Located at the heart of the pedestrian-oriented Toronto Distillery District, the open space proposed for the Ribbon Building aspires to celebrate the soul of this distinct industrial heritage setting. Embracing and renewing the site’s powerful spatial qualities, the landscape integrates a proposed continuous linear office volume and a strategically positioned hotel tower into the unique fabric of the surrounding context. The Distillery’s emblematic red paving is the principal cue used to maintain the strong dialogue between public realm and architecture.
The convergence of pedestrian circulation flows appears as a large mirror pond. Evoking the Greek myth of Narcissus, the surrounding industrial Victorian architecture, along with the contemporary Ribbon building, are each reflected on the still water surface for perpetuity.
A picturesque approach to framing views and maintaining the timeless quality of the Distillery District is achieved through a bosk of London Plane trees as well as a strategic distribution of mature specimen trees. These deliberate insertions aim to freshen up sunnier spaces and unify the early 19th century stone distillery with the new Ribbon Building. Gas lanterns will illuminate the night time public realm, preserving the Distillery’s pedestrian integrity and intimacy.
Cross-roads to important neighbouring developments are accommodated along Distillery Lane between Parliament and Cherry Streets, and the proposed Red Brick Promenade that will create a generous public-space connection under the railway corridor to the waterfront.
