Forest Hill Village North Gateway

Toronto, Canada

Architects: PLANT Architect Inc.

Location: Spadina Ave, Toronto, Canada
Year: 2016

This project creates a northern gateway entrance to Forest Hill Village, and a community gathering area at Suydam Park. Rather than a fixed gateway, or a gazebo gathering area, this project proposes that the whole side of the park frontage act as a gateway to draw in views, enhance the park’s street presence, and encourage public use at the edge of the park – not just in it. The project comprises forest-like groupings of light posts including a sign post at the north end, and a custom, modular, polished pre-cast bench system that incorporates planting, all organically organized amongst existing trees. The granite paving extends into the park to create a new oval stage and community gathering space in the park. Black paving and dark green and white seat/planters mirror the black and white south gateway park, bookending the Village. The benches have been extended into the village as part of the street frontage for a new parking lot, and a new similar small street planter has been extended into the rest of the village.