Taught by Katy Chey, ARC3712 "Multi-Unit Housing in Urban Cities: From 1800 to Present Day" explored the development and evolution of different types of multi-unit housing in cities around the world.
 
At the start of the semester, students were introduced to a different housing typology in a different city each week. Examples include Haussmann apartments in Paris, tenements in New York, tong lau in Hong Kong, or high-rise condos in Toronto. An examination of case studies highlighted the historical, social, economic, and political circumstances that lead to the development of each type.
 
The students also had the opportunity to work on their own semester-long research project focused on a multi-unit housing typology of their choice. "There was so much incredible and in-depth research that went into these projects," says Chey.
 
For their chosen multi-unit housing type, students examined the characteristics, historical context, building components, building organization, and construction materials. They drew floor plans, sections and elevations, and researched how residents lived in the space. They also looked at government policies and regulations and the influential individuals who helped shape the design. In addition, the students explored how their housing type functions in the present day. For their final project, they were required to submit a written document and present a slide presentation to the class.

Images above: 1) Dingbat, Los Angeles by Andrew Harvey; 2) Four-Plus-One, Chicago by Nicholas Ager; 3) Microdistricts, USSR by Francesca Lu

"Since none of the typologies had readily available information, the students had to  learn to be resourceful and be detectives following leads to uncovering the information they required and piecing it together," says Chey. "Learning how to research, is extremely important because not everything is Google-able, and if it is is, it may not be trustworthy. If one takes the time to investigate, one can be rewarded with deeper, undiscovered information, which was what my students found with their projects."
 
The course was based on Chey's recent book Multi-Unit Housing in Urban Cities: From 1800 to Present Day, published by Routledge. The book emphasizes the importance of understanding the direct connection between housing and dwelling in the context of a city, and the manner in which the city is an instructional indication of how a housing typology is embodied.
 
"Housing has the ability to make cities and can define much of a city's presence and mood," says Chey. "It is important to try to learn from the good housing precedents and not repeat any bad examples."

Multi-Unit Housing in Urban Cities is available in-stores at the U of T Bookstore, Swipe Books + Design, Type Books on Queen Street, and Indigo in the Eaton Centre, and other major online retailers.

Image, top, Microdistricts, USSR, by Francesca Lu

Daniels Alumna Utako Tanebe (MArch 2013) — now an architect and designer at DLR Group | Westlake Reed Leskosky, based in Cleveland — was recently interviewed by Madame Architect, an online publication dedicated to sharing stories of women in the architectural field.   

Tanebe spoke about her experiences as an architecture student and the transition from school to professional practice. She shared some of the challenges she worked to overcome when she started her career, and what she learned while working on the Samson Pavilion (pictured above), a new health education campus designed by Foster and Partners. (DRL Group | Westlake Reed Leskosky is the Architect of Record for the project.)

"This is the largest scale international design project in Cleveland in decades and I was lucky in that I was placed in such project so early on," said Tanebe.

Born in Tokyo, Tanebe became interested in building and design as a young child. After high school, she pursued a degree in engineering, but found she was hungry for something more creative. She completed another undergraduate degree in architectural history and theory before joining the Daniels Faculty's Master of Architecture program.

"Of the three degrees I completed, the MArch degree was the most rigorous and enduring experience, but also the most rewarding and exciting," said Tanebe. "I felt most comfortable in the studio environment and knew right away that it was the path for me."

Tanebe encourages new graduates starting out in the profession to stay curious and inspired.

"You must find something that excites or motivates you within every task, however mundane it may be, and make it yours to conquer. If you do it well, you can prove to yourself that you’re ready for the next step and a new challenge," she says. "Often young designers fear that they will be pigeon-holed into a task at the office, but once other architects see that you have a fire within to take on more roles, they will be more than happy to support your growth as an architect."

Visit the Madame Architect website to read the full interview.
 

Write Allen and Furgiuele:

Assistant Professors Mitchell Akiyama and Brady Peters have been selected to participate in The Bentway's inaugural Artist Residency.

The Bentway is a unique and innovative public space that has transformed 1.75 kilometres underneath Toronto’s Gardiner Expressway into a new gathering place for Toronto's growing population.

From The Bentway's press release:

The initial residency, Sound and the City, will focus on the acoustic environment of The Bentway. The hum of the Gardiner Expressway above, the rush of passing trains to the north, the occasional cannon blasts from the Fort York grounds, and the general buzz from the surrounding city make The Bentway site rich acoustic territory. The artists will explore The Bentway as an instrument, experiment with the varied sonic environments along its length, and investigate new ways to interact with the site. The residency runs from April-August, and will include a series of public experiments, engagements and consultations.
 

“We’re excited to have the opportunity to work in such a singular acoustic environment,” said Akiyama and Peters. “The Gardiner is such an iconic and important entity in the city and we hope to enliven and alter the space in ways that will help to deepen our understandings of sound, space, and the built environment.”

With the first Artist Residency, The Bentway aims to expand the parameters defining sound art, the types of projects contributing to the discipline, and the way sound shapes the collective creative experience of Toronto. New Adventures in Sound Art (NAISA), who have an extensive background in the field of experimental sound, will work with the artists and provide key expertise throughout the process.

This isn't the first time that artist and Visual Studies professor Mitchell Akiyama and designer, research and architecture professor Brady Peters have collaborated. The duo also designed the model Spatial Sonic Network for the University of Toronto Art Museum's Making Models exhibition.

Mitchell Akiyama’s eclectic body of work includes writings about sound, metaphors, animals, and media technologies; scores for film and dance; and objects and installations that trouble received ideas about history, perception, and sensory experience. He holds a PhD in communications from McGill University and an MFA from Concordia University, and is Assistant Professor of Visual Studies in the Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design at the University of Toronto.

Brady Peters’ design and research work successfully bridges technology and design. He specializes in architectural acoustics, environmental simulation, computational design, and digital fabrication, using computer programming, parametric modelling, and simulation to design performance-driven forms. Peters is an assistant Professor at the John H. Daniels School of Architecture, Landscape, and Design.

The Bentway’s 2019 Artist Residency is presented by RBC.

For more information on The Beltway and its summer programming, visit its website.

Photo by Nic Lehoux

Associate Professor Brian Boigon is participating in the 12th edition of the Papier Contemporary Art Fair, which takes place April 25 to 28 in Montreal. Organized by the Contemporary Art Galleries Association (AGAC), Papier welcomes 46 major Canadian galleries at the Port of Montreal’s Grand Quay. Boigon is among the artists presented by Christie Contemporary, a Toronto-based gallery participating in the fair. His work, The Interopera, launched a Christie Contemporary in 2017.

A design theorist, artist, art director, writer and researcher, Boigon's main area of creative practice is in the field of science fiction and locomotive design. Originally trained as an architect, he has been involved with digital and pop up productions since 1994 when he was featured in WIRED magazine for the design of the first tween-based virtual avatar town called Spillville. 

For more information on the Papier Contemporary Art Fair, visit: www.papiermontreal.com

We are pleased to announce that the Daniels Faculty is launching Daniels Bootcamp: Exploring Careers in Design, a program for late high school (grades 11 and 12) and undergraduate students of all disciplines interested in architecture.

The program is designed by Jeannie Kim, the Director of the Daniels Faculty's Honours, Bachelor of Arts, Architectural Studies program. The program will include lectures with topics covering the history and techniques of architectural production as well as guest lectures from visiting professionals. They will have studio exercises that also include skills and techniques lecture.

This program is perfect for students who wish to develop an understanding of both the academic requirements and future career paths for a career in the field of architecture.

For registration and detailed information, please click on the link below.

Daniels Bootcamp: Exploring Careers in Design (Grade 11, 12 high school and undergraduate students)

We are pleased to announce that the Daniels Faculty is launching a series of summer camps for kids: Bits & Bytes and DigiFab.

The theme for this summer’s youth programs (Bits & Bytes & DigiFab) is Drones in the City.  Children and youth in grades 4-6 and grades 7-9 will explore the potential of this disruptive technology and how it might change the design of cities in the future.

Youth in each program will work together to both design a city and build their own drones that they will be able to take home. Know a child or middle-school student interested in design, technology, art, science, and engineering? This unique summer program is for them!

Both Bits & Bytes and DigiFab will be held in our new building at 1 Spadina Crescent in Toronto. For registration and detailed information, please click on the link below.

• Bits & Bytes is designed for youth aged 9-11 years old (grades 4-6). 
• DigiFab is designed for youth aged 12-14 years old (grades 7-9).

We are also launching Daniels Bootcamp: Exploring Careers in Design, a program for late high school (grades 11 and 12) and undergraduate students of all disciplines interested in architecture.

Daniels Faculty Lecturer Alex Josephson and his partners in PARTISANS, an architecture and design firm based in Toronto, have partnered with firms RWDI and Maffeis Engineering, as well as Sidewalk Labs, to help create a new “smart awning” design, an experimental new exterior application of EFTE which they hope will create more useable outdoor space in cities with varied climates. Designed through extensive modelling and examination of local weather data, this is the first project in Ontario to utilize EFTE, a material chosen for it’s portability and utility in creating unique forms. PARTISANS says that their deployable “building raincoat” could potentially help to reduce then impact of extreme climate and help create more useable outdoor space in less than ideal weather conditions.

These systems can be attached to existing building exteriors, helping to address the perennial weather problems that impact Toronto. These units are designed to be installed on the exteriors of building entrances, and aim to help create a more comfortable transition from indoor to outdoor space. EFTE as a material is completely recyclable and can be customized to incorporate different patterns that affect light and overall opacity, meaning that this system can be used in a range of different applications and environments.

Josephson, speaking with Sidewalk Talk, said that the team was able to utilize computer modeling throughout the process to  find the best approach. “This is real experimentation where the scientific method meets design,” Josephson said (via Sidewalk Talk).

PARTISANS further describes their prototype tensile structure project in their press release:

Even when the conditions are right to promote vibrant street life, the weather plays a big role in determining how much time people spend outdoors. And while the seasons drive the character of public life in Toronto—from summer days spent on patios, to fall farmer’s markets across the city—it is no secret that outdoor activity is concentrated to the six-month period from late April through October, when the weather is pleasant. For centuries, cities have used architecture to moderate the weather and keep public life active on the street. In the late 1800s, Toronto was filled with a maze of awnings that extended from storefronts and glass arcades to cover alleyways; and many streets throughout the city are still lined with the porched homes that were once a hallmark of Toronto’s residential design.

In Spring 2018, PARTISANS was tasked with helping Sidewalk Labs answer the following question: how does one design an outdoor public space that is comfortable for Torontonians year-round? Toronto is famous for our snowy winters and incredibly humid summers, with temperatures ranging across a 70°F differential throughout the year. While we traditionally think of extreme weather as native to desert, arctic, and ocean climates, Toronto—is located on the edge of Lake Ontario—is an environment where it is only comfortable to be outside for approximately 30% of the year. PARTISANS and RWDI closely studied the wind and solar conditions of Sidewalk Lab’s lakeside headquarters 307 to develop the optimal shape and material design to increase outdoor comfort. The result is a Raincoat that reinterprets Toronto’s formal tradition of awnings and porches through the contemporary lens of responsive weather mitigation.

The project is currently viewable at Sidewalk Lab’s lakeside headquarters 307. Read more about the building raincoat in Archpaper and Archdaily.

In a recent panel discussion that was part of Rotman's Gender and the Economy Speaker Series, Brigitte Shim, Daniels Faculty professor and principle of Shim-Sutcliffe Architects, spoke about creating a more inclusive city.

Titled "What Could a Feminist City Look Like?" the event addressed issues around access and gender equity in the city, exploring branches of public policy, decision making processes, community engagement, and the built form.

In her talk, Shim spoke about the importance of micro urban issues, sharing insight she learned from Jane Jacobs, whom she interviewed her as part of a research project in highschool. Jacobs, she said, encouraged her to understand the city on a micro level:

For me, scale is related to a kind of position about how you see a city and understanding the layers of complexity in being able to dissect them so that you’re aware of the big picture, but you also have to be aware of the micro scale at the same. This dual reading of the scale for me is how all of us, not just architects and planners, but citizens, make a better city…We have to be advocates at the micro scale and also champions at the city-wide scale.

For more videos and information on the event, visit Rotman's website.