The “Winter Stations Competition” initiative was founded in 2015 by: RAW Design, Ferris + Associates and Curio. The aim of the initiative is to encourage the residents of Toronto, Canada to come out of hibernation, despite the icy weather, and make the most of the winter landscapes, especially the frozen lake.

Seven teams of artists and designers won the competition and have been selected to transform the lifeguard stations into design shelters. The theme for this year was “Freeze/Thaw”.

Here are some of the chosen pavilions:

Toronto Winter stations - design

“In the Belly of a Bear” by Caitlind RC Brown, Wayne Garrett and Lane Shordee

This is a sphere constructed from charred timber and lined with fur. This collaborative effort is called “In the Belly of a Bear” and features a door so that visitors can come out of the cold for a few moments. They are invited to climb a wooden ladder into a domed interior lined in thick, warm fur.

Toronto Winter stations

“Floating Ropes” by Elodie Doukhan and Nicolas Mussche of MUDO in Montreal

Here, lengths of rope will be suspended from a frame surrounding the lifeguard tower. This will create the perfect viewpoint for visitors to admire the bay, sheltered from the wind.

toronto winter stations

“The Steam Canoe” by a group from the Ontario College of Art and Design University (OCADU)

This upended canoe on the beach forms a wooden dome over the lifeguard tower. Solar tubes placed at the back of the installation will transform the snow into vapour clouds all around the canoe.

toronto winter stations

“Aurora Borealis” by a group of students from the Laurentian University

Tubular lights wil be hung from am aluminium frame to recreate the lights of the Aurora Borealis. These lights will illuminate as visitors approach and change in response to body heat.

These structures were installed on 15 February and will remain in place until 20 March.

 

Design as a tourist attraction on the frozen beaches of Toronto – what do you think?