Your Chance to be Part of Grimsby's Sensational Waterfront
By Jen Taylor on Apr 13, 2015
Nestled on the shores of Lake Ontario, Homes by DeSantis’ boutique condominium, AquaBlu, is proving that luxury is not only defined by exceptional amenities and lakefront views, but also architectural innovation and the way a positive atmosphere and a sense of community are established. Homes By DeSantis is therefore seeking an original art piece for the courtyard of AquaBlu, and has put out a call to all Ontario sculptural artists interested in making their philosophy a reality.
Art reigns at AquaBlu
DeSantis was inspired by the condominium market in Miami where art and sculpture were incorporated into the architecture and the everyday lives of each resident. “It’s not just about turning a key and spending your time inside your condo, it’s about residing in a building with spaces to enjoy beyond your four walls,” explains President Gabriel DeSantis.
Homes By DeSantis has released a Call to Artists to design the exterior sculpture, an entry feature that will be positioned in the central roundabout in front of the building’s main foyer. This public competition is open to any sculptural artists residing in Southern Ontario, and will help bring attention to some of Ontario’s homegrown talent.
The Call to Artists is a two-stage competition in which a jury will review the submissions and select a group of finalists. The winner will then be selected based on the models and sketches produced by these qualifying artists. The jury is comprised of representatives from Homes by DeSantis as well as the curator of the Grimsby Art Gallery, connecting the project to the town’s local arts community.
Those looking to submit a proposal should take note that all submissions must contain a sketch of the design concept for the new sculpture, as well as 5-8 photographs clearly labelled with the name, title, dimensions, budget, orientation of the image, and detailed description of the piece. The proposal should also reflect Homes By DeSantis’ commitment to upholding “old world craftsmanship and new world thinking,” which has underpinned the company’s developments over the last 50 years.
The submissions will be critiqued based on creativity, the quality and degree of interaction with the community, relevance to the site, feasibility, and consideration for the characteristics of the community. The Town of Grimsby is currently undergoing a major waterfront revitalization that will feature new bike and walking paths as well as a cobblestone beach. As a lakeside condominium, the sculpture should reflect and easily integrate into the Town’s vision for the new waterfront area.
According to the Toronto Arts Council, the arts help highlight Canada’s diversity, build connections within communities, and have a positive impact on mental health and stress reduction. At AquaBlu, Homes by DeSantis strives to capture this southern penchant for integrating art into the everyday in order to create an atmosphere that will benefit the individuals, connect the condo to the Ontario arts community, and complement Grimsby’s evolving waterfront.
Superior design at AquaBlu
The AquaBlu development is comprised of 120 condominium residences and four townhomes starting from $189,900. Designed by the award-winning architectural firm KNY Architects, AquaBlu is inspired by the boutique hotels in South Beach Miami. Their design utilizes floor-to-ceiling windows allowing residents to take in views of the landscape and shores of Lake Ontario.
The interior has been carefully designed by Toronto’s Tomas Pearce Interior Design Consulting. Their sophisticated and elegant design incorporates a sky lounge terrace and an elegant two-storey lobby. Residents can also stay relaxed and healthy with the fitness and yoga centre, the games room, and the club room. With the help of these exceptional design teams, the condominium embraces the beauty of living well, and strives to match good design with access to art and exceptional amenities, surpassing the expectations of what it means to live in a condo.
The deadline for the proposal is April 24, 2015 at 3:00pm. For more information about the Call to Artists and where to submit proposals, take a look at the official RFP here.
