Jason Thorne

This is one of my favourites in Edmonton by gh3. We gave it an award when I was on the City’s design and architecture awards jury a few years ago. (I think it’s some sort of access shaft for a stormwater retention tank).

Great design isn’t just for iconic buildings. This is a stormwater treatment facility, but it’s nicely designed by gh3* architects!

I loved the Bridge of Flowers!

BIXI named among top 25 inventions of the past 25 years by TIME magazine TIME magazine has released a list of the top 25 inventions of the past 25 years, and Montreal's bicycle-sharing system BIXI is on it.

The iPhone … YouTube … and bike share! Montreal's bicycle-sharing system BIXI has been named among the top 25 inventions of the past 25 years by TIME magazine. cultmtl.com/2025/10/bixi...

The world’s longest rainbow path. The 600 metre “Long Walk to Equality” by artist Travis Myers at Hanlan’s Point on Toronto Island … the location of Canada’s first Pride in 1971.

Congrats to the 1st cohort of participants in “Black By Design” ... a partnership between the Black Planners and Urbanists Association & the Nia Centre for the Arts to connect Black students in design/arts to urban planning and urbanism. And shoutout to course leaders Jamilla Mohamud & Aimee Powell!

The Venn diagram of urban density and average household GHG emissions is pretty much a circle. Interesting study on “Mapping household GHG emissions in the Greater Golden Horseshoe” from the University of Toronto School of Cities schoolofcities.utoronto.ca/mapping-hous...

Tokyo at night.

Riding the Urban Monorail in Chiba, Japan … the longest suspended monorail system in the world.

When Kengo Kuma designs the Starbucks (Tokyo).

Photos of a variety of shade canopies installed on the streets, plazas, and transit hubs of Seoul.

Photos of a variety of shade canopies installed on the streets, plazas, and transit hubs of Seoul.

Photos of a variety of shade canopies installed on the streets, plazas, and transit hubs of Seoul.

Photos of a variety of shade canopies installed on the streets, plazas, and transit hubs of Seoul.

In recent summers, Seoul has been rolling out shade canopies across major streets, plazas and transit hubs to help residents cope with extreme heat. These fabric structures—sometimes shaped like trees or wings—offer pedestrians relief in a city where heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense.

“Let’s create a world that is less boring” … the Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism.

Seoullo 7017, or the “Seoul Skygarden.” One of the best examples I’ve seen of converting a former highway overpass into an elevated linear park and pedestrian walkway.

The Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain (Seoul)

will co-sign: the former site of the expressway is a really pleasant place to stroll.

A former expressway. Now a place for an evening stroll. Nighttime on the Cheonggyecheon River in Seoul.

Mullae-dong neighbourhood in Seoul … where steel and metal manufacturing mingle with fancy cafes and art galleries.

The Real Estate Diviners: Six experts wrestle with the future of Toronto’s housing crisis - Toronto Life We sat six prognosticators down and let them wrestle with Toronto’s hot-button housing issues: the affordability crisis, the multiplex conundrum, the condo...

I really enjoyed this frank and open discussion with some really smart people (about halfway through I actually forgot it was a media interview!).

torontolife.com/deep-dives/t...

Looking into the future … of the Bentway! Touring what will hopefully one day be a westward extension of the famous under-expressway trail & public space to the Ex and the new Exhibition subway station (and a sneak peak at the new 10,000 sq. ft. mural “Petal and Stone” by Cdn. artist Rebecca Munce).

I have to say, after talking to @brenttoderian.bsky.social about how to make our cities better, I've been working to reduce my short car trips (biking / taking TTC more).

Car-dependent cities are not the future.

Get our full podcast conversation here. Loved Brent's bluntness!
bio.site/ambermac

Let’s talk about procurement (no seriously, it’s a really important topic!). The Toronto Society of Architects and the Ottawa Architecture Foundation are both hosting talks on public procurement processes and how to achieve better design outcomes.

A new vision for Toronto’s neighbourhoods — welcoming back small shops and services City Council will consider zoning changes that would allow small businesses to open closer to where people live, making neighbourhoods more vibrant, walkable and connected.

“For generations, neighbourhoods across Toronto were dotted with small shops … while some community gems are still thriving today, unfortunately, over time, zoning rules have made it harder for new businesses to open. That could soon change.”
www.thestar.com/sponsored-se...

A new vision for Toronto’s neighbourhoods — welcoming back small shops and services City Council will consider zoning changes that would allow small businesses to open closer to where people live, making neighbourhoods more vibrant, walkable and connected.

“For generations, neighbourhoods across Toronto were dotted with small shops … while some community gems are still thriving today, unfortunately, over time, zoning rules have made it harder for new businesses to open. That could soon change.”
www.thestar.com/sponsored-se...

Nice new raised crosswalks on Draper Street in Toronto.

I loved the architecture boat tour of Chicago. I am extremely excited Toronto now is doing one...the next time I am in Toronto I am going to have to do it.

Big News! The Toronto Society of Architects is now doing architecture boat tours! I got to ride along for the first one this weekend. Details at torontosocietyofarchitects.ca/events/

Here visiting from US, and we love Toronto’s public spaces!

More architectural evidence that Canada does urban living well.

Now open! New waterfront boardwalk at Bayside in Toronto.