Waterfront tour, part 4: The Wave Decks (moderate dial-up warning)

[JeffR]

Among many projects underway to reconnect people with the harbor, the Wave Decks are the most whimsical and weird. A collaboration between Rotterdam-based designers West 8 and Toronto's du Toit Allsopp Hillier, they're made from ipe wood and gluelam cedar.

Three of them have been constructed and a fourth is in the planning stage.

I love these things!

Spadina Wave Deck, completed in 2008:





The beautiful tall ship in the background is the Empire Sandy, built in England in 1943 as a wartime tug. She did salvage work in the North Atlantic, the Mediterranean, the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal, then towed timber rafts on the Great Lakes, then became a Toronto-based cruise ship in 1982 after being remodeled as an old-fashioned schooner.

The Rees Wave Deck was finished in 2009:





The newest and weirdest is the Simcoe Wave Deck, also finished in 2009:









Part 1 of the tour.

Part 2.

Part 3.

Next stop: Canada's Sugar Beach.

[trusty elf]

1. I'm with you!

I really enjoy these kinds of whimsical structures!

Beautiful photos- I like them all, especially the sixth one in B/W, which has a very pleasing composition.

[JeffR]

4. It's miraculous that these ever got built. This is not a city noted for whimsy.

Maybe they signify a change of direction for the future, but given that a rabid winger asshat is likely to be the next mayor, somehow I doubt it. I wish I could vote here to help try and stop him.

And thanks, I thought that one worked well. The clouds were being very cooperative for the composition.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. My dear JeffR!

What a great mixture of b&w and color pics...

Normally, I prefer color, but I have to say that your b&w pics of that Simcoe Wave Deck are really stunning. I esp. love the last one. The way the sun reflects off the wood is just spectacular.

And the second one in that group reminds me somehow of a roller coaster!

Thank you for sharing your wonderful, picturesque town with us!

:hi:

[JeffR]

5. Thank you. I really was smitten with these things.

The Simcoe one in particular is like viewing reality through the lens of a powerful but benign drug, which when I think about it is a very nice way indeed to see reality.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

3. really great pictures of a really great spot

The last 4 shots especially show all the undulations of the surface--just the strong sorts of lines you want going through your frame. Thank you for posting these.

[JeffR]

6. Thanks! Hard to go wrong with these, especially since the light

was so good. It was a charmed afternoon.

[Solly Mack]

7. I want to go play there.

[JeffR]

12. I did too!

But we had a lot more ground to cover, so we didn't linger too long. Next summer for sure, though.

[Mira]

8. This makes me want to skip and dance.

I'm thrilled with these, a whole new concept, so apropos for being at the water and for pedestrians.
Sea-legs needed on land.
Wonderfully shown, perfect photos, especially 5/6 and seven. My top favorite is number 6.

Thanks, a mind stretched...and all that...I always appreciate the new and unexpected.

[JeffR]

13. "new and unexpected"

And this city, much as I love it, isn't usually synonymous with such things. I'm impressed with a lot of what's being done along the bay, though it's still sort of piecemeal. These things inspire, and confirm that innovative design can enhance the urban experience here.

[GreenPartyVoter]

9. I love them too. I had no idea they existed until you shared these wonderful shots.

:)

[JeffR]

14. If these were in Chicago or new York, I'd guess they'd be known far and wide now.

Glad I could share them with everyone.

[Celebration]

10. Somehow

I can feel the motion! Love it.

[JeffR]

15. The real magic of these things is that they fit in a pretty rigid grid

but it's as if they're announcing that they don't have to fall in line and follow the rules. The world needs more flamboyance. I haven't seen the design for the proposed fourth one, which will be a good deal farther east than these, but I expect the designers will try to top themselves.

[HarveyDarkey]

11. Do they have problems with skateboarders & bicyclists on the last one?

Very innovative and imaginative architecture on these. I could see a couple of these making the calendar if they'd been entered.

[JeffR]

16. I think they were anticipating that and tried to head it off.

There are some curving guardrails to deter such things, but there was still a guy on a mountain bike who looked like he intended to try some stunts.