la sombra que te cobija / the shadow that shelters you

Edra Soto

Part of Sun/Shade
Project Render

A geometric pavilion invites you to cross under the Gardiner, casting both a cooling effect and ornate shadow patterns. Edra Soto’s installation references the shade-making façades of working-class Puerto Rican bungalows to create an expansive, sun-filtering threshold, reflecting on the intersection of heat-responsive architecture, place-making, and cultural heritage. 

In warm climates, architectural forms and strategies have adapted to withstand the sun’s intensity, resulting in structures and systems that provide relief from the heat while embracing light and airflow. The brise-soleil is a building feature popularized in modern design that reduces heat gain—increases in temperature caused by solar radiation absorbed through building materials such as glass and concrete. These breathable facades filter sunlight and provide ventilation to make living spaces more comfortable.  

Puerto Rican-born artist Edra Soto (Chicago, USA) draws inspiration from the brise-soleil tradition in her latest sculptural commission, la sombra que te cobija / the shadow that shelters you.  Specifically, Soto recalls residential architecture and wrought iron screens, commonly known as rejas, that are frequently installed outside of homes and front entryways across Puerto Rico. These screens are adorned with decorative motifs that define the island’s visual identity. Their geometric patterns are often transplanted from West African Adinkra symbols and Yoruba iconography.  The inverted triangular “la sombra que te cobija” pattern aligns with mframadan, an Adinkra symbol that means “wind-resistant house.” This symbol amplifies a message of fortitude and readiness to face life’s challenges.  

At The Bentway, Soto’s installation transforms the façade of a working-class Puerto Rican bungalow into an expansive, sun-filtering threshold that welcomes visitors as they cross beneath the Gardiner Expressway. The rejas’ function as a device for heat protection morphs the surrounding area into a comfortable space for communal gathering. The reimagined brise-soleil not only provides shelter from the intense summer heat, it also invites visitors to navigate circular relationships between heat-responsive architecture and cultural heritage. 

What to expect: 

  • A large-scale sculptural installation featuring intricate patterns that resemble decorative wrought iron screens, known as rejas, commonly found across Puerto Rico.  
  • The installation is wheelchair accessible. 
  • All-gender and accessible washrooms available on-site. Please visit The Bentway’s homepage for current washroom opening hours.
  • Benches are nearby for those that require seating.

collaborators

project team

Commissioned by The Bentway

Sun-safety partner
David Cornfield Melanoma Fund

Supported by
Balsam Foundation
City of Toronto
TD Bank Group
and The Bentway’s growing family of friends and supporters

With help from partners at
Save Your Skin Foundation

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