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UrbanToronto’s coverage of the Amexon Development Corporation, Residences at Central Park, continues this week with closer look at the project’s primary element of social infrastructure, and the development’s namesake, the Central Park Common. Arguably one of the most unique aspects of the master-planned community located in the east end of Bayview Village, the 3-acre outdoor space will provide a host of features intended to facilitate social and recreational activities, and create a lively atmosphere in the community’s shared realm.
Central Park Common is the literal and figurative heart of the Residences at Central Park. The community’s four residential buildings and two office buildings, with designs by Core Architects, occupy a conservative amount of the site’s total area, allowing the Common to fill the gaps and function as a campus-like surface level network that connects the entire site, with the facilities designed to lend themselves to residents and office workers alike.
With the vast and mostly unaltered natural forests of the Don Valley located in the community’s backyard, residents will have the unique opportunity to interact with one of the finest ecological areas to be found within a sprawling urban centre, accented by the active river and diverse species of flora. The approach to the landscape design of the Central Park Common, from Cosburn Nauboris Landscape Architects, takes this fact into consideration and attempts to expand on the possibilities of outdoor space further, to create an urban outdoor experience with infrastructure that encourages social activities.
Renderings of the Residences at Central Park help to visualize how this socially focussed gathering space will be brought to life, with an emphasis on programming. The lawn space is multi-purpose by nature, with an array of seating options and versatile wooden decks that will function as farmers market stalls, gallery space for art installations, or stages for street musicians at different times of year. Programming will also continue into the winter months with a skating rink to be installed on the lawn, and holiday themed decor to liven the atmosphere.
The Common will also generate foot traffic and engagement through a collection of cafes, restaurants, and marketplaces. Terraces opening into the green space will elevate the dining experience, and light shopping can be accessed within the community at the convenience of residents. All of this is made possible by the connected nature of the Common, which features bike friendly paths and a strategic layout for the pedestrian experience.
Because the office buildings are an integral part of the Common and the community, the design was also aware of the need to create a space that inspires workplace wellness for the population of users there on the 9-5 schedule. Renovations are being undertaken in the office buildings to implement retail at grade level, open concept layouts, and a daycare on the premises.
UrbanToronto will continue to follow updates for this development, but in the meantime, you can learn more from our Database file for the project, linked below. If you'd like, you can join in on the conversation in the associated Project Forum thread, or leave a comment in the space provided on this page.
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| Related Companies: | Core Architects, II BY IV DESIGN, Kramer Design Associates Limited, Parcel One, Peter McCann Architectural Models Inc., Platinum Condo Deals, Sigmund Soudack & Associates |
