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A Look Back: Waterloo Architecture Students Reminisce Toronto's Nuit Blanche Event

{Blogpost originally written for REAP WATERLOO.}

It started with a rough idea sketched in our moleskins. We had two goals: to make something that was fun and interactive, but with a commanding presence. The idea evolved into something not unlike a life-sized toy. 

Our members were all working our winter co-op terms in downtown Toronto at various architecture firms. The evenings and nights after our long office hours found us in various cafes around Toronto - it was typical that we were up until 2:00 or 3:00 am in the morning designing, only to return to the intern life early the next morning.

Those days consisted of iterations after iterations. We built various digital models on Rhino 3D Nurbs modelling, and did some coding on a Grasshopper plug-in to generate some fluid forms for how we anticipated the installation to transform. Once the model was solidified, we put together our proposal, complete with graphic representations of our vision, and thus, Impressions was born. We submitted to Scotiabank Nuit Blanche and soon thereafter, received our acceptance into the exhibition.

This previous summer term was an even bigger challenge. With only one of us working co-op locally, three of us working in New York, and two of us in Paris, online communication became vital. Our time was largely dedicated to looking for support and sponsorships to help fund the project. Then, before we knew it, it was September and we were back at school with deadlines and studio projects looming over our heads. The beginning of Fall was largely spent collecting cash, building construction models and small prototypes.  Then the end of September rolled around and it was the moment of truth:

we had one week to execute the project.

Though, in reality, this is not unique to the world of architecture students - many times, studio installations and design-build projects are erected in a week or less. Despite this however, stress levels were undoubtedly high. There was a tremendous amount of work to be done, and amidst a full course load.

The agenda at hand included 24 hours of CNC milling MDF boards, 8 hours of laser-cutting acrylic and promotional material, 2000 tubes which needed to be double capped and slotted into place, 4000 lights which needed to be wired along 48 feet, and of course, above all, this thing had to be structurally sound. In other words, it had to stand up.

Very quickly, logistics became a very important factor in all our decision making. It was impractical (and slightly impossible) to transport a 24 foot wall holding 2,000 tubes from Cambridge to Toronto. This meant that the installation had to be erected onsite for the most part. The project was shipped in panels assembled in pairs - these were then screwed into a frame which was secured into a base with tracks. It was vital that everything fit perfectly in order to get a seamless look. Our site was indoors at the Wychwood Barns. There was a farmers market in the morning, so we were unable to begin building until about 2:00 pm in the afternoon. Nuit Blanche was set to begin at 7:00 pm which left us with 5 hours to pull the thing together -  we knew we were cutting it close. After some rigorous work (and a few cuts and bruises later) we finished just in time for the first crowd of people - we were tired and sleep-deprived, but ecstatic that we had managed to pull it off. The first crowds of people that were laughing, smiling, and taking photos was plenty reinforced to us why this was all worth it.

The general sentiment from people that night were that they were excited to see that this was an installation that they could touch and interact with, which was one of our original goals for the project. We were pleased to note that the crowds of people needed no prompts to push and pull the tubes - it was as if everyone’s inner child was out for the night as the wall of tubes and lights invited them to leave their mark. The crowds of people were all smiles, as young and old alike had fun leaving their imprints on the large wall of tubes. Sometimes an individual would pass by and push or pull a single tube, maybe two or three - step back, tilt their head, smile, and walk away. Then you had the younger ones who were excited with the potential for interaction - they went crazy pushing the tubes against the wall. We even had some unexpected interactions which arose - because the installation was double-sided, naturally there was traffic on both sides of the wall. Often times, users would find a reaction to their action, surprising the recipient as the tube they just pushed in popped back out. It also became a popular photo destination with the passerby, as the tubes and lights invited amateur photographers to capture silhouettes playing against the dynamic facade.

What started off as a static wall of tubes at 7:00 pm. ended up as an impression of the Torontonians who came to visit the installation by 7:00 am. 

Scotiabank Nuit Blanche is an amazing night filled with surprises - the city of Toronto is alive and engaged for the night, with an air of exploration in the atmosphere. It’s an excellent opportunity for young creatives like ourselves to gain exposure, and to tackle a tangible project. Taking an image you have produced on your computer and trying to bring it to life is easier said then done - this gave us a platform to explore the possibilities.  It was also an opportunity to network, make new connections, and find potentially like-minded people around us. Without a doubt, Nuit Blanche has become one of the most important and iconic creative events that the country has to offer.

Our team has tackled many installation projects and architectural and artistic competitions in the past. We are currently working on some designs for chairs to be built within the next couple months. The rest of the term will be quieter as we prepare for our term in Rome, Italy next fall!

The team (all in their 3B term at the University of Waterloo School of Architecture in Cambridge, Ontario):

Ying Qi (Alice) Chen

Andrea Ng

Alice Song

Thomas Mahon

Mina Vedut

Alexandru Vilcu

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Impressions | Nuit Blanche Toronto 2014 from Mina Vedut on Vimeo.

Team: Ying Qi (Alice) Chen / Thomas Mahon / Alice Ng / Alice Song / Mina Vedut / Alexandru Vilcu

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Music: Sangria - choiceVaughan Minha Culpa (Instrumental) - kolombiaиo Live in ‘59 - Louis Armstrong 1- When It’s Sleepy Time Down South 2- (Back Home Again In) Indiana 3- Basin Street Blues 4- Tiger Rag 5- Now You Has Jazz

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Repost from @nicopetrags by #Reposter @307apps Some awesome #nuitblanche art @ #wychwoodbarns

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Impressions is featured on BlogTO’s photo contest! Go and vote for @bradg_ ‘s photo! 

http://www.blogto.com/news_flash/2014/10/vote_for_your_favourite_photo_of_nuit_blanche_2014/

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Repost from @davcrav by #Reposter @307apps #nuitblanche #impressions

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Repost from @lingwhatics by #Reposter @307apps Impressions. #snbto

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Repost from @bradg_ by #Reposter @307apps Art Installation that excited those who interacted with the hollow-like cardboard dowels #snbTO #nuitblanche #ScotiabankNuitBlanche #nuitblanche2014 #snbTO2014 #snbTOBlogTO #sbnuitblancheto #art #contemporaryart #Toronto #GTA

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#snbto #aamaagroup

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#snbTO #aamaagroup

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Panorama Part 2 #aamaagroup #snbto

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#snbto #aamaagroup

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#snbto #aamaagroup

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#snbto

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Repost from @imajing by #Reposter @307apps More Nuit Blanche at the Barns #snbto #aamaagroup

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True. #kidsdontlie @sbnuitblancheto #snbTO #aamaagroup (at Artscape Wychwood Barns)