City Design Tour: A Living Room in Toronto’s East End

Walking the East End

The route begins at the corner of King and Sumach, the gateway to a transformation. With a coffee in hand, I invite visitors to evaluate the public realm through the lens of inclusivity. One standout example is the water fountain at Sackville Playground. It features a bowl at the bottom for animals, a mid-level height for children and those with disabilities, a higher spout for adults and a dedicated bottle-filling station—clearly signalling that everyone is welcome.

Exploring the non-prescriptive play areas of Sackville Playground, where wooden topographic landscapes replace standard plastic structures, reveals how design can foster creativity by giving children space to explore freely.

From infrastructure to community

From there, the route continues along the Front Street Promenade, a linear park featuring public art installations including The Water Guardians and Untitled (Toronto Lamp Posts). The journey then moves into Underpass Park, where the space beneath a highway has been transformed into a vibrant community hub with skate parks, mirrored art and active gathering spaces.

A holistic urban landscape

The tour culminates at Corktown Common, a flood-protection landscape and a key example of my “Holistic Urban Spaces” philosophy. The park features distinctive elements such as a central pavilion, “shoestring” sculptures and elevated viewpoints overlooking trains entering the city. Large boulders, winding walkways and open spaces encourage exploration, while the prairie section doubles as an off-leash dog park, reinforcing inclusivity.

Nature plays an active role throughout the park. Berry bushes, sandy areas for barefoot walking and an urban marsh contribute to both ecological function and user experience. Even in winter, enclosed areas and fireplaces create a sense of warmth and belonging. Whether hosting BBQ gatherings, outdoor movie nights or connecting to nearby cycling trails, the park operates as a true community hub.

What makes your city’s design scene special or unique?

Toronto’s design scene stands out for its growing emphasis on democratic design. Residents actively participate in shaping public spaces through consultations and community engagement. This process pushes designers to move beyond aesthetics and create solutions that address real community needs, transforming the city into a collaborative effort between professionals and residents.

Is there a place or landmark in your city that inspires you as a designer?

Underpass Park is a key source of inspiration. Typically, spaces beneath highways are neglected and act as barriers between neighbourhoods. Here, that condition has been reimagined into a bright, reflective community destination featuring a skate park, basketball courts and the mirrored Mirage installation. It demonstrates how overlooked spaces can become meaningful public assets.

What do you wish your city had that designers would really love or benefit from?

A broader cultural shift toward viewing public space as the “living room” of the city. While successful examples exist in the East End, expanding this approach across suburbs and older neighbourhoods would benefit both designers and residents. Public space should not be treated as leftover land but as essential infrastructure for community life, connection and play.