June 11 is shaping up to be a very busy day as the design community kicks off summer with a string of social events showcasing new offices, relocated showrooms and one-night-only installations. Below, three soirées we’re looking forward to this Thursday – plus five more to watch out for next week.
June 11:
FOLD Open House
11 Watkinson Avenue, 5-8pm
Architect Vanessa Fong and industrial designer Ryan Taylor launched a new communal workspace, FOLD, in the Junction last month. Independent design pros seeking somewhere to set up shop can work alongside the duo in an airy, two-storey office renovated by Fong (look for smart details like radiant heated floors, a colourful resource library upstairs and an atrium filled with Taylor’s Babylon lights-slash-planters. A monthly membership buys access to a substantial workstation that offers the kind of space required by design projects. Given their complementary skill sets, don’t be surprised if the building’s tenants team up on a few killer collaborative projects down the road.
Open to members of the industry by RSVP, FOLD’s grand opening will feature art by Thrush Holmes, fries by Jamie Kennedy and an assortment of Bacardi cocktails. An open house will also be held from 12-5 pm for those considering renting a spot, or just curious to see a hip office environment.
Design Within Reach Grand Opening Party
214 King St E, 6-9pm
Design Within Reach fêtes its new digs in the historic King East Design District. Highlights include a gigantic fabric swatch wall and enchanting “light clouds” that bundle 150 hanging light fixtures together above the two-level studio’s staircase. On the floor, the relocated retailer’s latest arrivals include exclusive storage units by seasoned Danish designer Jens Risom, created in collaboration with American up-and-comer Chris Hardy. Billed as a torch passing of sorts, the collection of cabinets, armoires, dressers and credenzas updates Risom’s classic mid-century style walnut and oak pieces with modern brass details.
David Dick-Agnew, senior editor of our sister publication Azure, will lead a Q&A with Hardy, DWR CEO John Edelman and DWR Director of Merchandising Noah Schwarz. The talk will be followed by drinks, hors d’oeuvres, and the showroom’s official ribbon-cutting.
3DXL Mixer
363 King St W, 7-10pm
A one-night-only addition to Design Exchange’s 3DXL exhibition, this multi-coloured sculpture is the brainchild of the tech-savvy designers behind Hot Pop Factory. Using custom-built software, the local studio realized a blob-like shape from 76 laser-cut, vibrantly-hued plywood pieces that were slotted together to 3-D effect. (For more on the piece’s making-of story, be sure to check out Hot Pop’s in-depth blog post). In the future, the collective hopes to use the same process to create functional furniture designs.
Named Blush Whale, the piece will be on display during Thursday night’s 3DXL mixer, joined by 3-D printed portraits by Techknight, a machine designed to recycle 3-D-printed objects and other pop-up projects by such creative local studios as Protocycler and Matter and Form. The evening will include refreshments by Absolut, Sultan of Samosas and Sanremo Bakery. Tickets are $25.
5 Upcoming Events, Happening Next Week:
AZ Awards Gala
550 Bayview Avenue, June 19, 6-10pm
Now in its fifth year, Azure‘s annual gala recognizes the very best in international architecture, interiors and product design. Mix and mingle with this year’s trophy designer Karim Rashid and the team from local architecture firm DTAH, who designed the evening’s feature installation. An $80 ticket includes food, drink, a swag bag and a one-year subscription to the magazine.
Queens Quay Ribbon-Cutting
Simcoe Wavedeck (west of Simcoe Street on the south side of Queens Quay), June 19, 6-7pm
Celebrate the official opening of the new Queens Quay with a ribbon-cutting ceremony like no other. A 650-metre-long ribbon will run from York Street to HTO Park, waved by hundreds of volunteers to mimic the lake’s hypnotic ripples.
Power Plant Summer Opening Party
231 Queens Quay W, June 19, 8pm
Check out the Power Plant’s latest shows at the contemporary art gallery’s free summer kickoff party. This season’s exhibitions, including works by collectives Bik Van der Pol and YES! Association/Föreningen JA!, respond to everything from globalization’s impact on the environment to Canada’s new sex trade law, Bill C-36.
Luminato Launch
55 John St, June 19, 7-10pm
The opening night of this 10-day-long art fest is packed with programming. Head to David Pecaut Square for a garden party held in the lush festival headquarters pop-up, designed by landscape architect Janet Rosenberg and featuring a spectacular light installation by Brazilian artist Regina Silveira.
The Stop’s Night Market
18 Sterling Rd, June 16-17, 7-11pm
Kick off patio season with the ultimate outdoor feast. More than 70 chefs from top city restaurants – including Momofuku, the Harbord Room, Richmond Station and more – serve food and cocktails from custom carts built by local designers like the Brothers Dressler, Teeple Architects and the Art Gallery of Toronto team. Best of all, the event’s for a good cause: money raised supports the Stop Community Food Centre, which works to improve access to healthy food.
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