8 students. 8 Schools. 4 Days. 1 Design Problem.
In February, DIALOG’s Toronto studio welcomed nine students from various post-secondary institutions across North America to take part in the annual Design Residency in honour of the late Tom Sutherland.
This year’s Design Residency was inspired by the concept of ‘Play Place’, where students were tasked with reimagining an under-utilized parking structure in the heart of Kensington Market, one of Toronto’s most vibrant neighbourhoods. Play is a universal concept that has the power to transform a public space and bring people together to meaningfully improve the well-being of communities. Students were challenged to incorporate accessibility, visibility, and seasonality into the design process.
‘Play Place’ pushed students to think outside the box and envision play where we least expect it. This concept focuses on serving an existing community rather than creating a destination, reclaiming space for people rather than cars. The chosen site sparked design challenges that require solutions not only tailored to a specific neighbourhood, but also repeatable and scalable.
