IIDEXCanada, Toronto, 2014

(These images and cutlines, and a much longer feature story, were published in Officeinsight.) IIDEXCanada, to use the updated moniker of Canada’s largest design expo and conference, had a new look and feel this year. It co-located with Construct Canada and seven related events—PM Expo, DesignTrends, HomeBuilder & Renovator Expo, Concrete Canada, The Toronto Real Estate Forum, Construct International, and National GreenBuilding Conference—to create the Buildings Show. The new umbrella brand is billed as North America’s largest annual exposition, networking and educational event focusing on the design, construction and management of real estate. The mega-show featured 1,600 exhibits and 350 seminars and demonstrations. The new setting, the Metro Toronto Convention Centre North Building is one of my favourite convention venues, thanks to the glazed façade. This admits daylight in and impressive views out, across the street to the Canadian Broadcasting Centre, designed by Philip Johnson and John Burgee; and the Ritz-Carlton Toronto, designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox, which in turn flank tiny Simcoe Park and its untitled stacked aluminum sculpture, evoking a topographical map of a mountain range, by Anish Kapoor. In other words, as soon as the convention-goer starts to feel bleary eyed from all that sodium-vapor (or whatever it is) arena lighting, the sight of buzzing urbanity, not to mention natural light, acts as a tonic. By way of contrast, most congress centres are located on the inconvenient edges of a big city, not in the beating heart, and most show floors are black boxes. CUTLINES: Ralph Russo, President of Toronto-based Amoire at his booth. Acoustics With Design booth and marketing director Janine Gliener. The booth of Eurofase Lighting, based in Richmond Hill, Ont. At the Ontario Wood booth, Lars Dressler of the identical-twin designers Brothers Dressler, based in Toronto, showing off his Mesh Screen Nook. At IIDEX Woodshop, the Varn Hedron lamp by Mike Sharpe and the Cradle Bench by Kevin Armouor are made of salvaged Toronto ashwood. A suspended, upside-down canoe sanctifies the Ontario Wood booth. The Interface booth. Tom Bernard, President and CEO Of Toronto-based Octopus Product,s in front of his booth’s OctoTerra panels. Swipe bookstore. Gispen president Peter Veer at his firm’s Gold IIDEX-winning Lounge workstation. Detail of the humorous coat-hook accessory atop the frame of Gispen’s Lounge workstation. At the Keilhauer Keynote Theatre Stage, Enroute (Air Canada’s inflight mag) editor Ilana Weitzman interviews design star David Rockwell. Northern Wide Plank, Toronto. Weavers Art, Toronto. Views across the show floor. Metro Toronto Convention Centre North Building façade and the adjacent CN Tower. IXXCXCXCXCX IDS 2013 (Several of the following images were published in Canadian Interiors.) Every year, upward of 50,000 design professionals and mavens attend the Interior Design Show at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. With its eclectic mix of exhibitors, from multinational giants to fledgling arty ateliers, the show floor always offers something new and interesting just around the corner. CUTLINES: Felt Store, Mississauga. Torp, Toronto. Studio One, Mississauga. At “How Do You Work?,” designers, including Blacklab Architects, Dubbeldam Architecture + Design, Igloodgn, and Joel Loblaw, interpreted the concept of a workspace. Tony Round, Andrea Kordos, Sarah Knight and Joe Knight, Principals at Blacklab Architects, Toronto, in front of their Op Art-like booth; visitors to their booth. Heather Dubbledam, Principal, Dubbeldam Architecture + Design, Toronto, right, in her booth with staff members. At the booth of On Wall Solutions, Concord, Ont., Gav Givon, VP operations, and Ron Binder, owner. Detail views at the booth of Canaroma, Concord, Ont. The booth of Para Paints, Brampton, Ont., was a standout. At the Canadian Interiors booth: Lisa Zambri, Art Director; Martin Spreer, Publisher; Michael Totzke, Editor; Beata Olechnowicz, Circulation Manager; and Tom Arkell, Senior Publisher. Stylegarage, Toronto, lounge area. Kindly be seated: Ralph Montemurro, President, and John Tokatlidis, Monte Design Group, Toronto. Inside and out at the booth of Indianapolis-based Brizo. Colorful stories: Ian Callaghan, sales rep, Benjamin Moore, Concord, Ont. Roman Cholasta and Maryse Fafard, co-owners, Interior Elements, Toronto, at their booth. The booth of Living Lighting, Toronto. Display wall at the Krups booth. Detail view of the Jenn-Air booth. Porter & Charles signage at the booth of Euro-Line Appliances, Oakville, Ont. Interior designer Brian Gluckstein, Principal, Gluckstein Design Planning, Toronto and creator of the Gluckstein Home brand of home furnishings; and Mark Challen, Vice-President Communications, Canadian House and Home, Toronto. At the booth of Eurolite, Toronto: Tricia Besserer, showroom sales; Charles Lyall, chief creative director; and Rohan Periana, sales. At the trompe l’oeil-themed booth of Igloo-DGN, Montreal, partners Anna Abbruzzo and Alain Courchesne. David Rakowski, owner, Hi-Lo Investments, Toronto; his printmaker wife, Shanea; Shauna Levy, President, Design Exchange; her daughter, Jaya Vos; her father, Steven Levy, president, Informa Canada, Toronto, owner of the Interior Design Show, which he and Shauna created in 1998); and Michelle De Los Santos, director, treasury and risk management, CIBC. At the booth of GE Monogram, Toronto: Industrial designer Davide Tonizzo of Design D, Toronto, in the booth of Buhler Furniture, Winnipeg. The booth of Weavers Art, Toronto, and owner Michael Pourvakil. The booth of Satin Finish Hardwood Flooring, Toronto.