WINNER OF A 2024 CANADIAN ARCHITECT STUDENT AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
The jury was delighted by this project’s witty and irreverent reworking of generic elevator spaces in residential buildings. Emphasizing the differences between people’s wants and needs, the design proposes new short-term communal uses, such as moving coffee shops, speed-dating tables, or speakeasies.
– D’Arcy Jones, juror
In the late 1800s, the arrival of the first high-rise buildings was coupled with worries about the inconveniences—and possible dangers—of living far from the ground. To counter these anxieties, the first elevators were created as opulent amenities and social hubs in buildings. They were revered as “ascending rooms” where slowness was embraced as a luxury.
As the demand for taller structures grew, speed and efficiency took precedence, relegating elevators to merely serving as vertical transportation. And yet, elevators remain one of the few places where the otherwise disconnected lives of today’s highrise residents converge, albeit briefly.
Ascending Worlds nods to the elevator’s historical significance and spatial essence, embracing its velocity, scale, and temporality to reveal a realm ripe with social possibilities. The project redefines the elevator as a catalyst for architectural innovation, capable of reshaping communal dynamics within residential towers.
Ten different elevator prototypes are suggested in the thesis, each taking up the space of one or more conventional elevator bays. The two-elevator-wide Express Café offers residents a chance to grab a barista-pulled espresso on their way downstairs, and exchange greetings with other residents. The multi-level Venue includes a lower storey-stage and comfortable seating on upper balcony levels for acoustic mini-concerts. The one-elevator-sized Matchmaker includes a cozy interior with a small table to set the stage for an intimate conversation between two individuals. If the chemistry is right, either participant can slow down the journey—or conversely, they can also opt to discreetly access the “speed up” or “emergency exit” buttons under the table to bring the blind date to a quick end.
The designs are not dictated by the typical restrictions of vertical transportation, but are shaped by the quality and duration of the potential interactions that our present-day ascending rooms may evoke. Ascending Worlds endeavours to reignite the allure of the elevator, infusing it with newfound vibrancy and significance within our evolving urban landscapes.
FACULTY ADVISOR: Jeannie Kim
As appeared in the December 2024 issue of Canadian Architect magazine
See all the 2024 Awards of Excellence winners
You can read our jury’s full comments here.