INDUSTRIAL DESIGN / STUDENT PROJECT
Riverside Bike Ring
A bike ring designed for the Riverside District in Toronto. The design is based on the sweeping curves of the Don River that were straightened in 1886.
DESIGN PROCESS VIDEO
The Brief
The City of Toronto in partnership with the Riverside District BIA, commissioned first-year OCAD Industrial Design students to design a new bike ring to be installed in various points across the Riverside neighbourhood.
Research
SITE VISIT
To start my research process, I first immersed myself in the neighbourhood. I spent hours exploring Riverside, soaking in its unique characteristics.
What I found was that, the area is a treasure trove of public art, from architectural installations to vibrant murals and sculptures celebrating local wildlife and history. Even the sidewalks tell a story, with curving blue tiles that represent the Don River.
At the entrance into Riverside, I was struck by Eldon Garnet’s poignant words embedded into the bridge: “This river I step in is not the river I stand in.” This powerful reflection on change and constancy, echoing the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus, became the basis for my design concept.
CORTEN STEEL
Our brief specified the use of 3/4” Corten Steel - a material with a striking rust-like patina that changes over time while maintaining incredible durability. This characteristic alone seemed to embody the themes of change and permanence I was exploring.
DON RIVER STRAIGHTENING
Digging deeper into local history, I uncovered a fascinating fact: the Don River, now largely straight in the downtown area, once meandered freely through the landscape. This transformation that started in the 1886, struck me as a perfect metaphor for the neighbourhood’s evolution.
Concept Development
I came up with the idea to design a series of bike rings that traced the Don River’s original course. Each ring would capture a unique bend or section of the river before its straightening, connecting cyclists and pedestrians to a little-known piece of Toronto’s history.
Sketching & Prototyping
I began to sketch, experimenting with different ways to depict the river and different shapes and forms. I also prototyped some small scale models using a laser cutter and acrylic to get a sense of its three dimensionality.
Final Designs
I finally landed on six different designs within this frame, reminiscent of a sideways location pin - a nod to both place and purpose. Within each frame, are different sections of river’s forgotten curves using varying line weights. The tops of each bike ring have the writing “River Don Pre-1886” engraved into it to serve as a clue to pedestrians that the current Don River is not the same as it once was.
