Reimagining Erin Mills Town Center
Design
THE TEAM
Emira Shaheen
Devika P Ranjith
Hariharan Rajapandiyan Kasthuri Shaji Kumar Lathish Punitharaj Mohammad Mustak
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We would like to begin by expressing our profound gratitude to Professor Eric Gordon, whose extensive knowledge was invaluable during the initial phases of our project. His expertise in site structure and software skills was crucial to the development of “THE WEB”. Professor Eric Gordon’s unwavering commitment to mentoring and instruction was instrumental in the technical success of our project.
Equally, we extend our sincere thanks to express our heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Hally El Kony, whose unwavering support and guidance were instrumental in the success of our project. Her continuous encouragement to delve deeper into the design features of the site enhanced the project’s accuracy and completeness. Dr. El Kony’s insightful feedback on the 2D representations, master plan, and various design elements significantly contributed to the cohesiveness and thoroughness of the final submission. Furthermore, her motivation to explore massing concepts was pivotal in developing the structure of our design.
Finally, we extend our thanks to each of our team members who helped us finish this project and make it even more successful. Additionally, the fellow classmates and friends for their valuable feedback and insights. Their suggestions provided us with a clear user perspective, which was essential in refining our project.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Concept Development
Vision Statement
In reimagining Erin Mills, we weave together public, private, and commercial spaces to create a dynamic, interconnected urban experience. Our design, inspired by ‘The Web,’ fosters continuous engagement, with vibrant streetscapes and pedestrian-friendly spaces centered around the Erin Mills Mall.
Concept
‘The Web’ redefines urban living by blending commercial, residential, open public spaces, and plazas into a vibrant community. The design concept focuses on creating a thriving environment where live, work, and play come together, using voronoi diagram principles. ‘The web’ pattern interconnects the entire site, allowing people to connect through spaces in one continuous flow. The thoughtfully interwoven design through an expansive public realm belt ensures the entire site is active throughout the day. There are other minor pockets created which are interconnected both horizontally and vertically, leading to the main design concept - ‘THE WEB’.
The streets serve as active edges, offering multiple uses like open markets, extended patios, and plazas. The main focus is the Erin Mills mall, which serves as the main anchor of the town center. The web design is resilient, flexible, and sustainable, considering green building designs, water conservation, and renewable energy sources. It also supports small-scale and local businesses, providing a space for them to expand their market and foster new opportunities. The web design is a testament to the potential of urban living.
The major node points act as the connectors of the masterplan, to create distinct cells of the voronoi structure. The central mall is the largest and major node which is connected to every part of the site either through a pedestrian network or a public realm network.
These zones are defined by their proximity to central points of interest, such as commercial hubs, green spaces, and community facilities. The boundaries of each Voronoi cell naturally create organic, non-linear pathways that enhance walkability and exploration.
Pathways and streets are designed to facilitate easy movement between zones, fostering a sense of community and accessibility. Each Voronoi cell includes a dedicated open area, creating pockets of nature that encourage outdoor activities and social interaction.
With minimal vehicular intervention into the site, the major focus is towards the green public realm that stitches the entire site together, with the support of the vernoi cells.
Vertical and horizontal connectivity ensures the web layout is achieved.
Patios extending into the street, to create active frontages and eyes on the street design.
Interconnected micro mobility and pedestrian network, within the green corridor.
Land Use
Residential Zone
Commercial Zone
Mobility Network 03
With minimal vehicular intervention into the site, and focus on pedestrians and active transportation, aspects such as tactile urbanism, increased social interaction and economic vitality are also key considerations. A vibrant, walkable town center can attract businesses and boost local economy.
Wide sidewalks, that extend into the patio space of the groundlevel outlets creates a seamless transit between the streets and the built areas.
Regular crosswalks and wider streets extending into plazas and squares that act as event spaces, makes the network more active and vibrant, breaking the monotony of mere walking.
Creating an identity for the entire site, through rightly placed landmarks and icons will make wayfinding easy and the site easily navigable. With the design concept of the web, as each space is interconnected, the intention always remains to achieve the shortest path for the pedestrians from one point to another.
Reducing the number of lanes within the site will automatically slow down vehicle speeds creating a safe environment. Extend curbs at intersections to reduce crossing distance for pedestrians is also part of the design considerations.
Pedestrian realminterconnected throughout the site
Vehicular network
Bicycle track
Built and open spaces
Pedestrian zone - intensity
Vehicular pathway
Bicycle track
3D Massing 04
The Massing is designed as per a sloping structure of buildings beginning with a high-rise touching Eglinton Street and then low-rise towards Erin Mills Parkway for a real style from a visual perspective and to give the pedestrian a rich experience from the streetscape aspect. It provides an standard structure for the development of the clustered building which makes the community connect. Introducing the concept of the inverted courtyard means the usage of partially enclosed outdoor zones which improves the residents’ quality of life.
Variation in height within a cluster is also more desirable for views and from the residentials and commercial space to be developed. It consists of residential, retail, and offices this makes it a lively and fully functional society on its own. The part of the slope from Eglinton Street towards Erin Mills Parkway is smoothly blended into the scheme to improve the pedestrians’ journey and convenience. Inverted courtyard configuration offers partially enclosed outdoors spaces for use of group activities and recreation as well as creation of green areas.
Masterplan
LEGEND
1. Erin mills mall
2. The passage
3. Open plaza
4. Office zone multipurpose courtyard
5. Market street
6. Community hub
7. Recreational zone
8. Private courtyards
9. Multipurpose plaza/ Ground parking lot
Figure Ground Analysis
The built and open spaces are evenly spread out throughout the site, with more built than open areas. The layout of the buildings is such that it creates closed clusters forming inward facing courtyards and small public pockets. The building footprint and orientation is such that they create narrow pathways and alleys, leading the user from one space to another.
The open spaces are interconnected with one another, stitching the entire site together. This enables seamless transitions from one zone to another. This translates as the concept of the design - ‘THE WEB’.
Kevin Lynch Elements
Streetscape Design 06
With focus on pedestrians and active transportation, aspects such as tactile urbanism, increased social interaction and economic vitality are also key considerations. A vibrant, walkable town center can attract businesses and boost local economy.
Wide sidewalks, that extend into the patio space of the groundlevel outlets creates a seamless transit between the streets and the built areas.
Regular crosswalks and wider streets extending into plazas and squares that act as event spaces, makes the network more active and vibrant, breaking the monotony of mere walking.
Creating an identity for the entire site, through rightly placed landmarks and icons will make wayfinding easy and the site easily navigable. With the design concept of the web, as each space is interconnected, the intention always remains to achieve the shortest path for the pedestrians from one point to another.
Reducing the number of lanes within the site will automatically slow down vehicle speeds creating a safe environment. Extend curbs at intersections to reduce crossing distance for pedestrians is also part of the design considerations.
• Pedestrian focused streets
• Vibrant & Active median
• Design based on mobility trends
• Multilevel connectivity
• Integrating POPS into the public space
• Crime prevention design techniques
• Tactile urbanism
• Transit Oriented Development
• Night life
• Flexible public spaces
• Engaging street edges
• Design creates landmarks making wayfinding easy
EGLINTON AVENUE PLAN - REDESIGN
EGLINTON AVENUE STREET SECTION
EGLINTON AVENUE ACTIVITY MAPPING
Primary
vehicular Street Detail PRIMARY VEHICULAR STREET PLAN
Paver Tactile Grass Asphalt Green concrete
Public Space Design 07
The multifunctional activity landscape and street market around the mall represent innovative public space design that enhances community engagement and well-being. The adaptable landscape features modular seating and green infrastructure, creating a versatile environment that supports a variety of activities such as sports, fitness, and community events.
The street market, with its dynamic colored glass kinetic roof, provides a visually striking and energy-efficient setting that attracts visitors. The roof not only offers shade but also harnesses solar energy, contributing to the market’s sustainability. The food and shopping stalls, made from eco-friendly materials, offer a diverse range of products, encouraging local businesses and sustainable practices. Community spaces within the market are equipped with solar-powered lighting and recycling stations, further emphasizing environmental responsibility.
Together, these spaces foster social cohesion by serving as vibrant hubs for recreation, gatherings, and cultural events. They encourage interaction among diverse groups, strengthening community bonds and enhancing overall well-being. By integrating these sustainable and resilient design interventions, the public spaces become focal points that enrich the community’s quality of life. 1
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1. Multifunctional activity landscape
Street market
Residential courtyard
Multifunctional Activity Landscape
Street Market - The Passage
YELLOW ZONE - VIEW
RED ZONE - Street cafes and open bars
YELLOW ZONE - Clothing and attire
ORANGE ZONE - Gaming zone
BLUE ZONE - Farmers market
Residential Courtyard with activities
Wayfinding & Navigation
The mobility network emphasises the the importance of designing spaces that cater to the needs and behaviors of users. The navigation patterns cater to the diverse preferences and user groups, with a web network that is spread throughout the entire site, connecting all landmarks, nodes and edges.
Inspired from Gordon Cullen book, ‘The Concise Townscape’, the mobility network imprints the concept of serial vision to create exciting experiences as one walks through the site. As a person walks or travels through the site, they encounter a series of visual events, each one revealing new perspectives and elements of the surroundings. This sequential unfolding of views creates a dynamic and engaging experience, encouraging exploration and enhancing the overall understanding and enjoyment of Erin mills Town Center.
Pedestrian Priority Zone
RED ZONE - Street cafes and open bars
YELLOW ZONE - Clothing and attire
ORANGE ZONE - Gaming zone
BLUE ZONE - Farmers market
Navigation Patterns
The navigation pattern for the residential zone is depicted in the diagram, showing the activities a user experiences on their way to the mall. The pathway design is such that it intentionally takes people through various zones of activities like recreation, leisure,and green pockets making their journey eventful.
The navigation pattern for the public transit users is laid out in an interactive and playful way such that they can explore the site on their own, through designated pathways. Each pathway is a different experience as a user encounters different spaces and different zones through various activities and functions.
All navigation lines lead to the mall, that is the major anchor of the site. It is a network that is interconnected and connects both horizontally and vertically.
In order to identify the places digitally in a playful way QR codes are placed adjacent to bus stops and transit elements, that direct users through specified pathways. Rather than taking shortcuts to reach a point, these elements will take users through the designated pathways that activates the entire site.
They also act as treasure hunt elements and create an interactive & playful site.
Bus Stop
Navigation Patterns
The pedestrian access points are all spread across the edges of the site, making it easy for Each pathway is a different experience as a user encounters different spaces and different zones through various activities and functions.
All navigation lines lead to the mall, that is the major anchor of the site. It is a network that is interconnected and connects both horizontally and vertically.
Cycle Racks
Architectural Wayfinding System
The building orientation is such that the edges lead to prominent views and vistas that help people navigate through spaces. All buildings orient towards the mall, that is the main anchor of the mall. The buildings and edges are such that they are self leading from one space to the next, with a smooth transition between zones.
All these patterns interconnect to form a closed loop that imprints the web pattern, both horizontally and vertically.
Each zone of the street market is tiled in accordance to the zone colour, which adds to the wayfinding elements.
The street market that loops around the mall is split into different zones in terms of colour, that have different purposes, hence different character for each zone. All entry points and navigation patterns are designed such that they lead directly and indirectly to each of these zones. The signage placement also is such that it leads to these zones.
Architectural Wayfinding System
Coloured glass panels act as visual cues that help users to orient themselves within the market area. Different colors of glass can be used to designate specific zones within the street market stretch. These color cues help users identify their location and move toward their desired destination. Colored glass panels can act as visual landmarks within the space. Users can use these colored areas as reference points, making it easier to navigate larger, complex buildings by remembering the color of the area they passed through.
Graphic Wayfinding Design
Indigenous wall art that respects the roots of Erin Mills, connecting people to their history. Digital billboards also help in wayfinding.
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