sprawling landscapes Sander Waxman

Aero-Tecture

As both an important piece of history and a valuable piece of development land in the city of Toronto, Downsview Park is above all an important opportunity for the city and people of Toronto to reclaim a large plot of urban property. It should be seen as an opportunity to test and explore the possibilities of a progressive, sustainable and environmentally conscious driven community on a truly urban development scale, combating the tendency for most large development projects to move north of the city in the form of urban sprawl.

Located on the grounds of the former CFB Downsview air force base, the park has a rich history of both military and civilian aircraft and airport buildings that lend themselves to a unique and specific language of architectural form, elegance and structure. The position of this project is to not only take cues from these architectural forms and structures, but to actually reuse the recycled aircraft themselves to introduce a new archetype of small building that will be used throughout the park. By informing a practice of recycling construction materials, a message of sustainability and environmental awareness will be promoted as well as a preservation of the history and legacy of the people and planes that once used this space.

CycleparC

In the development of Parc Downsview Park, it will be necessary to incorporate and promote the use of bicycles as a means of transportation. There is evidence in the Development Guidelines that the designers are looking for cycling to be the secondary means of transportation, next to walking, within the complex. Subsequently, there must be methods in place within the design framework in which to promote the use of bicycles in a suburban community. Providing safe units, in convenient areas throughout the complex, for riders to store their bicycles is a method. Attached to these units can also be a bicycle rental service where a bicycle can be “borrowed” and returned to the nearest station to his or her destination.

Parc Downsview Park could benefit from a bicycle program because of the poor walkability of the site. The plans are for Parc Downsview Park to be an interactive and vibrant community. Thus, transportation to all areas of the site is vital if this concept is to work. However, this transportation method must be sustainable as well as accessible and easy to use. Most case studies for bicycle-rental programs are located in small European communities or in downtown city centres. Parc Downsview Park is a suburban community so most people will be inclined to use personal vehicles as a primary means of transportation. A bicycle-rental system, if implemented properly will work, but if rental stations are also supported with personal bicycle storage they may provided an added convenience for people who do not want to rent. If a well thought-out and efficient system is developed, people will use it. Providing bike stands along city streets is no longer feasible. They must be supplemented with other services like rental and maintenance/repair.

My concept for Parc Downsview Park is a bicycle storage, rental and maintenance program called CycleParC. It is a complex-wide program that will have kiosks stationed at numerous points within Parc Downsview Park and at Downsview Station. This program enhances the concept of the “sustainable campus” because it is a sustainable means of transportation and it supports other sustainable transportation like the bus and subway. It encourages healthy living within the community keeping people active. They kiosks are also sustainable as they use recycled aluminum and solar powered security lighting. This concept will become part of a network within Parc Downsview Park and potentially be the first “sustainable bicycle community” within Toronto.

Lisiane D'Amico

airCRAFT architecture

Team members: M. Albinger, E. Lee, J. Lin, G. Nasser

The masterplan for Parc Downsview Park includes many smaller areas within the larger context. The Cultivation Campus has been selected as the focus for this design exercise. This area is intended to provide educational and social opportunities for the community, within a sustainable paradigm.

Parc Downsview Park lies on a large swath of land to the northwest of downtown Toronto. The site has a long history associated with aviation. The first airfield was constructed in 1929, and was used continuously until the 1990s for this purpose, when the land was designated to become a public park. Phase 1 of the new masterplan has been implemented, with more development to follow. The future for Parc Downsview Park holds virtually unlimited opportunity to create a place that will inspire the future generations of visitors that experience the site.

Following a phase of site analysis and historical research on Parc Downsview Park, our group developed a coordinated aesthetic that each team member used in their design. One growing trend that was discovered was the recycling and reuse of decommissioned commercial aircraft in the architectural profession. Hundreds of airplanes are grounded each year ending up on massive “airplane graveyards” in the desert. Incorporating old aircraft components into the design for the small buildings of Parc Downsview Park is a natural response to both the heritage of the site and the sustainable vision for the park’s future.

Downsview Park - Group Submission

Downsview Park, Group Design

Group Members: Mike Blois, Tara Whelen, Aiden Mai, Sheila Crowe, Pamela Sin, Stephanie Downes

This posting is a preview of some of the work created by our group under a collaborative effort of design criteria for small buildings and furniture at Downsview Park.

The following is our criteria for 

which the designs were based:

Identity - sustainable, industrial,suitable in all seasons (self-finishing materials)

Rules for Design:

- Columns are exposed (I-beam)

  and may allow plant growth

- Foundation walls extend past 

   grade and allow seating

- Solid Walls made from rammed

   earth

- Roof Construction - OWSJ - can 

   be wood truss + steel deck or

   exposed wood slat

- Water collection visible

- Porous Paving

- Futuristic design

Our designs reflects the unique elements that the creation of Downsview Park presents.  Building a park from its inception allows for careful design and consideration to be given to all of the parks furnishings and these small buildings and furniture should reflect the parks desire for sustainability, the needs of the community and an identity that is unique and that will define the parks character.  

Downsview Park’s master plan focuses on an ‘Edible Landscape’ which combines the aesthetics of landscaping with the production of fresh produce. With aesthetics and productivity hand in hand, it creates a sustainable local food supply and lifestyle ethic for the residents on site. A small group of market vendors are suitable for the site, allowing fresh and ready produce to be purchased walking distance from resident’s homes, at a lower price. These market vendors can fold up into a storage container while the Market is not in service. Wheels on the bottom allow for each to be moved to a different located on the site.