This Saturday, the King East Design District will be holding its first, and what it hopes to be its annual, 3D Parti.
“Parti is an architectural sketch,”says Al Smith, executive director of the St. Lawrence Business Improvement Area. “The word itself ‘Parti’ comes from the French
prendre parti meaning “to make a decision” and is often referred to as ‘the big idea’ behind an architect’s design.
The event is so-named as a clever play on the term – the festival underlying ‘big idea’ or ‘parti’ - King East’s distinct design-rich identity and culture - will be showcase in ‘3D’ to the public throughout the festival.”
Though the street will not be closed, there will be 15 installations, including a 10 foot by 10 foot semi-permanent piece at King and Berkeley at
Klaus by
Thrush Holmes. Miami artist
TYPOE will be showing his work in Canada for the first time at
bulthaup at King and Ontario.
“King East has long had a distinct design-rich culture worth celebrating,” Smith says, “not only for its plethora of design stores, but also the deep-rooted design knowledge and global connections of its showroom owners. All these components give KEDD an individual culture that one would be hard-pressed to find anywhere else in the city. 3D Parti will be a platform to showcase the neighbourhood as an epicentre of design knowledge on an international level. Not only a platform to promote, but one to facilitate engagement with the public. Above all, the
BIA, made up of business owners and managers entrenched in design, want Torontonians to tap into the unique DNA of King East, and connect with the design and designers born out of this city.”
Proceeds from the event will be going to
Habitat for Humanity. Other participants include artist
Gary Taxali, architecture firm RAW, and the
Zeidler Partnership. The
Globe and Mail is sponsoring a talk on the subject of contemporary design from 1:30-3 p.m. at Biagio restaurant.
“3D Parti is more than just a design festival,” Smith says, “it’s informing the public of KEDD’s truly unique design DNA. With over 100 stores with a focus on design in the area, internationally recognized showroom owners with extensive global connections in the design world, it’s really the promotion and rebrand of community that already exists. The BIA wants to facilitate a connection between public and the area’s rich design knowledge and roots, making people not only aware of KEDD, but creating an event in which they can appreciate and tap into this design destination.”
The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Writer: Bert Archer
Source: Al Smith, Danielle Klassen
Photo: kg&a