Ontario Place is being redesigned with a beach, spa and garden.
The team working behind the controversial development of Toronto’s historic Ontario Place site insist the project is for the greater good of the city, and will resort and revitalize parts of the landscape that are crumbling apart.
The proposed development will include an indoor park and a botanical garden as well as large parking lots. Critics are unhappy that the privately owned spa is being built on public land, in part with taxpayer’s dollars.
The Canadian part of Therme Group based in Austria, Therme Canada was awarded the proposal. A variety of collaborators are involved in the project and spoke to Yahoo News Canada To clarify the purpose of the development,
Jeffrey Craft of STUDIO TLA is responsible for the public realm, which refers to the intersection of public space with the facility. He said that a significant part of the development would be active recreational spaces, which have been long established on the west side of the property. The development will have 12 acres of open space that is accessible to the public. It will also include lookouts and bike trails. What’s more is that it will be environmentally sustainable.
We’re designing a fully sustainable environment. Every drop of water on the ground is collected, cleaned, and reused. We’re focused on wetland creation of an enormous amount of habitat that’s missing right now from this part of the lake – that’s both aquatic and terrestrial habitat.Jeffrey Craft, Studio TLA
He adds that the development will allow an opportunity to reconstruct the part of the island that’s deteriorating in a way “that’s not just functional but aesthetically beautiful and supportive of public uses year round and into the future.”
The project will require the removal of over 800 trees. critics are concerned about. Craft says an arborist’s report is investigating the viability of the existing trees, and that anything that is removed will be replaced, multifold.
“We’re making sure what we’re providing is part of a genuine habit for this part of the city and province,” he says. “If we could save a tree, of course we’ll save a tree.”
Gary McCluskie, principal architect with Diamond Schmitt, the firm behind the project, says that because the initial landscape is man-made, there’s not been any natural protection in its decades of existence.
“It’s one of the big opportunities the province is taking to revitalize the islands themselves,” he says. “Through rebuilding, we’ll have better access to the lake.”
Although the space is very popular in warmer months, it gets quieter as the temperatures drop. The project, as well as the existing heritage pods, Cinesphere Theatre and Cinesphere Theatre that are being rejuvenated by the province, is designed to be used all year. Live Nation is also working to transform the existing outdoor music theatre which is currently open only seasonally into a year-round music venue.
“These indoor components…provide greater access to recreation, entertainment, just these places to be as a destination on a year round basis,” says McCluskie.
A survey of 801 respondents was conducted by Earnscliffe Strategies for Therme. It found that 47% of Ontarians supported the development and 53% of those in the GTA backed it.
Recent media reactions have been strong to the project in recent weeks. The Globe and Mail’s architectural critic, calls the proposal “a disaster” and, if constructed, describes it as “the worst building in Toronto”.
In opinion piece The publication was made public last week. Toronto Star’s The Editorial Board called the proposal to give waterfront property for a privately-run spa “a disgrace”.