King's Court is a proposal for a community center at the intersection of King St. West and Dufferin St. in downtown Toronto. This diverse community includes people of different ages, races, cultures and income levels.  This particular neighborhood is at risk of gentrification. As opposed to gentrifying the neighborhood, this proposed community center is designed to bring together locals with its easily accessible building, vast exterior green space, and several free activities!

 

The architectural design of the community center is composed of 3 building materials: brick, copper, and glass. The selected materials represent the past (brick), draws attention to the present (copper) and embraces the future (glass). The site was once an Industrial district filled with masonry factories. Two of the early factories surrounding the site were a carpet factory (south side of King St. West) and a groundbreaking metallic roofing company (on the north side). Brick on the facade pays homage to the district's historical past. Juxtaposing the brick is the contemporary curtain wall (of floor to ceiling glass) representing the future of this space. Crowning the community center is a metallic copper dome. The dome at first appears to be shiny, new and invasive, but as it oxidizes it starts to meld into its surroundings. The transformation of copper shifts the perception of the space from one of affluence to a softer green community space for all.