Memo From Toronto

Donna Heiderstadt -- Interior Design, 1/1/2013 2:00:00 AM

Yabu Pushelberg’s design for the new Four Seasons Hotel Toronto was inspired by a dandelion, as seen in the dramatic lobby installation. Photo courtesy of Four Seasons Hotel Toronto.


The skyline seems to shift daily in this multicultural Canadian city of 5.1 million, where almost 150 high-rise projects were on the books as of mid 2012. Hospitality projects, including three leading luxury hotels, played a major role in the city’s design evolution last year as all around the iconic silhouette of the 116-story CN Tower, new buildings—many mixed-use properties—have sprung up, adding a contemporary edge to a city long seen as far too traditional. Equally exciting from a trend perspective has been the recent influx of top chefs, including New York’s Daniel Boulud and David Chang, whose new restaurants’ superb cuisine and innovative design have people talking. People are also excited about future projects, such as the soon-to-open Ripley’s Aquarium and the just announced Oxford Place. Click through below for details on all of these projects, plus an insight into Toronto’s design culture by Allen Chang, one of the three young partners in The Design Agency, one of the city’s leading architecture and interior design firms.

Memo From Toronto: New Builds












Memo From Toronto: What's Trending












Memo From Toronto: People Are Talking About












Memo From Toronto: Insider's Take with Allen Chan