PIAZZA PRINCES’ GATES
Title
PIAZZA PRINCES’ GATES
Description
In 2005, a design competition was held for the revitalization of the important public space in front of the Princes’ Gates. Building on strong connections between Canada and Italy, design teams consisting of firms from Milano and Toronto were invited to submit proposals. An international jury selected the winning team of Sering + Sistema Duemila (Milano) – The MBTW Group (Toronto). Their design interprets the theme, “Canada Past, Canada Present, Canada Future,” and presents the revitalization project as a beacon of shared culture, friendship and design between Milano and Toronto.
The landscape elements of this redesigned piazza celebrate the Princes’ Gates, and the Canada-Italy connection. Ten long bands of Canadian granite interpret the original symbolism of the Gates’ columns into the surface of the piazza – each is engraved with the motto of a Canadian province. Seating blocks at the end of the granite bands are marked with the name of the corresponding province or a territory. The blocks are crafted of twinned pieces of granite – representing Milano and Toronto – joined together by light.
The Princes’ Gates Revitalization Project is central to the twinning agreement between Milano and Toronto to promote business, trade and cultural relations between the two cities. This public project was also generously supported by the private sector.
Piazza Princes’ Gates was officially opened on July 19, 2006.
The landscape elements of this redesigned piazza celebrate the Princes’ Gates, and the Canada-Italy connection. Ten long bands of Canadian granite interpret the original symbolism of the Gates’ columns into the surface of the piazza – each is engraved with the motto of a Canadian province. Seating blocks at the end of the granite bands are marked with the name of the corresponding province or a territory. The blocks are crafted of twinned pieces of granite – representing Milano and Toronto – joined together by light.
The Princes’ Gates Revitalization Project is central to the twinning agreement between Milano and Toronto to promote business, trade and cultural relations between the two cities. This public project was also generously supported by the private sector.
Piazza Princes’ Gates was officially opened on July 19, 2006.
Creator
Sarah J. McCabe
Date
August 26, 2018
Files
Collection
Citation
Sarah J. McCabe, “PIAZZA PRINCES’ GATES,” Historic Plaques of Ontario: An Omeka Demo Site, accessed May 16, 2024, https://ontarioplaques.omeka.net/items/show/224.