As part of ARC112: Design + Engineering I at the University of Toronto, a team of first-year engineering and architecture students were asked to explore the tensions between nature and human intervention through the design of a small floating structure in High Park. Acting as an external advisor and client for the project, BNKC Principal Vaughn Miller challenged students to consider how a pavilion for displaying bonsai — a practice rooted in the careful shaping of living matter — might prompt broader questions about control, stewardship, and ecological sensitivity.
The result is the Bonsai Pavilion, a conceptual structure designed to float on Grenadier Pond. While modest in scale, the project prompted students to grapple with real-world constraints: limited building area, site ecology, accessibility standards, and off-grid operations — all while trying to shape a meaningful experience for visitors.
A Floating Framework for Public Use
The proposed design, called the Branched Bridge, uses a buoyant platform tethered to the lakebed and connected to shore. Visitors would cross a light walkway to enter the pavilion, where bonsai displays and public gathering space are modestly arranged. The floating design avoids the need for piles or permanent foundations, helping to reduce disruption to the pond’s aquatic ecosystem.
The structure is scaled to house 30 bonsai trees and accommodate small gatherings. It remains open during warmer months and goes dormant — like the trees it protects — during the winter.
Passive Systems, Active Thinking
The project asked students to consider how a pavilion like this might operate with minimal environmental impact. They responded with a combination of passive strategies and simple mechanical systems. Manually operable louvers and skylights help manage light levels, while solar panels provide energy to power a low-consumption heater — used only during the winter months to maintain bonsai dormancy. A small water filtration system draws from the pond itself, reducing the need for external supply.
Materials were selected for performance and environmental compatibility. Locally sourced Eastern Hemlock forms the primary structure, chosen for its durability and rot resistance.
Site-Specific Challenges
Designing in High Park — a protected Environmentally Significant Area — brought with it clear limits. Students had to consider ecological impact, accessibility, and maintenance. The structure stays under 1,500 square feet, minimizes ground contact, and is fully accessible under AODA guidelines. Proximity to park paths and washrooms informed the site selection.
These real constraints formed the core of the learning experience: balancing technical requirements with conceptual ambitions, and reconciling ecological caution with architectural presence.
A Collaborative, Experimental Approach
The team — composed of students from architectural studies, civil engineering, and electrical engineering — used a collaborative workflow throughout. They generated over 50 concepts before narrowing in on three alternatives, which they evaluated using a Pugh chart and site-specific testing. The final concept was selected not because it was the most visually striking, but because it struck the right balance of restraint, feasibility, and flexibility.
The Bonsai Pavilion doesn’t pretend to be more than it is — an academic experiment in shaping a thoughtful response to place. But it’s a compelling example of how early design education can blend technical learning with bigger questions about the role of architecture in the natural world.
Project Team
Students:
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Ariel Jia (Civil Engineering)
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Helen Li (Electrical Engineering)
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Eleonore Mahieu (Architectural Studies)
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Sophia Masley (Architectural Studies)
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Erica Xu (Architectural Studies)
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Alex Zwolinski (Civil Engineering)
Course: ARC112: Design + Engineering I
Instructor: Jennifer Davis
External Advisor / Client: Vaughn Miller, Principal at BNKC
Teaching Assistants: Rachel Sharp, Mennatallah Alnahas