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Three lessons from Europe’s independent cultural spaces

by Daniel Rotsztain, artist in residence

In the summer of 2022, ERA was invited to join a tour with member organizations of Trans Europe Halles (TEH), a network of 135 cultural organizations from 39 countries in Europe and beyond. TEH members collectively support, research, and advocate for independent cultural spaces and their positive contribution to social, environmental, and economic well-being.   TEH is advising on OCADU’s activation...

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News & Events

TORONTO the GOOD

by ERA Architects

TORONTO THE GOOD: MAY 27th WHEN: Tuesday, May 27th, 2008 starting at 7pm WHERE: Fermenting Cellar, Distillery District HOW MUCH: $10 gets you into the site, plus food • CASH BAR DJs: Track Meet ATTIRE: dress to impress, but not enforced RSVP: email rsvp@torontothegood.org WEB: http://www.torontothegood.org Dear Torontonians, The Festival of Architecture and Design is here again, and the folks...

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Infrastructure: new vision for Ontario

by ERA Architects

...projects. If passed, the Act will help Ontario approach its infrastructure projects from a perspective that is not only concerned with meeting functional criteria at minimum cost, but also with the bigger picture of long-term city-building. Read comments from ERA’s Michael McClelland here. To read more on the proposed Act, see Ontario’s official website. To read Christopher Hume’s perspective in...

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The Legacy Lives On: Hamilton’s Built Heritage Inventory as an emerging practice in historic urban landscape stewardship

by ERA Architects

...they inhabit could, in the future, be used by cities to identify a much broader range of conservation opportunities, better understand an area’s capacity to change and evolve, and reposition historic resources to serve as the springboard and foundation for new development….’ Article in CIP’s PLAN Canada Journal: http://www.kelmanonline.com/httpdocs/files/CIP/plancanadawinter2017/index.html Related content: https://www.eraarch.ca/2017/hamiltons-durand-built-heritage-inventory-project-incorporates-digital-innovation-to-develop-a-citywide-approach-to-heritage-planning/ https://www.eraarch.ca/project/hamilton-downtown-built-heritage-inventory/ https://www.eraarch.ca/2013/9295/ All images courtesy of ERA Architects....

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Casey House is Awarded the Lieutenant Governor’s Ontario Heritage Award for Excellence in Conservation

by ERA Architects

...the facility first arose. At its heart, the redevelopment of Casey House was a community-inspired and driven initiative, with stakeholders recognizing the importance of their generous contributions. Congratulations to ERA’s project team: Michael McClelland, Edwin Rowse, Scott Weir, Jessie Grebenc, Joey Giaimo, Luke Denison, and Mikael Sydor. Related links: https://www.eraarch.ca/project/239/ https://www.eraarch.ca/2017/a-hospital-with-heart-that-embraces-its-patients-celebrates-its-grand-reopening/ https://www.eraarch.ca/2017/capitalizing-on-heritage-awarding-conservation-materials-craftsmanship-and-construction/ http://www.heritagetrust.on.ca/en/index.php/media-releases/lieutenant-governors-ontario-heritage-awards-presentation ​Project photos are courtesy of Vik Pahwa....

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Amendments to Heritage Policies in Toronto’s Official Plan

by admin

...Plan heritage policies on the City website: www.toronto.ca/opreview/pdf/opreview_proposed_heritage_policy.pdf 2) ERA’s initial comments and draft counter proposal: www.era.on.ca/pdf/ERA_OP_heritage_policy_comments.pdf 3) Draft Amendment No. 199 to Official Plan, just released and available on the City website: http://www.toronto.ca/opreview/pdf/version_opa_atclerks.pdf 4) ERA’s comments on Amendment, submitted respectfully on October 1, 2012: www.era.on.ca/pdf/ERA_OP_heritage_policy_comments2.pdf The key authors of this draft include Michael McClelland (Principal and Co-Founder at ERA),...

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an image of leather shoes recovered from the Armoury Street excavation is superimposed on top of a Goad's Insurance Map, detailing the site area and context of Centre Avenue and Armoury Street in historic St John's Ward.

Archaeology in The Ward: A New Exhibit

by ERA Architects

...rotunda, located adjacent to both the east and west elevator bays, and will be on display through spring of 2018. Infrastructure Ontario is creating an online archive of past exhibit displays available at infrastructureontario.ca/armourystreetdig Link to the Toronto Star’s coverage: https://www.thestar.com/news/immigration/2018/01/11/new-exhibit-sheds-light-on-torontos-early-immigrant-entrepreneurship.html Related content: https://www.eraarch.ca/2015/the-ward-a-new-book-coming-2015/ https://www.eraarch.ca/2015/the-ward-a-new-book-update/ https://www.eraarch.ca/2017/coming-up-the-ward-songs-and-sounds-of-a-lost-toronto-neighbourhood/ Post by guest writer Carl Shura. All photos courtesy of ERA Architects and TMHC....

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Alois Riegl and the Modern Cult of the Monument

by admin

...of values treats the idea of the “whole”, or the integral work. Historical-value maintains that in order to be culturally meaningful a work must be returned to it’s absolute, original condition – a perfect, complete restoration. Age-value embraces the indications of decay and entropic effects of natural process of destruction. and argues for the protection and preservation of this patina,...

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People

Breaking down barriers in the landscape: Q&A with Brendan Stewart

by Alessandro Tersigni, writer & researcher

...practitioners and their approaches. A lot of that led me to ERA, as you can imagine. There was a real sense of shared interest. AT: Landscape architecture seems to be increasingly broadening and sophisticating. People tend to have at least a colloquial understanding of it in the twenty-first century. How do you see that transformation? BS: I think landscape is...

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A drone photograph of the Ken Soble Tower with Hamilton harbour in the background

Championing resiliency this Earth Day

by ERA Architects

...can help to bolster many communities’ move from resource-based to creative economies. ERA’s work with historic infrastructure to find new uses for their spaces has spurred place-based economies. At the Distillery District, we transformed a brownfield site into an arts and culture hub, driven by below-market rents for artists’ studios. Our work at Cambium Farms in Caledon has adapted a...

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Toronto the Good 2010

by ERA Architects

...Micallef Stroll: Psychogeographic Walking Tours of Toronto NFB Filmmaker-in-residence Katerina Cizek The Thousandth Tower web documentary Wednesday May 26, 2010 _ 6pm to midnight free admission to the party _ catering by David Vallee _ cash bar York Quay Centre at Harbourfront Centre 235 Queens Quay West For more information please visit: http://www.era.on.ca http://www.readings.org Save the date – further details...

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A once-popular historic Mackinac Island retreat is in the process of being restored to its former glory

by ERA Architects

...around log veranda with code-compliant replacements, and the complete re-build of the upper two storeys to match the appearance, form and materiality of the original. The project team includes: Scott Weir – Principal Brendan Stewart – Associate Sandford Riley – Project Manager Rui Felix – Landscape Designer Links to related articles: https://mynorth.com/2016/08/historic-mackinac-island-lodge-silver-birches-undergoing-renovations/ https://www.freep.com/story/travel/2016/07/09/grand-hotel-resort-hotel-mackinac/86716566/ https://savingplaces.org/stories/silver-birches-polishing-a-jewel-at-michigans-mackinac-island#.WirAvbQ-dUN Link to related blog post: https://www.eraarch.ca/2016/mission-point-resort/...

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