"WINTERACTION“ Hybrid Installation at 2024 Winter Stations International Design Competition

Congratulations to the "WINTERACTION" team of BLA and MLA Landscape Architecture students in collaboration with the AshariArchitects team and a team of tech professionals, who designed the first hybrid art installation for the 2024 Winter Stations International Design Competition. Eight installations were unveiled on February 20th, 2023, and will remain on view at Woodbine Beach until April 2nd, 2023.

Winterstations is an open, single-stage, international design competition held annually in Toronto, Ontario, where participants are tasked with designing temporary winter art installations at Woodbine beaches. "WINTERACTION" was among several hundred submissions from artists and designers worldwide. Guelph students participated in an interdisciplinary special study course offered by Professor Afshin Ashari to design and develop a dynamic way to enhance the user experience in public spaces and bring an entirely new dimension to the way people interact with art installations in the public realm. This project was the only representative from the profession of landscape architecture provided an installation opportunity.

The theme chosen for the 2023 edition of Winter Stations was Resonance. Led by Professor Afshin Ashari (SEDRD) and Amir Ashari (Ashari Architect’s Principal), WINTERACTION, in celebration of the 10th anniversary of Winterstations, transcends local engagement. It is a dual installation located in both Iran and Canada, which is connected through Augmented Reality and designed to foster solidarity and social-cultural interaction between the two nations. This pavilion expands human connections and resonates solidarity beyond borders, crossing political boundaries to foster global interaction and understanding. The term 'WINTERACTION,' crafted from the fusion of words: 'WE,' 'WINTER,' 'ACTION,' and 'INTERACTION,' is a reflection of the pavilion's essence. It embodies the spirit of community involvement ('WE'), the seasonal theme ('WINTER'), the dynamism of participation ('ACTION'), and the essence of mutual exchange and engagement ('INTERACTION').

One half is located on Woodbine Beach in Toronto, Canada, as a hybrid installation, while the other half is physically constructed within a Cineplex in the city of Shiraz, Iran. The installation’s name echoes the values and themes of past University of Guelph projects, 'OneCanada' and 'WE[AR],' showcasing a consistent thread of connectivity and innovation that runs through these initiatives.

Image:  Aerial view of "WINTERACTION“ hybrid installation at Woodbine Beach in Toronto (photo credit:  Jonathan Sabeniano).

Both installations feature a labyrinth, symbolizing a challenging quest toward inner peace. Visitors traverse various paths to reach the center of the labyrinth. The centerpiece of this dual installation is a virtual tree, standing as a potent symbol of unity, peace, and friendship. As visitors in both locations navigate through these various paths, the roots and branches of a virtual tree will take shape, and the tree completes its shape, symbolizing the growth and evolution of this emblem of peace. WINTERACTION is designed not only as a work of art but also as a platform for solidarity and socio-cultural interaction between nations, aiming to create a better future.

Image:  WINTERACTION interior space experience of the hybrid installation at HonarShahr Cineplex in Shiraz, Iran (photo credit: Navid  Atrvash).

WINTERACTION can be experienced anywhere by downloading the app from the App Store or Google Play.

Sponsored by Rost Furniture, the “WINTERACTION” project team consists of a design team (Ashari Architects and the University of Guelph) and a tech team. The University of Guelph BLA and MLA students on the design team are Ali Ebadi, Ramtin Shafaghati, and Zackary Tammaro-Cater. The Ashari Architects team comprises Sara Nazemi, Anahita Kazempour, Hakimeh Elahi, Yasaman Sirjani, and Zahra Jafari. The tech team includes Kaveh Eshraghian (Tech Lead) and Roozbeh Moayyedian (AR Development Lead), led by SEDRD Assistant Professor Afshin Ashari and AshariArchitect Principal Amir Ashari.

Image:  Aerial view of "WINTERACTION“ hybrid installation at HonarShahr Cineplex in Shiraz, Iran (photo credit: Navid  Atrvash).