Snowcone


with Diana Koncan



Toronto constantly struggles with the challenge of designing for polar extremes. The inaugural 2015 Winterstations competition picked 5 designs to reanimate the lifeless lifeguard stations and underutilized beaches in the winter.
Snowcone’s design is one that is temporary (easily deployed on a snow-covered sandy beach in -15 C weather), that looks enticing enough to bring visitors out to said -15 C snowscape, and that is warm enough to keep them there...with no heat or power! It strategically captures the warmth of the sun like a stained glass greenhouse, utilizes the insulative properties of snow to contain visitors’ body heat, blocks off the lake’s harsh winds, and turns an eye-catching face toward the boardwalk.
Rhino 3D modelling
CNC programming + milling
Cut + hydraulic press + drill holes + deburr
Assembly
Heat bending
Coordination
Transport
Installation in -15 weather
It takes a village!
Repetitive, modular units were fastened with simple nuts + bolts and zip-ties for speedy assembly and disassembly.
Shielding wind from the lake (South face)
Opening up to the boardwalk (North face)


    2015
    Kew Beach, Toronto


    Built with friends and volunteers from TMU’s Deptartment of Architectural Science & Design Fabrication Zone. Special thanks to Caleigh Kinch, Kate Myers, Lisa Boulatova, Nate Mendiola, Frank Bowen, Naveed Khan. Awarded the Toronto Urban Design Award of Excellence.


    Photos & Videos:



    Remi Carreiro
    Ashley Seale
    Amina Lalor
    Lisa Boulatova
    Farah Elmajdoub
    Lily Jeon


    Links



    CP 24
    Toronto Star
    CBC
    Globe and Mail
    BlogTO

    Archdaily
    Design Boom
    Fast Company
    Dezeen
    Azure
    Dwell
    Inhabit
    Designlines
    Archilovers

    Winterstations
    Toronto Metropolitan University

    Nanotecture - Phaidon Press

    TMU Mind and Action video
    Timelapse video
    Opening day video