Illuminating the Future: Students’ Solair Wins at Winter Stations 2025
Winter Stations (external link) is a single-stage international design competition held annually in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Participants are tasked with designing temporary winter art installations that incorporate existing lifeguard towers spaced strategically across the city’s Kew and Woodbine beaches. These structures, which remain unused in the winter, serve as visual anchor points for the installations.
Now in its 11th year, Winter Stations embraces the theme Dawn, symbolizing a fresh chapter in its creative journey. Just as the first light of morning breaks through the darkness, this year’s exhibition explores moments of profound change that redefine and shape our existence. Dawn invites designers to consider transformation—personal, natural, or spiritual—capturing the raw beauty of growth and renewal. Through this lens, Winter Stations challenges participants to explore how the exhibition itself can adapt and evolve in the coming years, shaping the urban landscape in imaginative and innovative ways.
We’re thrilled to announce that our team of undergraduate students is among the winners of the 2025 Winter Stations international design competition! Guided by Professor Vincent Hui; Jade Yu Tung Wong, Arjun Jain, Finn Ferrall, Marko Sikic, and Nick Kisil have created Solair, which is located at Toronto’s Kew and Woodbine beaches.
Solair captures the ephemeral beauty of dawn using light, wind, and reflection to craft a dynamic sensory experience. The installation transforms sunlight and waterfront breezes into rippling shadows, flickering light, and melodic sounds, inviting visitors to engage with the natural elements in a profound and interactive way. As visitors move around and through the installation, they become active participants in this amplified natural performance.
What prompted your involvement with Winter Stations Toronto?
Arjun: Winter Stations has been a cornerstone of DAS for over a decade — a project that had already become something of an urban legend to me before I even joined the undergraduate program. When the opportunity to co-lead this initiative presented itself, I couldn’t have been more excited to take part in continuing that legacy.
Finn: For me, Marko, and Nick, our journey started on the fabrication team in our first year. Speaking for myself, it was an incredibly inspiring and educational experience—something I knew I wanted to continue being part of. Taking on a leadership and design role this time around was a rewarding challenge.
Take us through your concept, design process, and how the skills you’ve learned at DAS influenced your approach.
Jade: Last September, we had a design charrette with 40 students. We split into teams, each of us bringing different ideas to the table. After the charrette, we refined our concept into something new. Visiting the beach, we were inspired by the transition from darkness to light—capturing the energy of dawn became our guiding concept. We amplified the sunlight and wind to bring this vision to life.
Marko: The theme of dawn was provided by Winter Stations. Our goal was to fragment dawn into an interactive installation that transformed the landscape of Woodbine Beach, creating new experiences for every visitor.
Nick: While many Winter Stations are designed to provide shelter from the cold, our approach was different. We wanted to amplify natural elements—light and wind—to create an ever-changing experience.
Finn: Some previous Winter Stations projects have been static, but for us, it was essential to create something engaging and dynamic. By harnessing the wind, our installation constantly shifts, offering a fresh experience with every visit. We’re not just reflecting the light of dawn; we’re abstracting it through movement and change.
Arjun: Our installation, Solair, amplifies the natural environment, offering a dynamic and ever-changing experience. Whether viewed from different perspectives or at varying times of day, each encounter feels intimate and unique. At sunrise or sunset, Solair constantly evolves, mirroring the constant transformation of the environment it reflects.
Finn: That uniqueness makes it even more personal. No two people will see it from the same angle, at the same time, under the same conditions. It’s truly one of a kind.
Design Process:
Arjun: As Jade mentioned, our journey began with 40 students, each contributing unique ideas to an internal competition. Through collaboration with our professors and workshop staff, we refined these concepts — merging key elements to create a cohesive vision. The process was deeply iterative, involving extensive teamwork, material testing, and continuous adjustments. From design discussions to hands-on fabrication, the project thrived on collective effort, with students, mentors, and workshop staff working closely to bring our vision to life.
Nick: After the design charrette, we had a strong concept, but the real challenge was working out the details and making it a reality. Model-making played a crucial role in refining our design.
Marko: A big part of our process was figuring out critical connections—how the pieces came together structurally, how we designed the base, the corner details. It took all of us working together to solve these challenges.
Finn: I also want to emphasize how invaluable the workshop staff—Jordan, Jason, Fil, and others—were. Fil, in particular, provided guidance that helped us refine key details. We did the prototyping and testing, but their expertise made a significant difference.
Arjun: Experiential learning at DAS has evolved into a rich, collective knowledge base shaped by a precedence of success in numerous design-build initiatives. These experiences have empowered us to step into leadership roles—not only in design but also in project management, budgeting, and coordinating with suppliers. This well-rounded learning process, grounded in hands-on experience, has been invaluable in preparing us to navigate the complexities of real-world architectural practice.
Marko: At first, we thought we needed components to be outsourced, but we realized that pieces could be prefabricated in-house. The frame and panels were fully CNC’d, designed specifically for a custom fit. Working through those logistical challenges was a crucial learning experience.
Jade: We used laser cutting and 3D printing to create prototypes, turning digital models into physical objects. We even 3D-printed spacers to ensure precise screw placement. Through multiple tests and iterations, we significantly improved our digital fabrication skills.
Finn: Our professors were instrumental in helping us refine technical skills and translate ideas into reality. This kind of hands-on experience is invaluable—not just for design-build projects but also for studio work. It reinforces the mindset that what we create can be built in the real world.
Marko: Experiential learning is a major part of our program. You start by assisting on projects in your first and second years, learning how things come together. When you eventually take on a leadership role, you also guide younger students, creating a continuous cycle of teaching and learning.
Jade: The workshop team played a huge role in supporting us through the design process. Having students from different years and backgrounds involved brought in diverse ideas and perspectives, making this a truly collaborative effort. It improved our communication skills and ability to share knowledge effectively.
Arjun: One of the most valuable aspects of experiential learning at DAS is the opportunity to pursue projects that hold personal significance. Students are encouraged to collaborate with professors, share their interests, and take on initiatives that align with their passions. While coursework provides essential knowledge, these hands-on experiences offer a deeper, more meaningful way to explore architecture — bridging theory with practice and allowing students to shape their learning through projects that inspire them.
Nick: The faculty are just as passionate about these projects as we are. They frequently drop by, offering advice and recommendations, which makes a big difference.
What have you learned from this collaborative project that you can bring to new experiences?
Jade: The most important lesson we learned is communication. In architecture, design is rarely a solo effort—it’s about working together to refine ideas and bring them to life. This project gave us the opportunity to develop stronger collaborative skills while also learning about sourcing materials and using tools effectively.
Nick: The experience of working with specialized tools and machines will definitely help us in model-making and detailed drawings moving forward. It gave us hands-on skills we wouldn’t normally get in our everyday classes.
Arjun: Architecture is an incredibly multifaceted discipline, and this project provided valuable insight into its many layers. From collaborating with suppliers and manufacturers to managing logistics, timelines, and budgets, we gained practical experience that extends far beyond design. These skills are essential for any architect, bridging creative vision with the realities of project execution.
How do you think this experience makes you a better designer and helps you relate to your community?
Arjun: This project provided a unique opportunity to engage directly with the community, offering valuable insight into how people interact with our work. Witnessing individuals experience the installation in real time was incredibly rewarding — from their curiosity to moments of reflection or delight. These interactions offered a deeper understanding of how design can influence emotion, behavior, and connection. Observing these responses firsthand has given us invaluable lessons in creating more thoughtful, engaging, and emotionally resonant spaces in the future.
Finn: The most rewarding part was witnessing people's reactions—seeing how happy it made them, watching it circulate online. It reinforced the idea that design isn’t just about personal expression; it’s about the impact it has on others.
Nick: Seeing the response on social media and in articles has deepened my interest in public architecture. Before working on this project, I hadn’t considered it as a career focus, but now I see how impactful it can be.
