire ring.
HotBox / Michaela MacLeod and Nicholas Croft (Toronto, Canada)
Homage to the traditional ice house, HotBox relies on the senses to evoke warmth by creating a strong contrast inside the structure from the conditions outside. The dark exterior opens up to an insulated, soft interior space with an oculus that floods it with warm, natural light.
In addition to the finalists' installations, another lifeguard stand was transformed by a team from Ryerson University’s Engineering and Architectural Science department. Their design is as follows:
Snow Cone / Diana Koncan and Lily Jeon (Toronto, Ontario)
Pairing the shielding qualities of a pinecone’s structure with the air-trapping technology of an ingloo, Snowcone presents an insulated environment and playful form for visitors to enjoy.
For more information and to view the full submissions, visit winterstations.com
