Toronto Public Space Committee

After 6 yrs, I’m stepping away from my coordinator role with the @torontopublicspace.bsky.social I want to thank everyone who has been a part of this incredible journey.

Real change happens when people come together, care for one another, and refuse to give up on a city that we all share.

Is Toronto’s public design in the toilet? The city’s plan to repair and replace 125 public washrooms is a rushed, one-size-fits-all approach that misses an opportunity to showcase design

In this spot on column, @alexbozikovic.bsky.social cites the "To the Loo!" design competition we co-sponsored. The winning design and runners up will be featured in our next issue. It would be fantastic if they ended up featured in an actual Toronto park.

www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...

Is Toronto’s public design in the toilet? The city’s plan to repair and replace 125 public washrooms is a rushed, one-size-fits-all approach that misses an opportunity to showcase design

Forget the puns: public toilets matter. Toronto is getting them wrong.

The city could miss a huge opportunity to boost its own design culture.

www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...

#IdeasAtWork

It’s back!

“JOIN US FOR THE SOMETIMES-BIENNALE BLOCK PARTY!!!

Sept 13th (rain date Sept 14th) from 2pm - 11pm

On First Ave between Broadview and Boulton. The street will be closed to vehicles.” via @jbwicz.bsky.social

Cc: @juliedabrusin.bsky.social @torontopublicspace.bsky.social

Display boards

You can check out a display of the winner + some runners up in the lower commons of 401 Richmond (by the @spacingstore.bsky.social )

Shawn Micallef: It’s a basic need. So why isn’t Toronto flush with accessible, well-designed public washrooms? The winner of a competition to design a better public washroom shows what could be done to public facilities, if the city really wanted to.

In the Star I wrote about the Toronto Public Space Committee’s public loo design competition. Winners& runners up show far better is possible here.

❤️ @torontopublicspace.bsky.social

Public space advocates push to define a new culture around washrooms Designers, architects and creative thinkers from Canada and abroad are answering nature’s call. Toronto needs more public washrooms. The Toronto Public Space Committee’s launched the To the Loo!

"Designers, architects and creative thinkers from Canada and abroad are answering nature’s call. Toronto needs more public washrooms."

Check out Met Radio's coverage of the TO the Loo! Exhibition launch held July 10 at 401 Richmond.

www.frequencynews.ca/news/public-...

Toronto toilet design challenge winners announced Two Hamilton-based architects are the winners behind a public toilet design competition that aims to highlight the importance of inclusive and sustainable restrooms.

"Two Hamilton-based architects are the winners of a public toilet design competition that aims to highlight the importance of inclusive, accessible, and sustainable restrooms."

www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/loca...

Thank you to our sponsors - WORKSHOP, Spacing, 401 Richmond, and the Ontario Association of Architects

A BIG thanks to the organizing team - Allison Yan, Car Martin / Cyan Station, Cara Chellew, David Simor, Holli Butrimas, Jessie Ye, Ramsey Leung, and Raphaella Alev Valeri

Photos: Dan Seljak

Thank you to our fantastic jury - Naomi Adiv, Elaine Chau, Nyasha Harper-Michon, Hannah Leyland, Reza Nik, Christopher Pandolfi, and Taylor Stocks (who could not make it).

Folks also voted on a People's Choice award at our exhibition launch a few weeks ago, which went to Nitesh Salwan and Lauren Randall for "In Passing"

You can see all these submissions and more at the TO the Loo! Exhibition running until August 30 at 401 Richmond

Runners up include Matt Hagen from YIMBY studio for "Loopty Loo" (in photo) and from the UK, Hugh Broughton Architects for "The Toronto Toilet"

Best overall design was awarded to Alea Reid and Petra Matar from Design Partners in Architecture and Interiors (DPAI) for "Mycomorph"

A big thank you to everyone who participated in the TO the Loo! Toronto Toilet Design Challenge. We received so many thoughtful and creative submissions.

Check out the winners and selected entries at the TO the Loo! Exhibition running until August 30 at 401 Richmond.

Petra Matar and Alea Reid represented DPAI so well at the TO The Loo! Design Competition last week, bringing a first place trophy back to the office!

We’re grateful to contribute to such an important conversation about access, dignity, and public space.

@torontopublicspace.bsky.social

Metro Morning with David Common | Live Radio | CBC Listen CBC Radio's Metro Morning keeps listeners informed about what's going on in Toronto and offers listeners an optimistic, sometimes humorous view of the world, together with the day's more serious news....

Our TO the Loo! Toronto Toilet Design Challenge winners Alea Reid and Petra Matar from DPAI were featured on CBC's Metro Morning. Have a listen!

www.cbc.ca/listen/live-...

New Exhibition Flush with Public Washroom Ideas - Spacing Toronto Modular toilets inspired by mushrooms? A place to go where you can also grab an espresso? Multicolour toilets that become landmarks in your neighbourhood? We recently asked designers and creative peop...

The TO the Loo! Toronto Toilet Design Challenge exhibition from the Toronto Public Space Committe reveals innovative solutions for Toronto. @carachellew.bsky.social and Car Martin discuss the new exhibition flush with public washroom ideas. spacing.ca/toronto/2025...

New Exhibition Flush with Public Washroom Ideas - Spacing Toronto Modular toilets inspired by mushrooms? A place to go where you can also grab an espresso? Multicolour toilets that become landmarks in your neighbourhood? We recently asked designers and creative peop...

Please join us for the TO the Loo! Toronto Toilet Design Challenge Exhibition! It runs from July 11-Aug 30 at 401 Richmond (Peter + Richmond entrance).

Everyone is welcome!

spacing.ca/toronto/2025...

Thank you to our sponsors!

Our final TO the Loo! jury member is Naomi Adiv (she/her).

Naomi is a professor and multi-disciplinary urbanist . Her research interests include urban swimming and bathing, the politics of public space, and the infrastructure of play in cities.

Welcome Naomi!

Introducing our next TO the Loo! jury member:

Reza Nik (he/they) is a licensed architect, artist, educator and community builder in Toronto. He is the founding director of SHEEEP and is an Assistant Professor in the Teaching Stream at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Architecture.

Introducing our next TO the Loo! jury member:

Meet Hannah Leyland (she/her), an architect and managing principal at Leyland Architecture Inc.

She worked on the “The Safer Bathroom Toolkit”, sponsored by University of Victoria and Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research.

Introducing Chris Pandolfi to our jury for the TO the Loo! Toronto Toilet Design Challenge.

Chris (he/him) is a designer and educator with a background in urban planning and design.

Find out more: www.publicspace.ca/competition/...

Washroom PSA YouTube video by Dr. Androbox

Washroom PSA:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5JD...

Introducing our next jury member for TO the Loo! Toronto Toilet Design Challenge:

Meet Taylor Stocks (they/he), an artist, activist, and researcher who recently released a washroom PSA under his drag king alter ego Dr. Androbox.

Great to see the Globe and Mail highlight the Toronto Public Space Committee's public toilet design contest. We will be featuring the winner in our fall issue.

TO the Loo! Design Competition The Toronto Public Space Committee is launching a global design competition to imagine the future of public washrooms. We invite you to propose design solutions for inclusive, innovative public washro...

We're excited to introduce our next jury member for TO the Loo!

Meet Nyasha Harper-Michon, an ‘Archtivist’ whose work centers on building equitable, resilient, and regenerative cities through sustainable urban development, leadership, and community-planning.

www.publicspace.ca/competition

Photo of Elaine Chau

We’re excited to announce our superstar jury for the TO the Loo! Toronto Toilet Design Challenge. Stay tuned to meet them all this week…

Introducing Elaine Chau who joins us from our Sponsor WORKSHOP Architecture.

Find out more about the competition here: www.publicspace.ca/competition

RapidTO: Surface Transit Network Plan The RapidTO: Surface Transit Network Plan is guiding the study, evaluation and delivery of bus and streetcar improvement projects in Toronto. Through this program, the City of Toronto and Toronto Tran...

Just for a friendly reminder, TODAY is your last day to complete surveys to show your support for #TTC #RapidTO bus priority lanes on Dufferin and Bathurst. Especially considering opposition has been brewing for both projects. #TOpoli www.toronto.ca/services-pay...