ParkletTO
Ryerson University Design Team:
Joana Benin, John Benner, Jason Glionna, Gregorio Jimenez, Marissa Liu, Tess Macpherson, Diana Sobaszek
June/ 16/ 2017
In collaboration with the Downtown Yonge
Location: Yonge and Elm St.
As Toronto continues to transform, so too have its streets. Increased demand for pedestrian-friendly neighbourhoods has sparked the creativity of city planners and designers alike to think outside the box. As a result, spaces that have traditionally been allotted for automobile parking can now take on a whole new meaning. Ultimately, this has led to the concept of a parklet: a public amenity that incorporates seating to act as an extension of the sidewalk. ParkletTO represents a major step forward in the merging of design and function on the streets of Toronto. The design was developed by students from Ryerson University’s Department of Architectural Science, and was created in partnership with the Downtown Yonge Business Improvement Area (DYBIA) with support from Upper Canada Forest Products. By repurposing existing street parking spots into a multi-use, people-friendly park space, ParkletTO has created new public spaces for the community while stimulating economic activity in the downtown core. The design features Accoya wood that undulates in a graceful manner from end to end. Accoya was chosen due to its ability to repel water, along with its strength and elegant grain. In order to achieve this natural undulation, each piece of wood was rounded in a concave and convex manner and then attached side-by-side to form layers. Designed in 50cm modules, the parklet can be easily stored, reused, and reconfigured. The result is an inviting space for pedestrians to sit, relax, and enjoy their meal or the weather. ParkletTO’s glowing LEDS and light wood material fit in perfectly with vibrant Elm Street and it’s tree-lined sidewalk. Moving forward, ParkletTO aims to be the building block and inspiration for future parklets to come.
Pictures by Brian B. Bettencourt and Xeenah Mohammad Ali
Animation by Ernest Wong
A view on how the ParkletTO incorporates context into design
