What does "play" in design mean to you? As an antidote to the slow and steady work of upgrading Toronto's housing stock. Cyan has been exploring 'play' and 'fun' through a community engaged art project with  @moicagq and @al.fergani and @camibencosme. Sneak preview! we think we could all use a little levity. Stay tuned for details.... thanks @laynemarley for the bang up powerpoint ;) Image Description: 1. Poster with black text on an abstract colorful background saying, "What does 'play' in design mean to you?" #cyanstation #carmartin #introspective #architecturalmusing #playindesign #playfuldesign #torontoarchitect #torontoartist #homes #communityspaces #kaleidoscope #sneakpeak👀 #communityengagement #communityart #designplay #torontohousingmarket #torontohousingcrisis #torontohousing #collaborativedesign #collaborativearchitecture #collaborativeart #glitchyart #levity #designershavingfun #designquestion #philosophyquestions #fundesigns #designfun #designfundamentals https://www.instagram.com/p/CniQC2jJIQj/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

❄️ Sketching storm! Thinking of warmth in this polar vortex / winter blast. Concept sketch for an exciting new project in a sunny place 😎. Stay tuned Image Description: 1. Sketch of a two-floor house over a green-toned photo, with a stairway leading to a partial wrap-around porch, some rectangular windows, and a balcony with a tree #cyanstation #carmartin #torontoarchitects #sketching #brainstorming #architect #illustraarch #photoillustration #torontoartistsoninstagram #torontoartistsofinstagram #torontohousing #housedrawing #housedrawings #housesketches #treebalcony #balconytree #conceptsketch #architectureconcept #architectureconceptsketch #architectureconcepts #newproject #newsketch #drawinginside #polarvortex #stayingwarmandcozy #drawinginside #drawingathome #torontosketch https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn5K9abPw22/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Flemingdon Pavilion | Collab with TCAT & Dalla Llana School of Public Health with Steve Campos (2016) The temporary pavilion explored participatory design for public landmarks in mid-century apartment neighbourhoods lacking 'centres.' It was a multidisciplinary collab between The Centre for Active Transportation (TCAT, Nancy Smith Lea) and Dalla Llana School of Public Health, with Car Martin as a co-design consultant, and action-research led by Dr. Suzanne Jackson. With Flemingdon Park being a popular first home for many new Canadians, the pavilion co-design participants drew on their memories of public landmarks from many past homes (the colors, materials, form) while the large Flemingdon sign and combined seating borrowed from the popular ‘Toronto’ sign at Nathan Phillips Square in Downtown Toronto. Image Description: 1. Photo of two people sitting in plastic chairs in front of a colorful wooden pavilion on the grass with parts that look like green tropical leaves and with metal hardware. #cyanstation #torontopublicart #torontoartinstallation #carmartin #temporaryart #modularart #modularartworks #artcollab #artcollaboration #torontoart #torontoartistsoninstagram #torontoarchitects #torontodesigner #interactiveart #communityspaces #modularworks #interactiveartinstallation #collaborativeart #pavilion #publiclandmarks #torontopavilion #flemingdonpark #flemingdonpavilion #citycouncillor #supportlocalbusiness #codesign #participatorydesign @car_martin @markhamcycles @uoft_dlsph @otsi.projects (at Flemingdon Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cja2dFCgREg/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Simcoe Cycles Display | North American Bicycle Tradeshow (2015) Looking back at a fave little project.... This modular booth showcased a Toronto-based bicycle company at the North American Bicycle Tradeshow in Las Vegas, NV. Simcoe Cycles makes vintage-inspired bikes for urban riding. Through warm materials and 'living-room' seating, the booth created a welcome feel in contrast to a sea of performance-oriented brands. We love how city biking has taken off in the last few years! Image Description: 1. Photo of a booth with a wooden backdrop with text that says, "Simcoe: Through this ride, freedom" and colorful triangles, a row of bicycles, rounded plywood seating #cyanstation #carmartin #citybikes #bikelove #modular #exhibition #plywood #plywoodfurniture #bicycletradeshow #tradeshows #lasvegasbikelife #torontobikelife #torontobicycle #bikinglife #simcoecycling #torontoarchitect #torontodesign #vintagebike #vintageinspired #vintageinspiredbicycles #vintageinspireddesign #modularbooth #urbanriding #urbancycling #urbanbiking #balticbirchplywood #catalogues #seatingarea #cyclingbusiness #modularseating @car_martin @cyclesimcoe @curbsidecycle @otsi.projects (at Las Vegas, Nevada) https://www.instagram.com/p/CjTCsVrgXX6/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Portable Park Bench | Public Space with Steve Campos (2012) Looking back at a fave project from LA, a local business owner commissioned this prototype in response to a lack of public seating in an adjacent park. Architect Car Martin and LA metalworker Steve Campos of Steel Fabricated Arts collaborated on this bench with three collapsible sections made of rectangular tubing that can easily seat 3-4 people or be rolled away. The bench can create space in parks, sidewalks, squares -- anywhere. It might be time to make more... Video Description: 1. Photo of actual bench (you can decide which one you prefer) #cyanstation #torontopublicart #torontoartinstallation #carmartin #losangelesart #losangelesartists #temporaryart #modularart #modularartworks #artcollab #artcollaboration #torontoart #torontoartistsoninstagram #torontoarchitects #torontodesigner #interactiveart #communityspaces #modularworks #interactiveartinstallation #collaborativeart #rectangulartubing #metalworker #lametalworking #losangelesmetalworking #collapsiblebench #modularbench #publicbench #publicseating #publicspaces #publicspacedesign @steel_fabricated_arts @steve_campos @car_martin @flyingpigeonla (at Los Angeles, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CivOKXvP1MD/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Invasive Species | Public Installation with Steve Campos (2019)  Time is lost & found. In the middle of a site in slow transition, this sculpture from 'the before times' has become a community message board. What do lost/found objects have to say? With steel spiral bars, light, and the peculiar surrounding lands of the LA River, what tales and memories grow and speculate?  Image Description: 1. Photo of an art installation, closeup of the spiral steel bars and dotted grid with the background blurred of plants and dirt roads  2. Photo of an art installation that is a community message board made of spiral steel bars that's been painted -- nearby stands a dog  #cyanstation #torontopublicart #torontoartinstallation #carmartin #losangelesart #losangelesartists #temporaryart #modularart #modularartworks #artcollab #artcollaboration #torontoart #torontoartistsoninstagram #torontoarchitects #torontodesigner #interactiveart #communityspaces #communitymessageboard #invasivespecies #foundobjects #foundmaterials #interactiveartinstallation #collaborativeart #artcollabs #communitymessages #losangelesarchitecture #artdogs #steelspiral #steelart #steelartist @steel_fabricated_arts @steve_campos  (at Los Angeles, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cic4sx6gro_/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Junkyard Biosphere | Future Transformations  Previously an auto wrecking yard and used tire lot for 50+ years, this site has pockets of heavy metals & petroleum hydrocarbons, plus heaps of tires, car parts, & industrial debris. The junkyard abuts the Niagara Escarpment, a UNESCO biosphere reserve. This feasibility study explores rehabilitation & development of the site.The preliminary proposal shrinks the wrecking yard, and removes hot spots of contamination. It carves out space for a retirement home, provides a new access point and parking for the Bruce Trail, and grows a re-naturalized buffer zone using bioremediation and phytoremediation methods. Image Description: 1. Drone video going over a site with a lot of trailers and car parts next to a wetland sanctuary. Video credit @simonrabyniuk 2. Video of a plan drawing of the site with trees being added. Illustration credit  @guilherme.baldessin #carmartin #cyanstation #architecture #autowreckingyard #wreckingyard #carlot #wetland #brucetrailconservancy #niagaraescarpment #remediation #phytoremediation #decontamination #feasibilitystudy #dronefootage #sitevisit #dronesitevisit #bufferspace #publictrail #publicparking #siteproposal #plandrawing #architecturegif #illustraarch #torontoarchitects #symbiosis #siteremediation #publictrails #dronevideos #architecturedrone #architectureproposal https://www.instagram.com/p/ChU9Ex7LkKT/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Salvage Love | Co-habitation, natural light, green urban oasis Severely structurally compromised, this 100 year-old semi-detached home was revived with a new foundation, extensive interior renovations and an addition with a bedroom and studio in the back. Designed for 2 adult friends, the home provides individual private spaces & a shared office/studio with ample natural light. The front porch, the two backyard decks, and the siding's green gradient encourage time in the gardens that will grow into an urban oasis (ongoing collab with resident arborist @mhs_party) Nearing completion! Stay tuned for updates 😀 Image Description: 1. Photo of a window with plants in a house with green-gradient siding (may switch this around with 2) 2. Render of a semi-detached house 3. Render of a semi-detached house #cyanstation #carmartin #architecture #fabrication #renovation #greenoasis #urbanoasis #urbangardens #salvagehome #arboristhome #homereno #homerenovation #semidetachedhome #customarchitecture #architecturefacades #cohabitation #sharedstudio #sharedoffice #workingfromhome #wfhlifestyle #naturallight #hundredyearoldhome #homegardens #arboristdream #cottagecore #homegoals #homeownergoals #architecturefirm #collaborativedesign #livingwithfriends (at Toronto, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/CgUlFQ1AA_y/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=