Exhibitions| DesignTO | New Narratives in Design

New Narratives in Design invites visitors to explore a new vision for Toronto—a city whose architecture and design can honour its past while building a more sustainable future. Created by a collective of architects, designers, and makers, the showcase centres around one critical question: What is Toronto’s new building and design aesthetic when seen through the lens of material salvage, reuse, and the circular economy?

As Toronto undergoes rapid growth, with renovations and new construction reshaping its urban landscape, there is a unique opportunity to advocate for reusing materials as an intentional choice, blending sustainability with aesthetics. Through thoughtfully curated objects and spaces, this exhibit presents real examples of material reuse in practice, from construction and interior design to furniture and lighting. Each piece tells a story, transforming remnants of the past into enduring elements of the city’s evolving identity.

The exhibit is made up of two venues: an exhibit of objects crafted by local designers and artisans, as well as a local renovation project, whose construction trajectory included deconstruction, salvage, and reuse within its interiors. We encourage people to visit both venues, for a full understanding of what salvage and reuse make possible, and be inspired to rethink what Toronto’s spaces could be when built on the foundation of creativity, responsibility, and respect for the resources we already have.

Renovation Tours

As part of the exhibition, there were tours of the Little Portugal renovation project by Plural Projects (closest intersection is Dundas and Lisgar), given by the Architect and some of the deconstruction and construction team.