Interactive installations turn Toronto's beaches into winter destinations

Toronto’s beach goers are encouraged to hit the seaside throughout the year.

From the Series

The second annual Winter Stations design competition urges Torontonians to embrace the chilling beauty of their coastline in winter. Founded by RAW Design, Ferris + Associates and Curio, the competition challenges designers to rethink the beach and encourages beach going as a winter activity.

As Ted Merrick, lead designer at landscape architecture firm Ferris + Associates says, "Our ultimate goal for year two remains the same - to encourage the community out of hibernation and back to the beach." 

Themed Freeze/ Thaw, participants were asked to respond to “the changing climactic conditions and transitions of the Toronto winter.” The competition received 400 submissions from around the world.

The designers were asked to take existing lifeguard stations on Toronto's beaches and turn them into interactive installations for public use, giving colour and life to the shoreline and offering refuge for winter beach goers.

The finalists comprised of four professional designers and three student design teams. A community fireplace was also designed and installed on the beach by Canadian architect Douglas Cardinal.