A Winter Design Festival Showcasing Canadian Talent
Ottawa’s first Winter Design Festival was launched February 1st during Winterlude festivities. It took place at Aberdeen Square in the newly renovated Lansdowne Park. The festival was meant to showcase Canadian design and art community. It opened its doors to new trends. It invited the Ottawa public to interact with innovative design and architecture.
Components of the Festival
The festival comprises of three parts. Some of the events and installations were open to the public to interact with and admire.
Winter Design Festival Design & Build Competition
The competition brought the design community out in the snow to create an interactive habitat fit for Ottawa’s blustery winters.
The Loopdrop and its Architect
The winner of the Winter Design Festival Design & Build Competition winner was Montreal licensed architect Sylvain Bilodeau.
Building on his experience in institutional projects, residential projects, and architectural competitions, Sylvain Bilodeau has a reputation of projects comprised of rigor, integrity, and personality.
Although still young, Bilodeau’s Montreal practice – Architecturama – has already gained attention through major design venues. He’s even caught the attention of the International Symposium of Contemporary Art. It was there that his firm won an award in the Best of Canada Design Competition. He has also recently completed an architectural research residency in France.
Winter Design Festival & Build competition Loopdrop structure elevation
His competition winning submission Loopdrop can be described as participatory, inviting interaction from both the public and the chilly winter weather. Instead of blocking ice-cold winds, Loopdrop will collaborate with the natural elements.
“Canadian winters should be celebrated” said Bilodeau. “What better way to do so than through creative design?”
Winter Design Festival & Build competition Loopdrop structure
Winter Design Festival Agora
The Agora was set in the Horticulture Building. It took the form of a studio event meant to showcase industry ready product in an interactive and entertaining setting. The festival showcased designs from Canadian fashion houses Anomal Couture and Helmer. The show was in combination with live art and music. Fernandino’s Salon got all the models runway ready with hair and make-up.
