The main objective is to reflect the mission of Harboufront Centre as a hub of culture and the arts through high quality and creative architectural features.
Working with Gladki Planning Associates, SUMO Project was commissioned to prepare an architectural and urban design feasibility study for the future Cultural Village at Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre.
Since 1972, Harbourfront Centre has been promoting innovative contemporary cultural expressions, supporting and representing Toronto’s diverse ethno-cultural communities. The proposed cultural and commercial village will reinforce this diverse, multicultural character and its relationship to the City. It is an opportunity to further establish the Central Waterfront as a genuine district within the city with Harbourfront Centre at its heart.
The development of Harbourfront Centre’s cultural and commercial village will be consistent with the existing vision for the site as expressed in the Central Waterfront Secondary Plan, which seeks to capture the value of underutilized land and to create permanent pavilion style structures and public spaces that will increase the number of year-round visitors.
The building’s design will incorporate variety, diversity, and interest through articulation of the façade, changes in materials, colours, textures, proportions and modulation of built form. Green roofs and walls have been carefully located so that they tie-in with the natural surroundings of the waterfront’s parks and promenades. The ground floor has been designed to directly interact with the public realm and contribute with the market character of the development. As such, a high level of openness, transparency and visual interest has been integrated throughout.
