The 2024 Toolkit for Today explores imaginative, material, and methodological paths to collectively navigate how queer and trans* theory can offer critiques of power that allow for the revision of some of the core concepts and ontologies of architectural history.
22 July 2024 to 26 July 2024
Toolkit for Today: Cross Wor(l)ds/Queer Wor(l)ds
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Description:
The 2024 Toolkit for Today explores imaginative, material, and methodological paths to collectively navigate how queer and trans* theory can offer critiques of power that allow for the revision of some of the core concepts and ontologies of architectural history.
Where—and how—do we want to live as we grow older? Will our neighborhoods, our buildings, our cities be able to meet our needs? The evening begins with a screening of the documentary Where We Grow Older (CCA, 2023, 30 min), which explores how architecture and urban planning can respond to the challenges of an aging population. The screening will be followed by a(...)
Paul-Desmarais Theatre
5 February 2026, 6pm
Film and conversation: Where Will We Grow Older?
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Description:
Where—and how—do we want to live as we grow older? Will our neighborhoods, our buildings, our cities be able to meet our needs? The evening begins with a screening of the documentary Where We Grow Older (CCA, 2023, 30 min), which explores how architecture and urban planning can respond to the challenges of an aging population. The screening will be followed by a(...)
Paul-Desmarais Theatre
research
The 2023 edition of the Virtual Fellowship Program invited new directions, readings, and interactions with the photographic works held in our Collection with a view to charting how broader understandings of ‘vision’ may exceed what Vilém Flusser names the ‘technical image.’
March 2023 to April 2023
Virtual Research Fellows 2023
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Description:
The 2023 edition of the Virtual Fellowship Program invited new directions, readings, and interactions with the photographic works held in our Collection with a view to charting how broader understandings of ‘vision’ may exceed what Vilém Flusser names the ‘technical image.’
research
March 2023 to
April 2023
archives
Level of archival description:
Fonds
AP106
Synopsis:
The Faubourg Québec project records, 1989-1994, document the redevelopment of Faubourg Québec, a 30 acre site east of the Old Port of Montréal, into an urban residential neighbourhood. Materials in these project records consist of approximately 253 drawings (including reprographic copies) and 0.33 of l.m. textual materials.
1989-1994
Faubourg Québec project records
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AP106
Synopsis:
The Faubourg Québec project records, 1989-1994, document the redevelopment of Faubourg Québec, a 30 acre site east of the Old Port of Montréal, into an urban residential neighbourhood. Materials in these project records consist of approximately 253 drawings (including reprographic copies) and 0.33 of l.m. textual materials.
archives
Level of archival description:
Fonds
1989-1994
Series
AP189.S2
Description:
Series 2, Software for producing the projection and narration, 2007-2008, is composed of ten different versions of the module that generates the projection and narration in the open gallery. Seven of the versions were among the files saved to a compact disc following the CCA exhibition and have been kept together as group ARCH275207. Three of the versions were on a hard drive that was used in Rovereto and comprise group ARCH275212. The core elements of each module are two application files. One of these, whose name begins with "VE1" uses parameters contained in a file called "config.txt". The other application file, called "VECalibration" displays the entire volume of the projected architectural space. The geometric parameters for a room are recorded in a separate image file called "ecan-angles.jpg". A readme file in each module explains how the different files interact with one another. It also identifies the version of the "VE1" application files and any issues that may be related to the version. Each module includes hundreds of Shockwave Flash files (.swf), each containing an animated or still image of a person or persons and/or one or more pieces of furniture. Some of the .swf files contain an image of one or more furnished rooms inhabited by one or more persons. In most versions, the config.txt file contains a URL that accesses the database containing the sensor data. The URL references the file "captorsxml.aspx". As mentioned earlier, the config.txt file also contains parameters for the projected image, including scene geometry, colors and space occupation, and lists of the .swf files for persons and objects. Most versions of the module also include twenty-one .mp3 files, one of which is "empty". The other twenty each contain an audio recording of a female voice that states values for temperature, illumination and relative humidity and narrates a scenario written by Alain Robbe-Grillet. There is a French- and English-language version of each scenario
2007-2008
Software for producing the projection and narration
Actions:
AP189.S2
Description:
Series 2, Software for producing the projection and narration, 2007-2008, is composed of ten different versions of the module that generates the projection and narration in the open gallery. Seven of the versions were among the files saved to a compact disc following the CCA exhibition and have been kept together as group ARCH275207. Three of the versions were on a hard drive that was used in Rovereto and comprise group ARCH275212. The core elements of each module are two application files. One of these, whose name begins with "VE1" uses parameters contained in a file called "config.txt". The other application file, called "VECalibration" displays the entire volume of the projected architectural space. The geometric parameters for a room are recorded in a separate image file called "ecan-angles.jpg". A readme file in each module explains how the different files interact with one another. It also identifies the version of the "VE1" application files and any issues that may be related to the version. Each module includes hundreds of Shockwave Flash files (.swf), each containing an animated or still image of a person or persons and/or one or more pieces of furniture. Some of the .swf files contain an image of one or more furnished rooms inhabited by one or more persons. In most versions, the config.txt file contains a URL that accesses the database containing the sensor data. The URL references the file "captorsxml.aspx". As mentioned earlier, the config.txt file also contains parameters for the projected image, including scene geometry, colors and space occupation, and lists of the .swf files for persons and objects. Most versions of the module also include twenty-one .mp3 files, one of which is "empty". The other twenty each contain an audio recording of a female voice that states values for temperature, illumination and relative humidity and narrates a scenario written by Alain Robbe-Grillet. There is a French- and English-language version of each scenario
Series 2
2007-2008
First Sunday of the month's family activity: Architecture playshop
Family and young public activity
Every first Sunday of the month, from 11am to 12pm, we invite you and your children to dive into the world of construction games—Kapla, Mega Bloks, Lego, and many more. Together, discover how spaces are designed, transformed, and inhabited, while drawing inspiration from the objects, models, and drawings in our Collection.
4 January 2026, 11am to 12pm
First Sunday of the month's family activity: Architecture playshop
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Description:
Every first Sunday of the month, from 11am to 12pm, we invite you and your children to dive into the world of construction games—Kapla, Mega Bloks, Lego, and many more. Together, discover how spaces are designed, transformed, and inhabited, while drawing inspiration from the objects, models, and drawings in our Collection.
Series
Architectural projects
AP178.S1
Description:
Series AP178.S1 is the largest series of the Álvaro Siza fonds and documents over 200 of Siza’s built and unbuilt architectural projects. The series is divided into project series which are arranged chronologically by project year. Presently, materials in this series range from 1958-2012. The CCA will also receive materials documenting Siza’s more recent work in future additions. Documenting the projects are conceptual, design, presentation, and working drawings, as well as photographic materials, textual documentation, and models. Although the drawings for each project have been identified, Siza often sketches or doodles on textual documentation, such as minutes of meetings or notes. When possible, folders that include textual documents with sketches or doodles have been identified. Amounts and types of materials vary from project to project. Project documentation is usually in Portuguese, with some exceptions including French, English, German, and Dutch. Most project series include sketches, studies, and working drawings. Other drawings included are site plans, floor plans, topographic surveys, elevations, sections, as well as technical and mechanical details. Also documenting the projects are photographic materials and textual documentation, such as correspondence, building programs, contracts, notes, and other working details. Photographic materials found within this archive are slides, negatives, photomontages and photographs of project sites and models.The photomontages were often used to study the function of the project site. To fully understand Siza’s methodology, sketchbooks (Series AP178.S2) should be viewed alongside the project drawings, when possible. Each project series description highlights sketchbooks in series AP178.S2 which contain related sketches. It is important to note that not all projects are represented in the sketchbooks in Series AP178.S2. Moreover, project series descriptions only list related sketchbooks when sketches have been positively identified as related to the corresponding project. The Siza fonds will be processed in four phases. The materials processed in the first, second, and third phases are architectural projects from the 1950’s, 1960’s, and 1970’s; urban planning projects; Reconstrução do Chiado; Berlin projects submitted to the IBA competition; cultural institutions; individual houses; and the Plano de urbanização Deelgebied 5 Schilderswijk-West in The Hague. Among The Hague and the Berlin projects are the Punt en Komma social housing, Bonjour Tristesse, and the Residential settlement in Schilderswijk. This series is better understood in the context of how the records for architectural projects were arranged by Siza’s office. Earlier projects were initially numbered by Siza’s office and then received new project numbers by the office archivist, who joined the office in the 1990s. Project files have been kept in the order in which they were received by the CCA, which is how they were arranged by the office archivist. The project numbers and dates assigned by Siza’s office archivist are included in the descriptions for each project and form the basis for the arrangement of this series. The office archivist numbered projects consecutively by decade, for instance, 58/80 was the 58th project during the 1980s. Numbers which were included in square brackets, ex. [14]/75, show that the project was not a ‘full’ project and contains a small amount of documentation. When projects are followed by a letter (A, B, C) this signifies a project is connected to the first. When the project number is followed by a number (1, 2, 3) this signifies a separate building within a larger project. For the purposes of arrangement, project numbers that were assigned a letter or number are arranged as sub-series of the related project series. Exceptions to this numbering convention are projects 23/60, 25/60, 28/60, 33/60, 34/60 and 35/60. These projects were not in the office’s original project list and were not officially considered projects. The office archivist assembled documentation related to these projects and assigned them numbers. In the early 2000s a large number of photographic materials were gathered together by the office archivist from various correspondence files for a digitization project initiated by the office. These materials remained housed together as a photograph collection in the office. Not all of these materials were digitized by the office. Those that were digitized were assigned numbers which have been identified in the file descriptions. It is important to note that several photographic materials were left with the textual documentation or drawings. When this is the case they are identified in the file description. There are also several panoramic photomontages which were created by either gluing or taping several photographs together to make panoramas of project sites.
1948-2012
Architectural projects
Actions:
AP178.S1
Description:
Series AP178.S1 is the largest series of the Álvaro Siza fonds and documents over 200 of Siza’s built and unbuilt architectural projects. The series is divided into project series which are arranged chronologically by project year. Presently, materials in this series range from 1958-2012. The CCA will also receive materials documenting Siza’s more recent work in future additions. Documenting the projects are conceptual, design, presentation, and working drawings, as well as photographic materials, textual documentation, and models. Although the drawings for each project have been identified, Siza often sketches or doodles on textual documentation, such as minutes of meetings or notes. When possible, folders that include textual documents with sketches or doodles have been identified. Amounts and types of materials vary from project to project. Project documentation is usually in Portuguese, with some exceptions including French, English, German, and Dutch. Most project series include sketches, studies, and working drawings. Other drawings included are site plans, floor plans, topographic surveys, elevations, sections, as well as technical and mechanical details. Also documenting the projects are photographic materials and textual documentation, such as correspondence, building programs, contracts, notes, and other working details. Photographic materials found within this archive are slides, negatives, photomontages and photographs of project sites and models.The photomontages were often used to study the function of the project site. To fully understand Siza’s methodology, sketchbooks (Series AP178.S2) should be viewed alongside the project drawings, when possible. Each project series description highlights sketchbooks in series AP178.S2 which contain related sketches. It is important to note that not all projects are represented in the sketchbooks in Series AP178.S2. Moreover, project series descriptions only list related sketchbooks when sketches have been positively identified as related to the corresponding project. The Siza fonds will be processed in four phases. The materials processed in the first, second, and third phases are architectural projects from the 1950’s, 1960’s, and 1970’s; urban planning projects; Reconstrução do Chiado; Berlin projects submitted to the IBA competition; cultural institutions; individual houses; and the Plano de urbanização Deelgebied 5 Schilderswijk-West in The Hague. Among The Hague and the Berlin projects are the Punt en Komma social housing, Bonjour Tristesse, and the Residential settlement in Schilderswijk. This series is better understood in the context of how the records for architectural projects were arranged by Siza’s office. Earlier projects were initially numbered by Siza’s office and then received new project numbers by the office archivist, who joined the office in the 1990s. Project files have been kept in the order in which they were received by the CCA, which is how they were arranged by the office archivist. The project numbers and dates assigned by Siza’s office archivist are included in the descriptions for each project and form the basis for the arrangement of this series. The office archivist numbered projects consecutively by decade, for instance, 58/80 was the 58th project during the 1980s. Numbers which were included in square brackets, ex. [14]/75, show that the project was not a ‘full’ project and contains a small amount of documentation. When projects are followed by a letter (A, B, C) this signifies a project is connected to the first. When the project number is followed by a number (1, 2, 3) this signifies a separate building within a larger project. For the purposes of arrangement, project numbers that were assigned a letter or number are arranged as sub-series of the related project series. Exceptions to this numbering convention are projects 23/60, 25/60, 28/60, 33/60, 34/60 and 35/60. These projects were not in the office’s original project list and were not officially considered projects. The office archivist assembled documentation related to these projects and assigned them numbers. In the early 2000s a large number of photographic materials were gathered together by the office archivist from various correspondence files for a digitization project initiated by the office. These materials remained housed together as a photograph collection in the office. Not all of these materials were digitized by the office. Those that were digitized were assigned numbers which have been identified in the file descriptions. It is important to note that several photographic materials were left with the textual documentation or drawings. When this is the case they are identified in the file description. There are also several panoramic photomontages which were created by either gluing or taping several photographs together to make panoramas of project sites.
Series
1948-2012
Join 2023 CCA-WRI Fellows Andrea Alberto Dutto, Oxana Gourinovitch, and Tomomi Miyata as they share their research on how the underground has evolved as a space of Cold War anxiety and resource extraction, to contemporary concerns around climate and other unnational disasters from which the earth can provide shelter.
Online Keyword(s):
Andrea Alberto Dutto, Oxana Gourinovitch, Tomomi Miyata, Yoshiharu Tsukamoto, Jungyoon Kim, WRI, light, planet
10 August 2023, 9 a.m. to noon
Underground Anxieties: 2023 CCA-WRI Research Symposium
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Description:
Join 2023 CCA-WRI Fellows Andrea Alberto Dutto, Oxana Gourinovitch, and Tomomi Miyata as they share their research on how the underground has evolved as a space of Cold War anxiety and resource extraction, to contemporary concerns around climate and other unnational disasters from which the earth can provide shelter.
Online Keyword(s):
Andrea Alberto Dutto, Oxana Gourinovitch, Tomomi Miyata, Yoshiharu Tsukamoto, Jungyoon Kim, WRI, light, planet
How are computational optics operating in and through the built environment? How have they become so ubiquitous and taken for granted, completing the desires of fulfillment centres and the legibility that computation craves? What computational logics, imaginaries, and frameworks lie outside of their dominant modes of perception and commoditization? Join us on Thursday 17(...)
17 July 2025, 6pm
Toolkit for Today: Defying Computational Cravings
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Description:
How are computational optics operating in and through the built environment? How have they become so ubiquitous and taken for granted, completing the desires of fulfillment centres and the legibility that computation craves? What computational logics, imaginaries, and frameworks lie outside of their dominant modes of perception and commoditization? Join us on Thursday 17(...)
archives
Level of archival description:
Fonds
AP176
Synopsis:
Karl Chu X PHYLUM project records, 1998-2014 (predominant 1998-2002), documents the development and design process of Chu’s project X PHYLUM. The archive consists exclusively of original born-digital material.
1998-2014
Karl Chu X Phylum project records
Actions:
AP176
Synopsis:
Karl Chu X PHYLUM project records, 1998-2014 (predominant 1998-2002), documents the development and design process of Chu’s project X PHYLUM. The archive consists exclusively of original born-digital material.
archives
Level of archival description:
Fonds
1998-2014