A local arts & culture initiative of

WIND ROSE
DESIGN
COMPETITION

Landing, Take Off

In December 2022, the first of three winning concepts was installed on the Downsview Wind Rose following a competition for emerging designers. "Landing, Take Off" is by Fion Kong, Georgia Sa, and Natalie Ko: first year Master of Landscape Architecture students at the John H Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design at the University of Toronto.

Their installation celebrates the industrial history and biodiversity of Downsview Park. The overall form was inspired by the flight of the Red-tailed Hawk as it adapts to the howling wind and the geometries of aviation.

Sixteen panels stretch across the arches, inviting park visitors to climb up and take a closer look. To decorate the panels, the team took inspiration from the plumage of the birds of Downsview Park’s past and present. These include: the American Kestrel, the Bobolink, the Cooper’s Hawk, the Horned Lark, the Red-tailed Hawk, the Long-eared Owl, the Northern Shrike, and the Short-eared Owl.

The installation invites people to look up, explore how the panels play with the arches, observe the details of local birds, and listen in — you may just hear the sounds of birds all around you.

Hear the birds celebrated in the installation

Meet the Team

Fion, Georgia, and Natalie met at the start of their Master of Landscape Architecture program. This is their first competition.

Fion Kong recently moved from Vancouver where she completed her undergrad at the University of British Columbia’s Environmental Design program. Outside of school, Fion has been exploring Toronto and its many neighbourhoods. For Fion, the ecology and cityscapes are very different and exciting, and this competition provided the perfect opportunity to explore Downsview Park and a different part of the city. Fion’s interested in learning about how design can improve equity and inclusivity of public spaces, and ecological resilience.

Georgia Sa holds a Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies with a specialist in architectural design and a minor in forest biomaterial science from the University of Toronto with high distinction. After graduating with her bachelor’s degree, she wanted to bridge her interests in design and concerns for the environment, which she discovered through landscape architecture. Throughout her studies at the Daniels Faculty, she wishes to explore how landscape design can address issues of inequity while creating spaces that are both ecologically and socially robust. In her spare time, Georgia enjoys spending time outdoors hiking and learning about tree identification.

Natalie finds her passion in designing attractive and functional public space in urban environments. After completing her study in Urban and Regional Planning at Toronto Metropolitan University in 2021, she decided to enrich her knowledge by enrolling in the Master of Landscape Architecture program at University of Toronto. Through her travel and living experience in Asia and in North America, Natalie has seen various types of landscape design in public parks and residential areas reflecting the history, culture and unique natural environments. She will continue her learning in the planning and design journey of landscape architecture.

The Downsview Wind Rose

The Downsview Wind Rose is a radial network of 16 square arches arranged in a compass-like formation on the highest mound in Downsview Park. It is named after a time-honoured tool invented by meteorologists that maps the direction and speed of the wind in a specific location.

Since fall 2021, the Downsview Wind Rose has hosted a range of community installations, and in fall 2022, emerging designers from across the GTA were invited to propose new temporary works for the structure. A panel of local and city-wide public art experts selected three winning proposals. These concepts will be installed, each for around 10 weeks.

The Competition Proposals

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Standing Ovation... 16 Influencers

Saint Patrick Secondary: Andrew Bael, Beatrice Diana, Adrian Fevlo, Logan George, Jessica Lu, Erin Manalo, Mari Mendoza, Jabez Penullar, Maryrose Sabio, Madeline Sevilla

The students agreed this competition would be the perfect opportunity to capture a familial connection with a grandparent by creating a digital portrait honouring their essence. Elders as “influencers” is the starting point of this exhibition. The modern notion of “influencer” is challenged by interpreting it through the lens of family history, culture and identity. Sixteen royal portraits will magnify the spirit, courage and kindness of each subject. The figures will be depicted wearing a magnificent assembly of artifacts fashioned into a crown of distinction that speaks to their legacy. Each students will answer the question “I know this because...”

JURY COMMENTS:
“Lovely work, and so interesting to reframe elders as influencers”

“I love this idea.”

WINNER: Wind Blessing in Red

Zishuo Li & Yifu Ding

Wind, a blessing of nature, is the elemental force that pollenizes and seeds; Red, a colour of fire, is the symbol of passion and love. Language, a system unique to humans, is the keystone for cultural development. This installation incorporates the three to bring visitors a multisensory experience. The bright red and vivid movements are perceptible from a distance downhill. Immersed in the sound of air brushing against fabric, visitors are invited to read wishes collected from the
community, written in everyone’s own languages. It’s a celebration of our multicultural community and a blessing to all beings around us.

JURY COMMENTS:
“Visually stunning!”

“It leaves a strong single visual impression”

“I love the community engagement component of this proposal. From afar, it will have a dramatic appeal.”

Woman Life Freedom زن زندگی آزادی

Shayan Mahoutforoush, Behrad Sajasi

The proposal intends to raise awareness of the human rights violence within Iran to reach a broader audience. The aim is to utilize the pavilion as a base for community gatherings that can work to construct a crusade against violence toward women. The artworks depict stories of lost innocent souls, made by an artist named Shadi that lives and works in Tehran. The movement in Iran is called "Women, life, freedom," which is becoming the biggest feminist movement of the century that has reemerged from the death of Mahsa Amini on September 16, 2022, killed by the Morality Police.

JURY COMMENTS:
“I think the idea is great and creates a space for dialogue on a current event topic.”

“This is an urgent message of this time and I love that this location can be used to further the message. It is focused to a specific political issue but the plight of equity for women is universal.”

Wellbeing for All Forever

Catherine Economopoulos

This proposal is a bold reimagining of the existing structures as they stand within a vibrant landscape. At its core, this project intends to restructure a solely visual installation into one that champions dynamic placemaking, playfulness, and social unity for residents and visitors alike. My vision for the Wind Rose installation involves interactive components meant to invite viewers of all ages towards the work to engage and connect with each other and community heritage, alternated with more traditional artistic and educational pieces to amplify and honour the stories of Downsview at large. Thus, the project highlights and reflects the importance of the slogan “wellbeing for all forever” – the wellbeing of the body, mind, and soul.

JURY COMMENTS:
“This is a compelling and inclusive way to engage stories of Downsview.”

“I really appreciate the interactivity and the considerations given to sustainability.”

Learn more about the Downsview Wind Rose and previous installations.

This installation is part of XOXO Downsview, a local arts and culture initiative of Northcrest Developments and Canada Lands Company — landowners who are collaborating on a new development adjacent to Downsview Park.

LEARN MORE

Advisory Committee Jury Pool

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Landing, Take Off

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