As the temperature drops and the warmth of summer fades into a distant memory, Torontonians will at least have one thing to look forward to this winter. The Winter Stations Design Competition is returning this season, and for year number two it will be bigger and better than the first! The competition, hosted by RAW Architects, Ferris + Associates, and Curio, was declared a booming success in its inaugural year this past February, drawing throngs of curious onlookers to the icy waterfront who endured record-breaking winter temperatures to view the five winning entries. The international design community is once again invited to submit their proposals for this year's competition, as registration is now officially open. Submissions are due by November 12, 2015, with the winners announced in early January 2016.

A view of the 2015 Winter Stations Design Competition, image courtesy of Elsie Nisonen.

The competition invites participants to create temporary winter installations anchored to the utilitarian lifeguard stands dotting the beaches of Toronto's eastern waterfront. The installations aim to inject colour, movement, humour, and life into the landscape during the harsh winter months when the beaches are largely deserted. This year, in an effort to expand the scope of the competition, the Winter Stations will aim to build out all 13 of the lifeguard stations between the Balmy Beach Club and Ashbridges Bay Park. Up to 10 stations will be chosen for the winning entries, while three stations will be set aside for participating universities.

The five winning entries from the previous competition, and a lifeguard station, image courtesy of kg&a.

The theme of this year's competition is Freeze/Thaw, which asks designers and artists to respond to changing climatic conditions and transitions of the Toronto winter. The designs must creatively utilize materials and engage with the public, while keeping in line with the Freeze/Thaw theme, responding in some way to the tumultuous period at the end of winter and the beginning of spring. With El Niño projected to bring a warmer, unpredictable winter for the Toronto region, the theme plays well into the challenges faced by the competitors.

This season's Winter Stations will see a prominent presence of student participation. Ryerson University's Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Sciences, University of Toronto's John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design, OCAD University's School of Environmental Design, and Laurentian University's Faculty of Science, Engineering and Architecture have all committed to leading teams of students who will create an installation in 2016.

Driftwood Throne by Daniel Madeiros, one of the 2015 winners, image courtesy of Elsie Nisonen.

The success of the 2015 competition was recently recognized at the Toronto Urban Design Awards, with the Winter Stations Design Competition taking home an Award of Excellence in the Visions and Master Plans category, while the Snow Cone pavilion, designed by students Lily Jeon and Diana Koncan, took home an Award of Excellence in the Student Projects category.

The interior of the Snow Cone pavilion, one of the 2015 winners, image courtesy of Remi Carreiro

All 2016 installations will stand for a total of five weeks. The installations will be unveiled on Family Day weekend (February 13, 2016) and will be available for viewing until March 19, 2016.

Full details and submission guidelines, along with last year's winning entries, can be found on the competition's website at http://winterstations.com. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum thread, or leave a comment using the space provided at the bottom of this page.