Public art installations are among the ways that new developments contribute to the pedestrian realm the surrounds them, and while many of these installations passively engage passersby, one new piece of art takes interaction to the next level, actively engaging with those who encounter it. The new installation, known as Back to Front, is designed by the London UK-based Jason Bruges Studio, and is located along a walkway that cuts diagonally through a park—in fact a Privately Owned Public Space (PoPS)—outside of Tridel’s new 300 Front Street West, a 49-storey condominium tower at Front and John in Toronto's Entertainment District.
A series of six black monoliths divided into two groups of three, Back to Front on first glance appears to be little more than granite blocks—with hundreds of LED lights shining out. Those whose curiosity draws them closer are rewarded with a dynamic reaction triggered by movement—as long as you're really close to the monolith. The LEDs react to passersby in real time, mirroring changing light levels, displaying the movements of those who pass by.
Jim Ritchie, Tridel’s Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, had a statement prepared upon the dedication of the work. “We believe that public art is a very important component of the condominium communities we develop. When done properly, public art serves to enhance the building architecture, landscape design and urban planning; it can act as a common amenity for residents, and stands as a reflection not just of the developer and the project, but of the condominium community, the neighbourhood and the city."
Residents are now occupying suites in the Wallman Architects-designed condo tower, with only seven suites from the exclusive Atmosphere Collection still available for purchase on the 44th through 49th floors. Remaining suites range in size from 1,367 to 1,815 square feet, starting at $1.2-million.
Additional information and renderings can be found in our dataBase file for the project, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum threads, or leave a comment in the space provided at the bottom of this page.
Related Companies: | CCxA, The Fence People, Tridel, U31 |