MAHEEN AHMAD • LESHIN CHEW • TYLER CHUI • SAIJEENI ELANGKO• HIRA FAYYAZ • NIDA HAJARA HAMEED • KATHLYNN HOANG• KAYLA VELOSO

ParkWalk

Placemaking for Cross Cultural Exchange

The Parkdale community has been well known for its rich and culturally diverse community but has fell victim to the consequences of gentrification and socio-spatial inequality. Social infrastructure, community health, cultural development, and affordable housing are all parts of the community that need to be addressed. 

Through becoming aware of the experiences of Parkdale residents, the lack of safety within the community became apparent. The project intends to design a network of safe spaces through art, lighting fixtures, and further means will increase foot traffic and provide a safer place for female residents.

1. Amrita walks along the intersection of Queen Street West and Cowen Ave with her paints and brushes in hand. She paints a traditional Tibetan circular pattern on the sidewalks in the symbolic Tibetan colours representing space, water, fire, and earth.

2. Amrita walks along the painted Tibetan patterned inspired crosswalk towards the entrance of the Milky Way Alleyway. She passes by the new additions of colourful benches, lamp posts, and planters.

3. Before entering the alleyway, Amrita stops to admire the newly installed greenwall along the Toronto Public Library. The differentiation in pavement colours allows for a clear separation of pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles, providing a safer and populated space to view the art.

4. As Amrita walks towards her work in the library parking lot, she interacts with the fellow artist’s underneath the installation of lit up lanterns, heavily inspired by Tibetan culture. The alleyway is lit up by lines of floor spotlights, illuminating the was once dark and unwelcoming path.

5. The Toronto public library parking lot now serves as a creative nook and a source of opportunity for cultural representation for artists like Amrita. She adds to the existing graffiti in the Miky Way alleyway with paintings of traditional Tibetan styled patterns which populate the previously dim parking lot with her culture and bright colours.