Cityzen Developments

The best things to do on Toronto's waterfront

Summer is right around the corner (couldn't you tell?) and we've been pining to get out to the waterfront. Not only do we have a few projects happening there as part of the waterfront revitalization -- which is the largest urban redevelopment project in North America -- but we personally think it's one of the best local places to hang out in the summer.

Here's what we're looking forward to on Toronto's waterfront this year.

 

Harbourfront Centre

Obviously, Harbourfront is the hub of all summer events and cultural activities when it comes to Toronto's waterfront. The Summer Festival series happens every weekend all summer long. Harbourfront Centre works with over 450 community organizations and hosts more than 4,000 events a year.

 

General Cruisin'

As much as we love camping up north, we're also pretty thrilled that we can stay in the city and get our yacht on. For those of us who don't have a boating license to appreciate the finer art of water navigation, there are always loads of harbour tours offering good views of Toronto, or you can rent some digs at the Canoe and Kayak centre. 

The Power Plant  

No word of a lie, but there is always something fascinating happening at the The Power Plant, the waterfront's contemporary art gallery. Although the gallery physically sits in the Harbourfront Centre, it is led by its own Board of Directors. This is the place to be on the water if you want to enjoy internationally-acclaimed contemporary art. 

Watermark Irish Pub

There isn't much to say about Watermark except that it's a beautiful pub surrounded by grand boulevards and a pretty view of Lake Ontario. Overall, a great place to walk around and people-watch, or sit at the dock of the bay.

 

Toronto Islands

One of the most unique parts of Toronto offers wonderful opportunities to hang out and have a picnic on a beach. That's why we love the car-free, pro-ferry Toronto Islands. And many other reasons, like music festivals and looking at cute houses.

 

The Martin Goodman Trail

We're always obsessing over the next ride at Cityzen, and the Martin Goodman Trail -- which runs from Etobicoke to Scarborough across the waterfront -- tends to satisfy our cycling cravings. We love that the trail offers pedestrian, bicycle and in-line skating lanes.

What's your favourite thing to do on the waterfront? Let us know in the comments.

Yansong Ma 101: Hutong Bubble 32, Beijing, China

Yansong Ma's work extends beyond our cherished Absolute Towers. His engulfing architectural design is recognized worldwide, and he's not even 40 years old. This is part two in a series of his award-winning architectural and art works. 

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A silver luminescent blob appears in a narrow alleyway of old Beijing. Its amusing shape sits in complete contrast to its ancient surroundings, which are known as traditional Chinese courtyard residences.

The curious, space-age lump is called Hutong Bubble 32, and it lays in Beijing’s hutongs (slim residential alleyways that lead to courtyards) that have been part of Beijing’s history for thousands of years.

But what is it, exactly?

 

Hutong Bubble 32 is a small station that includes a bathroom and staircase to a roof garden. Amidst the aged, tapering neighbourhoods of Beijing, the bubble serves hutong communities by improving their access to sanitary services.

Yansong Ma, founding principal of MAD Architects, has no qualms with calling it an “alien creature.” The mysterious bubble reflects the surrounding wood, brick and greenery, implying that the past and future can coexist.

Since the mid-20th century, hutongs have been demolished to make way for new roads and buildings. Recently, some have been designated as protected areas for heritage preservation.

“In the courtyards that have survived, there are two situations,” Ma says. “It either looks exactly like it did 30 years ago – no gas, no heating, no toilet – or it has become a huge, newly renovated traditional-looking concrete villa for rich people.”

 

What influenced Ma to direct this project?

Ma believes the Hutong Bubble 32 makes a statement on rapid development in Beijing affecting the city’s courtyards. Like many of his past and future projects, there is a metaphorical and visual link about the tension between modern and traditional China. Hutongs are culturally important to Beijing; each hutong has its anecdotes and histories, but each faces challenges.

 

In a first-person account of the surrounding neighbourhood of Hutong Bubble 32, writer Brendan McGetrick reveals that it is an “odd environment, a mixture of pushy SUVs, scrawny cats, tour groups, hanging underwear and putrid toilets.”

Ma hopes that if other bubbles are inserted in Beijing, they will attract “new people, activities, and resources to reactivate entire neighborhoods,” he says.

 

MAD’s proposal for the future Beijing 2050 was first revealed at its exhibition MAD IN CHINA in Venice during the 2006 Venice Architecture Biennale.

 

Cityzen rides to conquer cancer again

Sam Crignano, president of Cityzen, and Domenic Crignano, site assistant at Dominus, are at it again. From June 9 to 10, the father-son duo will ride their bikes from Toronto to Niagara Falls as part of the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer benefiting the Princess Margaret Hospital. 

The Crignano's need that last fundraising push as the ride comes closer -- it's less than one month away! Donating to both Sam and Domenic for this cause is really simple. It's easier than PayPal, seriously. You can sponsor Sam by clicking here and sponsor Dom by clicking here to support their 200 kilometre ride.

We were curious about why the Crignano family supports this cause in particular, so we sat down with Domenic to find out what motivates him to ride his bike. 

1. What kind of bikes do you and Sam ride?

Sam rides a Pinarello Prince and I ride a Devinci SL3.  They are meant to be ridden hard and fast exclusively on the road.  I’m planning on upgrading my ride by making a big purchase on a new bike this summer.

2. What's the furthest you've cycled?

Probably about 120 kilometres in one trip but I haven’t been at it for too long. On a cycling trip last year, Sam rode about 1,000 kilometres in one week.

3. What got you into cycling? Was it something you always did with Sam?

When I was a kid, Sam would go out riding with a group every weekend for hours.  It’s just something I looked up to and always wanted to do. 

4. Favourite place to ride?

Most of our training takes place in Caledon and I very much enjoy cycling there. The Ride to Conquer Cancer takes you through the Niagara wine country which is also very enjoyable to ride through.

 

Sam in Chianti, Tuscany, Italy

 

5. Thoughts on bike lanes in Toronto?

As Toronto becomes even more dense, it’s important to offer as many transportation options as possible. As both an avid cyclist and frequent driver, my experience is that we need to change our attitude in regards to how we share our roads and show a little more respect for each other.  

6. Dream cycling destination?

Anywhere in Italy -- Piedmont, Firenze, Amalfi Coast. I can’t name just one place. 

7. Why are you doing the Ride to Conquer Cancer in particular? Why not any other charity?

Sam lost both of his parents (my grandparents) to cancer at a young age.  Cancer is something that has impacted and shaped the life of my family and millions of others around the world.  It's important to continue working towards a cure.  With regard to the event itself, the amount of support from volunteers and “cheer stations” during the ride is absolutely incredible. The event is very well organized. 

 

More info:
Support Sam and Dom at various cheering stations in southern Ontario (PDF)
Find out how exactly the money raised will benefit the Princess Margaret Hospital 

Sam Talks: May 2012 edition

Sam Crignano, President of Cityzen, will begin regularly contributing to the Cityzen blog. If you have any questions you'd like to ask him, please let us know in the comments below, or reach out to us via Twitter or Facebook.

Hi everyone,

This spring Cityzen is very busy with our latest acquisition, the Clarion Hotel, so I'll make this update swift. 

154 Front is still in its approval process. Call us at 416-777-2489 x 225 if you want to be added to the pre-registration list. We hope to go to market with this project late this summer or early fall.

At L Tower, construction is well under way and the building is pretty much sold out. Our Waterfront project at Cherry Street continues to move along in the approval process, and if all goes smoothly, we'll release the first phase as early as next year.  

Other things to look forward to in the warmer months include Widdicombe and Eglinton. We hope to launch the first phase of towns this summer. The third phase of Pier 27 looks like a summer launch but we haven't confirmed any dates yet. The sales centre with the model suite should be ready by the end of May or June. 

 In the meantime, I'm training for the 10th anniversary of Granfondo Italia on October 13 with about 60 other cyclists from Toronto.  It's a semi-competitive ride of 150 kilometres through the region of Maranello. The money raised will go towards the construction of the new Humber River Regional Hospital. 

I’m training three to four times a week with my group. During the course of a week, I usually cycle about 250 kilometres. I start in Kleinburg and cycle into Caledon and Hockley Valley. I'm also doing the Ride to Conquer Cancer with my son, Domenic. More info on that next week. 

Until next time,

Sam Crignano 

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Sam Talks: April 2012
Sam Talks: February 2012

Migrating Landscapes spring update: Jam-packed edition

Today we received a special update from Migrating Landscapes Organizer (MLO) to find out what's new with the team. Here's what's going on as Team Canada packs for the Venice Architecture Biennale this August. 

What to expect from the Venice Biennale this year

The 2012 Venice Architecture Biennale takes place in the context of common ground. "I want this Biennale to celebrate a vital, interconnected architectural culture, and pose questions about the intellectual and physical territories that it shares," says David Chipperfield, director of the 2012 Biennale. That being said, Migrating Landscapes and Venice 2012 were clearly meant to be.

How to charm visitors into the Canadian Pavilion

To make a statement on space and landscape, Migrating Landscapes plans on scattering wooden modules out from the confines of the Canadian Pavilion. Shorter wood pieces will evolve into seating, while the taller wood pieces will act as bright, fluorescent pink beacons for the Canadian Pavilion.

The team hopes this exterior installation will represent notions and values that can be negotiated with neighbouring nations. The idea is that visitors shouldn't be required to find their ways into the boundaries of the Canadian Pavilion but rather be immersed in the experience on common ground.

How to make it in Venice, Italy

The 18 finalists of Migrating Landscapes are constantly revisiting their entries and making updates for Venice. Some are crafting new models while others refine their video content. MLO is collaborating with local Winnipeg filmmakers At First Sight to convey its curatorial message in Venice.

Put the "fun" in Fundraising

MLO is launching a shop by the end of this month! We're stoked to get our hands on carrying bags and attire with limited edition designs, but we're most excited to see what kinds of wood furniture and products will be available. 

A "Sponsor a Winner" campaign is presently in the works where sponsorship money is needed for the finalists at the Biennale. Part of the costs cover the cost of shipment of the finalists' model to Venice, and the other part covers travel expenses. More information will be available soon.

RAIC Festival of Architecture 2012

MLO will be making a presentation at the Foundation Luncheon on June 14th, and will also have a booth set up selling merchandise and disseminating fundraising info. 

The final countdown: The national exhibition from YWG to VCE

The national exhibition at the Winnipeg Art Gallery ended on April 29. From there, the installation was taken down immediately in preparation for shipment to Venice. In case you missed it, here is the list of 18 individual and team entries that won the national competition. 

British Columbia
 

• Amirali Javidan
• Mira Yung and IMu Chan 
• Olena Chytra, Philipp Dittus, Alana Green, Katy Young 
• D’Arcy Jones with Amanda Kemeny, Daan Murray and Melani Pigat

Alberta

• Tiffany Shaw-Collinge

Saskatchewan

• April Hiebert, Brad Pickard, Robyn Robertson, Mark Sin and Victoria Yong-Hing 
   

Manitoba

• Jason Hare
• Travis Cooke and Jason Kun
• Andre Silva, Chris Gilmour and Kory Kaspersion 

Ontario

• Andrew Batay-Csorba and Jodi Batay-Csorba
• Erica Pecoskie and George Simionopoulos
• Kfir Gluzberg and Liana Bresler 

Quebec

• Enrique Enriquez
• Felix Tue
• Jean-Nicolas Bouchard and Philippe Charest
• Anca Matiyku and Chad Connery

Atlantic

• Marianna de Cola
• Stephen Kopp, Monica Adair, John Leroux, Jessie Croll and Alicia Halas

Together with Migrating Landscapes organizers and curators 5468796 Architecture + Jae-Sung Chon, these winning entries will form Canada’s official entry at the 2012 Venice Biennale in Architecture (August 29 – November 25). A special thanks goes to the national jury: Eleanor Bond, Ian Chodikoff, Anne Cormier, Bruce Kuwabara, and John Patkau.

For more information and images of the winning entries, visit MLO and scroll down. To see tons more photos of the national exhibition in Winnipeg, visit Migrating Landscapes' album on Facebook. All of Cityzen's previous updates on Migrating Landscapes can be found here.

Recent press

National Post | Cultural memories come packed with the moving boxes
National Post | 'Even when we live in one country, we feel like two persons'
National Post | Harnessing ocean energy for remote Newfoundland coast
Edmonton Journal | Edmonton artist wins spot in Venice Biennale exhibition

Photo credits: Jacqueline Young

Waterlilies construction update in Oakville: May 2012

At Waterlilies in Oakville, all slabs have been poured. Right now we're finishing the landscaping walls on the last couple of blocks. While Blocks 4 and 5 are waiting to be built, blocks 1, 2, 3, and 6 are under way. 

The underground is almost all done. The sprinkler system has just been completed and the plumbers and electricians are in at the moment finishing up their work. Also, the pond is being drained at Phase 2 to prepare for work. 

 

To see the rest of the gallery, click here. For our previous update from February, click here.

The Shores in Oakville: Construction update, April 2012

Things have picked up at The Shores in the last few weeks. The good news is that the first residents moved in, which must be pretty exciting. Brickwork on the through road is almost finished, the town homes are growing and the majority of the work on site is purely aesthetic. 

To see how The Shores has progressed since 2010, click here and here. 

We found some more pictures from March shot from across the water.

Brampton City Hall: Construction update, April 2012

On April 25 and 26, residents from both Mississauga and Brampton were invited to an open house regarding plans for Light Rail Transit (LRT) on Hurontario and Main Street in both cities. Currently, the Hurontario-Main LRT Project is in its preliminary design and assessment phase.

A rendering of Brampton City Hall which will be a partnership between Dominus Construction Group and Zeidler Partnership Architects

This is just one example of how much the City of Brampton is expanding. And with that, here's the latest construction update from Brampton City Hall, where Dominus is working diligently on the Southwest Quadrant Renewal Plan. The mixed-use development will include new administrative, parking and retail space downtown. 

Currently, Dominus is mainly working on shoring, with Caisson walls half-complete and taking up a large chunk of the schedule for the next few weeks. 

 

 

For more information on what is going on at Dominus, read our previous post. The entire gallery can be found here.