A Place to be : The Living Room

A Place to be :

The Living Room

Location

Transit Stops, Toronto, Canada

Year

2024

Imagine a bus stop that feels as welcoming as your living room.

This project redefines the dull, conventional stop into a vibrant hub for connection and community. Public transit shouldn’t feel neglected; it should invite genuine interaction.

Let’s demand more from our shared spaces and create environments where everyone feels at home.

Why?

In living rooms, feelings vary but often revolve around comfort, warmth, connection, calmness, creativity, and security.

These emotions stem from factors like design, ambiance, and personal preferences.

Point of Intervention

A missed bus (red hatching) sends everyone spiraling; what starts as a curious or eager morning turns into a downward emotional spiral. Most never bounce back. It shows how working adults run on thin emotional fuel. They may use the living room the least, but they need it the most, as a space to reset and feel human again.

Design Principles with associated moments

These principles help turn public spaces into places that feel warm and welcoming, not just useful, but truly livable. Like a living room, they’re designed to spark comfort, connection, and a sense of belonging—spaces where people don’t just pass through, but choose to stay, gather, and feel at home.

1. Pause for Comfort

Like a cozy living room, public spaces should invite people to pause—offering comfort, shade, and a moment of calm in the city.

Associated living room moment

Emotions felt around these moments

Satisfied

Amused

Exhausted

2. Invisible Boundaries

Without walls, small design cues like seating or paving can shape how we use space—organizing it naturally and intuitively.

Acceptance

Withdrawn

Shy

3. Anchor

Just like a living room shifts through the day, public spaces should adapt—supporting quiet moments, gatherings, and everything in between.

Hopeful

Awe

Delighted

4. Flexibility

Every space needs a heart—whether it’s a tree, a bench, or artwork—to bring people together and give the place meaning.

Happy

Serene

Curious

TTC stations that need improvement

Spadina Dupont Intersection

Site Composition

Activities in the vicinity

Bus Movement

TTC stations can feel stressful and unwelcoming due to crowding, poor maintenance, confusing layouts, and limited accessibility. As urban designers, this highlights the need for transit spaces that are not just functional, but also comfortable, safe, and easy to navigate.

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TTC Consolidated Lines Map

Figure-Ground Analysis

Downsview TTC-GO Station

Site Composition

Activities in the vicinity

Bus Movement

Figure-Ground Analysis

Site 1 : Spadina-Dupont TTC Stop

Spadina-Dupont station may feel bare right now, but it has real potential to become something more. With a few thoughtful touches—like cozy seating, greenery, and local art—it could feel less like a stop and more like a shared living room. A place where people don’t just wait, but relax, connect, and feel part of the city around them.

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Axonometric View of the living room

Elements:

Bus Stop

Leaning wall + Conventional

Heater

Position

Existing Bus Stop

Principles Achieved

Pause for Comfort + Invisible Boundaries + Anchor + Flexibility

Piano Tiles

Position

Threshold Like Entry/Exit

Design Principles Achieved

Pause for Comfort + Anchor

Tic-Tac-Toe

Position

Along the pathway edges

Principles Achieved

Anchor + Invisible Boundaries + Flexibility

Accessibility

Adults, kids

Vertical Section

Site 2 : Downsview TTC-GO Station

Disconnection at Downsview TTC station often stems from confusing layouts, limited pathways, and a lack of nearby amenities, making navigation difficult. Thoughtful improvements—like clearer signage and better integration with the surroundings—can create a more welcoming, inclusive experience for commuters.