QUEEN EYE VIEW
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A proposal for the redevelopment of the Ward 18 triangle in Toronto's Queen West district - currently the Woolfit's Art Supply building. A community development project incorporating new artist live work studios, retail space, commercial and retail development and institutional space.

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Introduction

It is now impossible to ignore the changing future of West Queen West. The commercialization of the neighborhood is underway. The Bohemian characteristics that once flourished are now becoming a fashionable trait to users that do not embrace the true meaning of that particular lifestyle.

What can be done to either reverse the signs of commercialization and rejuvenate the WQW area or create a commercial venture that attempts to unify the existing and prospective residential and commercial enterprises in this neighborhood?

Being a mixed use occupancy facility including retail, residential, service, office and institutional space, there must be a strong consideration for the requirements and goals of each of the distinctive clients. Each program that resides within the same structure will have independent objectives however; it is required to find a commonality in these needs to create a cohesive facility.
In this case, the common factor will simply be the site. The location of the existing Woolfitt’s building has a strong impact on the surrounding Queen West community. Therefore, there must be a strong relationship between the new structure and the existing residents, local businesses and surrounding facilities - whether it is in the programming choice, or the architectural relationship.

This proposal will attempt to manifest the personality of the Queen West area into a multi-purpose facility that responds to what the current situation that is in the developing neighborhood, not what it once was, or what it could have been. By ensuring that the structure reacts to the existing properties of the site and existing clients, we are ensuring that the new users that have come to occupy WQW will also be comfortable with the new development. The main intent and goal of this development is to create a community based facility that will satisfy firstly, the members of the community and secondly, the clients of the occupancies.

The proper integration of new opportunities into the WQW area seems to be an issue of major debate and conflict. Therefore, the proposal for the existing Woolfitt’s building will not intentionally be developed as a destination or landmark for Queen West, but become a naturally incorporated function of what the community needs – not what it once was, or what it will be. This is meant as an organic and natural evolution.

To ensure a dynamic community presence, any programmatic activity that requires, or can be in constant operation (24 hour basis) will become the dominant characteristic of the site. This element will become the first of four principles which will become the basis of the programmatic, architectural and conceptual layout:

1-Time: how can the function of time be used to integrate users of different intentions?
2-Money: how can we promote a physical sequence of experiences through a coalition of businesses to lead to a profitable business venture?
3-Energy: how can we create, then promote, a dynamic interchange of energy between
a.User and user
b.Business and business
c.User and business
4-Space: what common spatial elements can be extracted from each programmatic activity to create a mutuality and possibly altruistic relationship?

The final intention of the multi-purpose facility is to promote a collaborative commercial and residential environment that is based on common areas, exchange and mutualism.