Ravine forecourt, Toronto
Plant Architect, Toronto

A renovated 1920s six-unit building is the only apartment building on a street of houses in Toronto. Plant Architect was asked to redesign the site, providing eight parking spots, a pedestrian approach, a garbage and recycling area, signage, and a garden that would look appealing from the street, from above and from the public ravine in the back of the building. The all-native planting involves 50 trees, 27 shrubs, 100 grasses, 85 ferns, 540 woodland perennials and ground covers. Storm water is collected in granite chip troughs behind each stone parking curb and directed to three deep black granite chip troughs. Garbage and recycling are concealed in a cedar and copper box displaying the street address.

DESIGN TEAM: LISA RAPOPORT, CHRIS POMMER, MARY TREMAIN AND DAN KRONBY.

Sir Daniel Wilson Walk, Toronto
Elias + Associates Landscape Architects, Toronto

A nondescript passage connecting St. George Street to the main campus of the University of Toronto in the city's midtown core was redesigned and framed with birch trees. Elias + Associates used the patterns and textures of new paving materials to slow bicycle traffic and encourage pedestrian use. Curbs, walls and planters that once cluttered the walkway were removed, leaving a pleasant path under the birches.

DESIGN TEAM: INA ELIAS, BO HAI AND RONG HUI LI.