Smart Density is a Toronto-based architecture and planning firm advocating for more sensible urban living. We interviewed, Naama Blonder, principal, to get her own take on what to do with Quayside, now that Sidewalk Labs has thrown in the towel on Toronto. Here are her answers:
Revelateur Studio: What was your take on Sidewalk Labs Proposal?
Naama Blonder: I'm not a data collection expert, but I can speak about it from an architectural point of view and I was excited to see their vision. I was excited about the opportunities that it could bring to this area. When I first moved to Toronto, I was looking forward to seeing the waterfront and I was very disappointed to see how this great asset is being so underutilized and what a missed opportunity it is. Everyone knows that it needs to be redesigned.
RS: What opportunities do you see for the site now that it can be rethought from scratch and how do we make this opportunity the best it can be for Toronto's current and future residents?
NM: I was reviewing the master plan for this area, and I was very disappointed to see that there are actually not that many areas that are planned to be mixed-use with retail frontage facing the water. I think retail is obviously just one component and we still need to develop and design a very welcoming and pleasant public space that has a promenade, that allows you to walk along the lake from one end to the other, you will be able to do so and you will be able to stroll, walk, jog and do whatever you want to do. Right now the waterfront doesn't really give you any reason to visit it.
RS: Why is it important to get this right?
NM: I visited Vancouver and I noticed that it was one of the few North American cities that doesn't have a highway cutting through the city as we have here with the Gardiner. Every time I walk to the water, there's this psychological barrier that's like "Okay, I need to pass the Gardiner". I think right now when you pass the Gardiner there isn't enough going on. It's not a destination on its own yet. Another lesson from Vancouver is how they treat their waterfront. Everything is facing the water: offices, F&B, gyms... lots of gyms.
RS: Are there similar examples elsewhere that we could learn from?
NM: Scandinavian cities, for example, Copenhagen, whose waterfront is definitely an amazing project. There is also Chicago, whose river was polluted due to its industrial past and the city turned its back to it for decades. Now, [After being redesigned] it is like a European level of a public realm. You go there, this is a destination. It is a place to be and enjoy. And it was really well done. So it's important because Toronto is not using its absolute greatest asset. And every time that I'm there, I notice that.
RS: What do those cities who get their waterfront rights get from it?
NM: I think it's this sense of place. It's the identity and character that the city gets and also the financial benefits of attracting tourists and successful local businesses. But these are obvious, these are the things that I don't even need to mention. But when you think of Toronto, I want people to think of its lake. I want to think of how wonderful it is. They say that water in the public realm makes people relax and enjoy life. It's definitely what Toronto should aspire to. And right now in the redesign of the waterfront, there's more that could be done. This is not yet the global city that Toronto should aspire to be.
RS: Any parting thoughts?
NM: Toronto made its waterfront industrial back in the day because no one wanted to be there. So it was perfect for industrial use. Now that things have changed and we are looking to the future, we need to find a way to incorporate its history of the past into the new design, I think that's something people would be interested in. It is about celebrating its industrial past because I think it's so interesting that waterfronts used to be industrial spaces and how this asset evolved over the years, how it has changed form and can be repurposed, without erasing its industrial past.
If you like what you see, click “>>subscribe” at the top left of this page, to get our daily (or weekly) updates straight into your inbox. You can also write me a little love note here. I truly enjoy having conversations with you about what I write.