3XN's winning design for Toronto waterfront condos honors the waves

Danish firm 3XN has just been awarded their second project as part of the Bayside development on Toronto’s waterfront. Headed by real estate developer Tridel, the $1.1 billion dollar (CAD) redevelopment of the 13-acre former industrial site seeks to establish a vertical neighborhood along Lake Ontario.

Announced April of last year, the first project for the site designed by 3XN is for Aquabella, a stepped L-shaped residential condominium building. Following that win, 3XN has yet again been tapped for the site, winning their second competition to design another condominium complex located next to the first. 

Similar to their first project, the design here seeks to maximize waterfront views from each unit. With a playful façade reflecting the waves of the nearby lake, the building steps back on higher floors allowing for a large percentage of suites to benefit from spacious terraces. The overall shape of the building has two high points and a valley in-between, where shared amenities will be concentrated.

According to the firm, "the unique aspects of the site constraints have been the primary driver behind the building design, massing, and terraces strategy. In anticipation of the DRP and City Approvals process, the building is positioned to be a good neighbor to the surrounding, respecting its views and sightlines."

Titled Waves, the condominium will be located on edge of the recently announced smart community project, Quayside, driven by Alphabet's subsidiary Sidewalk Labs. When completed, the Bayside development along with Quayside will span the entire 800-acre waterfront area, both incorporating high-tech systems to help solve current urban issues and improve quality of life. 

Project facts
Project name: Waves at Bayside
Location: Toronto, Canada
Typology: Residential, Retail, Community Space
Size: 40 000 m2
Height: 60 m

Credits
Architect: 3XN
Team: Kim Herforth Nielsen, Audun Opdal,  Marie Hesseldahl Larsen, Oskar Nordstrom, Marc-Antoine Chartier Primeau, Frank Muller, Dora Lin Jiabao, Andrew Le, Zi Shin Low, Sang Yeun Lee, Aleksandre Andghuladze
Client: Tridel/Hines
Executive architect: Kirkor Architetcs

Timeline
Construction Start: 2019
Expected completion: 2022