We are currently in-design on The Bentway Islands, a future new Bentway site located at the foot of Spadina Ave. As part of this work, we’re proud to collaborate with Brook McIlroy’s in-house Indigenous Design Studio to meaningfully place Indigenous design, landscape, and history to the space. Robert McKaye (Senior Manager, Planning and Design) had a recent exchange with Ryan Gorrie (Principal, Brook McIlroy) to discuss our ongoing work together
Robert (RM): The Bentway is thrilled to be working together with your team on the design of The Bentway Islands. To start, can you tell us more about Brook McIlroy’s Indigenous Design Studio – who you are, how do you work, and how you approach your practice?
Ryan (RG): The Indigenous Design Studio at Brook McIlroy is a specialty area of practice that focuses on supporting Indigenous practitioners in connecting with projects that seek to embed Indigeneity within the design and delivery.The studio also strives to create a collaborative environment with non-Indigenous practitioners within Brook McIlroy as well as other firms we team with.
RM: The project aims to meaningfully integrate Indigenous perspectives, narratives, and design principles into the public realm. Why is this important for cities today – particularly in shared public spaces?
RG: As many are aware the ongoing impacts of colonization has led to an erasure of Indigenous presence and identity, from scales of the individual to whole territories. While this has been acknowledged via various avenues such as the TRC and UNDRIP, the uptake varies from place to place. Public spaces offer the opportunity to render Indigenous presence visible and integral to the everyday of all who use the space. Cities are often built on places where Indigenous nations had previously settled or moved through regularly as part of their territory. It follows that the enduring presence of these nations should be part of the experience of these places within the urban context.
RM: Can you talk about your findings at the Bentway Islands site? How does the Indigenous Design Studio engage important stories and histories?
RG: Topics that have emerged from site and consultation include original shoreline, flora and fauna from the area, land acknowledgment, Indigenous nations representation/history and artist/vendor spaces. Overarching themes related to animal-human connection, plant relationships and embedding Indigenous layering throughout the site all became part of the conversations around ideas.
RM: And how might these stories and histories come to life through design?
RG: Our hope is that the layering of these stories and themes can be something that has both concentrated and dispersed manifestations. We’ve identified spaces and surfaces where these elements can have a larger impact and provide a consistent language that links the layers with Indigenous content.
RM: Are there particular design elements or ideas with The Bentway Islands project that you’re most excited to bring to life?
BMI rep: I am particularly interested in what we have come to call the ‘Nest’. It is quite a dynamic space, integrating a bridge and oval space reminiscent of a nest form. As an element that enters the site at a higher elevation, it provides the opportunity to have views both to the centre of the nest as well as out towards other parts of the islands.
RM: The project also looks to Indigenous present and futures in Tkaronto, and once complete, this site will welcome tens of thousands of visitors every year. What do you hope visitors feel, learn, or reflect on when they visit The Bentway Islands?
RG: I hope that visitors will see and feel Indigenous presence directly, they will learn more and want to find out more. I hope people will understand what it means to be in relation to people, other than human beings and the current and historical context. I hope that people will return for annual events in all seasons to see how dynamic the site and programming can be. Finally I hope that other cities will take notice and lead opportunities within their own contexts, that this might be a lasting model for bringing together various layers of culture, history and inhabitation.
