RENEW RESTORE
01 FIRST THE RIVER
Torontos Don River and Lower Don
Lands are at a crossroads.
Long the victims of short-sighted and
single-minded economic and engineering
initiatives, the hardened River and its
obliterated estuary marsh have an opportunity to re-establish themselves as
primary forces behind Torontos emerging waterfront. To do so, we must put
aside traditional approaches to building
cities alongside channelized rivers, and
to reject the path of least resistance in
redeveloping the Portlandsone which
would undoubtedly reflect its flat, homogenous site.
Rather, we imagine actively inhabiting
the dynamic mouth of the Don at a renewed and re-established ecological interface between river and lake, and at
an expanded cultural interface between
Toronto and its Lakefront.
And rather than re-shaping the river
strictly according to the needs of the
emerging city, we put the Don first, allowing the River to shape the metropolis, giving rise to unique, dynamic, engaging, world-class neighborhoods and
open spaces. Socially vital and ecologically rich, the re-imagined Lower Don
Lands are a new kind of metropolitan
precinct, a cultural expression of a landscape-based urbanism, at the re-established mixing ground of the Don Rivers
nutrient-rich, life-giving waters and the
alternately placid and powerful waters of
Lake Ontario.
wild river ecologies + robust
urbanism + resilient vitality
RIVER + CITY + LIFE
Torontos Lower Don Lands
VIEW OF THE RECLAIMED MOUTH OF THE DON RIVER, WITH PRIMARY / SECONDARY CHANNELS IN CENTER, AND FLOODWAY / GREENWAY IN FOREGROUND LEFT. LOOKING NORTHWEST.
RENEW THE DON
RIVER-LAKE INTERFACE IS RICHEST HABITAT FOR FISH.
The Don River once emptied lazily into
Ashbridges Bay, cultivating a rich ecological interface between river and lake.
Subsequent channelization and industrialization left the mouth of the Don
neutralized, out of synch with ecological
flows and our of scale with its watershed. Renewing the Don necessitates
reclaiming space for the mouth and rekindling the delicate dynamics that mark
the river-lake interface.
AMPLIFY THE INTERFACE
The river-lake interface is the richest breeding ground
for fish and other wildlife. Therefore, we choose to reestablish the broad estuarine plate that slopes ever so
slightly toward the harbor, thus maximizing the effects
of river and lake fluctuation and ecological resilience.
RIVER ENGINEERING: HYBRID PARTS + FLEXIBLE SYSTEMS
HYBRIDIZE THE PARTS
Lets not be fooledthe Don remains a highly engineered river within a very constructed environment.
However, by hybridizing the physical parts of the river
system, and by flexibly deploying them to form a primary channel, broad marshes, a floodway, and armored
uplands, we set up a framework that both structures
and emancipates.
RESILIENT PLANT ECOLOGIES MOVE
SPATIALLY AS HYDROLOGIC CONDITIONS
CHANGE.
TEAM
stossLANDSCAPEURBANISM
BROWN + STOREY ARCHITECTS
ZAS ARCHITECTS
NINA-MARIE LISTER
BROOKNER STUDIO
KIDD CONSULTING
APPLIED ECOLOGICAL SERVICES
MOFFATT + NICHOL
ARUP
PINE + SWALLOW ASSOCIATES
NITSCH ENGINEERING
CONSULT ECON INC
VIEW OF THE DON RIVER AND ESTUARY MARSH, LOOKING SOUTHWEST FROM THE MARTIN GOODMAN TRAIL.
RE-IGNITE DYNAMICS
Amplifying and hybridizing yields an
extremely dynamic estuarine marsh,
tuned to both seasonal river events and
long-term lake fluctuations.
HABITAT RAMPS AND TRAILS ALLOW DIRECT
ACCESS TO THE WATER, AND WILDLIFE.
RE-ENGAGE THE CITY
In taking back its space, the renewed Don becomes a
life force once again, giving rise to a rich ecological habitat and breeding ground for wildlife, and structuring a
new type of landscape-urbanism, a green city structured
by the river.
02 THE LAKEFRONT EXPANDED
OVERVIEW OF THE RENEWED LOWER DON LANDS, IN CONTEXT WITH A CULTURALLY AND ECOLOGICALLY DIVERSE LAKEFRONT. THE RIVER GIVES LIFE TO A NEW TYPE OF LANDSCAPE-URBANISM AT THE INTERFACE BETWEEN METROPOLITAN TORONTO AND LAKE ONTARIO.
ESTABLISH CONTINUITY:
EXTEND THE CENTRAL
WATERFRONT PROMENADE
CULTIVATE NEW LAKEFRONT
OPEN SPACE TYPES: LAKE
MARSH + CHANNEL BASIN
West 8s proposal for a wood and planted granite promenade is a good one; lets keep it going through the
East Bayfront and the Lower Don Lands.
As the continuous lakefront promenade and the various
modified harbourwalls encounter diverse underlying
and proposed conditions, many new lakefront edges
are created, further amplifying potential city-water
dynamics.
PAVING PALETTES FROM WEST 8S WATERFRONT PROMENADE
PROPOSAL, EXTENDED TO THE LOWER DON.
ESTABLISH DIVERSITY:
MODIFY THE HARBOURWALL
Out of this diversity arise two lakefront types: the soft,
ecologically rich lake marsh, and the intensely social
channel basin. Together, they form new habitat for
salmon and strollers; for terns and tai chi; for button
bush and bikinis; and for hooded mergansers and
hockey players alike.
SWIMMING + SKATING ARE INTRODUCED TO THE CHANNEL
BASINS.
The existing harbourwall neutralizes the lakefront; it
renders a potentially dynamic physical, ecological, and
cultural realm as impotent. By implementing a series of
incremental modifications along the wall, we can again
experience a full range of relationships and interactions
with water.
ONE OF 8 POSSIBLE MODIFICATIONS TO THE HARBOURWALL,
TO CATAYZE NEW SOCIAL / ENVIRONMENTAL ECOLOGIES.
AN OPEN LANDSCAPE, AVAILABLE FOR QUIET RETREAT AND
CIVIC FESTIVALS, AT ESSROC ISLAND.
03 WORKING OPEN SPACES
DON SPORTS PARK AS WORKING LANDSCAPE, WITH RAILYARD
CAFE / GREEN BRIDGE + SEDIMENT OPERATIONS
VIEW FROM THE WATERFRONT PROMENADE AT THE WIND MARSH, LOOKING WEST TO DOWNTOWN.
Whether activating monuments from past occupations,
as in the event space on Essroc Island; mitigating and
engaging active infrastructure, as in the Don Sports Park
and Green Connector across the railyards; or generating
energy and filtering stormwater, as in the Wind Marsh
and various Stormwater Notches: open spaces in the
Lower Don Lands are put to work
environmentally, culturally, economically.
04 ROBUST NEIGHBOURHOODS
VIEW OF THE LOWER DON LANDS FROM THE HARBOUR, LOOKING NORTHEAST. THE LANDSCAPE IS MADE TO STRUCTURE AND WEAVE AMONG THE VARIOUS NEW NEIGHBOURHOODS, EACH A DISTINCT TERRITORY AND MIX OF SCALES AND USES.
DYNAMIC URBAN SCALES
THE URBAN COURTYARD
One of the characteristics of successful communities and
which lends distinctness to them is an underlying lattice pattern of blocks, typically linked to the landscape.
This is especially true in historic neighbourhoods like
Corktown, Yorkville, and Little Italy. In keeping with this
precedent, we adopt three scales of urban block, lifted
from surrounding historic neighbourhoods: Corktown @
46m x 46m; Old Town @ 80m x 80m; and St. Lawrence
@ 125m x 125m.
The urban courtyard is seen as a strong connector
of the medium public realm, acting between the
public realm of the street / the park / the boardwalk
and the residential areas. In this zone, the fine grain
interpretation of the lawn, the step, the threshold is
created. The courtyard space adjusts its character
for its position and adjacency to both open space
and programmed types. For retail uses at grade,
the courtyard becomes more public and open. For
residential uses at grade, careful delineation between
semi-public and private routes are made. At institutional
uses, the courtyard becomes public square where any
number of public activities can be generated.
HISTORIC MAP OF THE CITY, SHOWING PRECEDENT BLOCKS AND NEIGHBOURHOODS.
THE URBAN COURTYARD
VIEW OF A PORTION OF THE COMMISSIONERS QUAY NEIGHBOURHOOD, ALONG A RE-FIGURED POLSONS NOTCH.
MAP OF PROPOSED NEIGHBOURHOODS.
THE URBAN COURTYARD
Five distinct neighbourhoods are proposed in the
Lower Don Lands. They are Victory Flats, south of the
Distillery; Commissioners Quay and The Channel in the
heart of the precinct; and Don Island and Don Point
along its eastern edge. Broadview is also extended
south to connect to the Lake.
Broadview
South
Victory Flats
Commissioners Quay
Don
Island
Don Point
The Channel
PROPOSED DON POINT NEIGHBOURHOOD, ALONG THE DON
GREENWAY.
NEW HOUSING TYPOLOGIES
The new communities of the Lower Don establish a
modified set of building typologies uniquely defined
by their relationship to the public realm and the newly
naturalized landscape. Eleven variants carry a mix of
residential, retail, and commercial uses.
05 A WORLD-CLASS, SUSTAINABLE
METROPOLITAN PRECINCT
VIEW OF THE LOWER DON LANDS RE-IMAGINED AS THRIVING METROPOLITAN PRECINCT, BUILT AROUND THE PERFORMATIVE FOUNDATIONS OF A RENEWED DON RIVER. LOOKING NORTH WITH THE SHIP CHANNEL IN THE FOREGROUND.
Great cities and metropolitan precincts are
well-organized and diverse, with multiple
scales, multiple routes, good services,
and lots of choices. Great cities work
simultaneously for the local resident,
the metropolitan visitor, and the global
traveler. The Lower Don subscribes to
and manifests this view of city-life.
PLANTED ROOF AND PUBLIC WATERFRONT AT THE GREAT
LAKES AQUATIC CENTRE.
GREAT LAKES AQUATIC CENTRE
VICTORY SILOS AS FISH HATCHERY, BREWERY, HERITAGE
DESTINATION.
The new Centre creates a robust new international
destination by combining heritage installations,
environmental research, a dynamic waterfront public
space and retail. The building roof lifts up from the
ground, creating an elevated public space with fantastic
views over the islands to Lake Ontario.
THE FLEXING TRAVELWAYS AND STEEL SPANS OF THE MOUTH OF THE DON BRIDGE.
MOUTH OF THE DON BRIDGE
The iconic bridge carries vehicular, rail, and pedestrian
traffic over the body of the Lower Don River on separate
travelways, each of which flexes independently to allow
travelers unobstructed views of the River and Lake. The
form reflects the flow and interplay of water beneath
the deck, and the Dons newly reignited dynamics.
INDUSTRIAL SILOS
The treasured silos are reanimated as participants in
the sites transformation. The silos charismatic forms
remain powerful reminders of their industrial heritage,
yet adaptive reuse gives them new life as members
of the sites renewed social ecologies: water purifiers,
sludge treatment, fish hatchery, and brewery.
VIEW OF ESSROC ISLAND AND MOUTH OF THE DON BRIDGE, LOOKING NORTHWEST.
THE GREEN METROPOLIS AT NIGHT, LOOKING NORTHEAST
FROM THE HARBOR FERRY.
MULTI-MODAL TRANSPORTATION NETWORKS
A full array of bicycle, pedestrian, light rail, and ferry
routes are integrated through the Lower Don Lands,
connecting it to nearby neighbourhoods and downtown,
and lessening residents and visitors dependence on the
automobile.
GREEN LIVING
The Lower Don maximizes benefits for the river, lake,
natural environment, and all their inhabitantshuman,
vegetal, and animal. Green buildings; integrated
stormwater swales; biosculptures; and smart demolition
and remediation practices all contribute to a model
green city.
THE GREEN GARDINER, RE-IMAGINED AS A HYBRID PARKWAY.
THE GREEN CLOUD BIOSCULPTURE CLEANS AIR + WATER.
INTEGRATED GREEN STRATEGIES FOR BUILDINGS,
INCLUDING HABITAT FACADES + MECHANICAL SYSTEMS.
MULTI-MODAL URBAN CORRIDORS AND STORMWATER
NOTCHES ON COMMISSIONERS QUAY.
relocated dvp ramps
river city destinations + routes
west don park
WEST DON LANDS
diagrams
green bridge +
railyard cafe
robust neighbourhoods
DISTILLERY DISTRICT
don sports park
working open spaces
mouth of the don marsh
cherry landing
VICTORY FLATS
mouth of the don bridge
victory silos
essroc island
expanded lakefront
essroc silos
great lakes aquatic centre
lake marshes
lower don school
COMMISSIONERS QUAY
re-load
river spits
polsons notch
la farge silos
lake marshes
polsons slip
THE CHANNEL
first the river
wind marsh
east basin
SHIP CHANNEL
lake point
green living . green city
LAKE ONTARIO
PORTLANDS SOUTH
relocated dvp ramps
at-grade parkway connection
to broadview
future riverway berm
green bridge +
railyard cafe
dewatering cells
PORTLANDS EAST
don sports park
mouth of the don
DON ISLAND
don greenway
don greenway
DON POINT
COMMISSIONERS QUAY
future greenway bridge
marina basin
polsons notch
THE CHANNEL
SHIP CHANNEL
cherry basin
bascule bridge
east basin
PORTLANDS SOUTH
cherry beach
RIVER + CITY + LIFE
BROADVIEW SOUTH
