New Narratives in Design: Salvage, Reuse, and Toronto’s Evolving Aesthetic
Jan 25
Feb 02 2025
exhibition in-person
See Details
Free
Jan 25, 2025
6:00pm 9:00pm
RSVP
Please email the organizer to reserve your tickets:
Open Mail or Copy Email
1468 Dundas Street West, 2nd & 3rd floors, Toronto
Jan 24Fri Closed
Jan 25Sat 6:00pm 9:00pm
Jan 26Sun 10:00am 5:00pm
Jan 27Mon Closed
Jan 28Tue Closed
Jan 29Wed 1:00pm 5:00pm
Jan 30Thu 1:00pm 7:00pm
Jan 31Fri 1:00pm 7:00pm
Feb 01Sat 10:00am 5:00pm
Feb 02Sun 1:00pm 5:00pm

This exhibition invites visitors to explore a new vision for Toronto—a city whose architecture and design can honour its past while building a more sustainable future. Created by a collective of architects, designers, and makers, the showcase centres around one critical question: What is Toronto’s new building and design aesthetic when seen through the lens of material salvage, reuse, and the circular economy?

As Toronto undergoes rapid growth, with renovations and new construction reshaping its urban landscape, there is a unique opportunity to advocate for reusing materials as an intentional choice, blending sustainability with aesthetics. Through thoughtfully curated objects and spaces, this exhibit presents real examples of material reuse in practice, from construction and interior design to furniture and lighting. Each piece tells a story, transforming remnants of the past into enduring elements of the city’s evolving identity.

The exhibit is made up of two venues: a exhibit of objects crafted by local designers and artisans, as well as a local renovation project, whose construction trajectory included deconstruction, salvage, and reuse within its interiors. We encourage people to visit both venues, for a full understanding of what salvage and reuse make possible, and be inspired to rethink what Toronto’s spaces could be when built on the foundation of creativity, responsibility, and respect for the resources we already have.

Renovation Tours

Tour slots are now full, please email Nicky ([email protected]) to get added to the waitlist.

There will be tours of the Little Portugal renovation project (closest intersection is Dundas and Lisgar), given by the Architect and some of the deconstruction and construction team.

– Sunday, January 26 from 10-11am and 2-3pm – TOUR SLOTS ARE NOW FULL

– Saturday, February 1 from 12:30-1:30pm and 3-4pm – TOUR SLOTS ARE NOW FULL

Participants

Amanda Large (doublespace photography), Arcana Materials Co., Claudia Zloteanu, Coolican & Company, Daniel Gruetter Furniture & Objects, DESIGNwith, Desire Line Design, Goji Studio, Joel Galenkamp, Joshua Four, Made Design, Max Perry & Berlin Pang, Ouroboros Deconstruction, Plural Projects, Poor Man’s Oak, Studio Rat

Accessibility

Who should visitors contact with questions regarding accessibility?
Nicky Bruun-Meyer
Can people get to the venue using accessible transit?
Yes
Photo of reused structural lumber
Photo by Ouroboros Deconstruction
Photo of cabinet made from salvaged floor joists
Photo by Daniel Gruetter Furniture and Objects
Photo of salvaged and reused wooden doors
Photo by Plural Projects
Photo of an ornate ceiling medalion and chandelier
Photo by Amanda Large (Doublespace Photography)