The TIFF Bell Lightbox is designed by Canadian architectural practice KPMB as an anchor for the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), when it opens on 12 September 2010.
The Lightbox is conceived as a ‘dynamic hybrid’ of cultural institution and condominium tower. A 42-storey tower will merge with the five-storeys of the Lightbox to create the mixed-use neighbourhood. A lot of symbolic design details have been incorporated into the structure. It will be a venue where festival-style films and film exhibits will be showcased, and will be a place for movie lovers and filmmakers to learn about the art of the moving picture.
Fritted glass gives the surface spaces a polished and transparent feel. The rooftop garden features a ‘staircase to nowhere’ – a reference to a scene in the 1963 Jean-Luc Godard film ‘Contempt’. A massive three-storey public atrium welcomes the visitors at the entrance of the building. The facility features two galleries; three learning areas; a learning centre; and a bistro, restaurant and lounge. There are five levels of underground parking.
TIFF Bell Lightbox is designed to be highly animated at street level. A large-scale canopy over the King Street entrance defines a deep, generous arcade that wraps around the corner to John Street. Made of concrete, the canopy is punctuated with cast glass oculi that borrow light sources from the street to create a ‘spotlight’ effect. A carpet of moving images will animate the sidewalk and lead directly into the box office and the two-storey lobby. Restaurants, cafes, theatres, and multiple gathering places will ensure that the building is animated throughout day and night.
The tower will make a distinctive contribution to the evolving outline of Toronto’s skyline to the west. Its form and expression is reminiscent of the sleek modernist office towers of the 1950s and 60s. Noah Cowan, artistic director of programming at the TIFF Bell Lightbox commented that during the day time the building will appear as a museum, and will wear an altogether different look of an architecturally rich movie theatre at night time.
Founded in 1976, TIFF is a charitable arts organization. Held every September, the festival is recognised as the most important film festival after Cannes. For 28 years it operated its programs from a circuit of 200 venues throughout the city. A few years ago the entity embarked on an initiative to create a formal destination for individuals engaged with and passionate about the film. Producer/director Ivan Reitman donated a prime undeveloped site in the heart of Toronto’s downtown entertainment district.
