Location: Canada
Year: 2009
Located just west of Simcoe Street at the water’s edge, the wooden wavedeck features an informal amphitheatre-style public space with impressive curves that soar as high as 2.6 metres above the lake. Inspired by the cottage experience of Canada and the shorelines of Ontario’s great lakes, the wavedeck is meant to give urban dwellers a feel for life by the lake.
The wavedecks offer various elements designed for all ages, including those with disabilities, to enjoy these distinctive public areas. Each of the three wavedecks is accessible from every direction and features a barrier-free path delineated by a stainless-steel disc walkway.
The Simcoe and Rees Wavedecks feature expansive, obstacle-free zones on the eastern portion of each deck, along with a barrier-free pathway leading to the water.
Other accessibility features include:
1. Textured stair grips: The wooden stairs on the deck have stainless-steel edging with a textured surface for enhanced grip.
2. Colour contrasts: At Simcoe and Rees Wavedeck, a white stripe along the edge of each step assists those with visual impairments.
3. Tactile applications: Elevated tactile dots, discernible by foot or with a cane, mark the boundary of the deck area.
The wavedeck is a multifunctional urban dock that serves as both an art piece and a practical gathering area. Its adaptable structure offers various possibilities. The stairs provide an informal amphitheatre setting, while the deck’s differing heights grant unique perspectives and diverse interactions with the lake.
The design encourages individuals to interpret the space in numerous ways. The spacious eastern side can function as a meeting place during events or as a performance stage for street performers and entertainers. The steps can be used as seating, and the two prominent wave-like features include sleek stainless-steel railings that mimic the deck’s wavy pattern.
In an effort to take swift action, Waterfront Toronto commissioned West 8 to investigate the design possibilities for Queens Quay Boulevard through a temporary project in the summer of 2006. This short-term landscape intervention allowed the public to enjoy the proposed benefits ahead of the initial phase of the upcoming masterplan’s implementation. The 10-day event also allowed the design team to assess the practicality of closing the street’s south side and examine the viability of reconfiguring the street. During the event, traffic was replaced with bike lanes, and a one-kilometre stretch featured 12,000 red geraniums and a picnic area nearly the size of ten football fields. A four-storey arch made from over 600 bicycles served as a focal point for the new temporary bike path section.
The WaveDecks’ construction resulted in 1,780 square metres of new, high-quality, and varied fish habitats. Features such as river stone shoals, tree logs, and embankments were incorporated to offer lake fish enhanced shelter and feeding possibilities.
Image Attribution: “Wave deck, Toronto, Canada” by Skeezix1000 is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
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