The Waterfront Neighbourhood Space project, realized on Ookwemin Minising island in Toronto through a collaboration between GXN, Ha/f Climate Design, AKT II, and Arcana Materials, transforms waste collected from demolished buildings, construction sites, and infrastructure works into a temporary public community space. Contrary to the traditional architectural process—where designers first create a design and then order materials—the city's existing material flow was mapped out, and an installation was structured based on the physical properties of these waste materials.
Reverse Design Process: Materials First, Design Second
The project is shaped by an approach that challenges the architectural world’s pursuit of millimetric precision. The design team began by examining the dimensions, conditions, and origins of materials already circulating within Toronto's salvage stream. Early 20th-century bricks salvaged from demolished homes and churches in the Annex neighborhood, concrete blocks left over from nearby construction, manhole covers from infrastructure work, and timber remnants formed the core components of the project. This approach presents a circular urban design model shaped by the availability of raw materials.
Stacking and Securing: A Demountable Structural System
To hold materials of varying sizes and forms together, a "stacked-and-strapped" system was preferred over permanent mortars. Bricks and concrete blocks were piled on top of each other and tightly strapped to form seating areas, columns, and bench supports. Meanwhile, timber beams and columns were joined with screws, designed in a way that allows the structural elements to be disassembled without damage in the future and adapted for use in other projects.
Industry Implications and Circular Architecture
Such urban transformation and waste reuse projects demonstrate how architectural approaches focused on material scarcity and environmental sustainability can translate into practical solutions on a global scale. Overcoming the uncertainties brought by working with non-standard materials through off-site prototype testing, this model offers an alternative methodology for modern cities in construction waste management.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was permanent mortar not used to bind the waste materials together in the project?
The preference for stacking, tight strapping, and bolted assembly techniques instead of permanent mortar ensures that the materials can be disassembled in the future without damage and reused in other projects in line with circular economy principles.
How did designers overcome planning challenges while working with waste materials of uncertain size and condition?
Rather than seeking millimetric precision, flexible details capable of absorbing potential inconsistencies in the materials were developed and implemented in advance through off-site prototype testing.
*This news report has been prepared based on data published by Designboom.
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