Dir. Jamie Kastner
2022, Canada, 84 min
Built in 1904, the half-block mid-rise apartment complex at Spadina and Lowther is the oldest Toronto building to maintain its original floor plans, not to mention many original architectural details. These rental units have drawn an equally eclectic mix of tenants: literary, industrial, operatic, from economizing aristocrats to ascending rock stars — embodying the unique creative spirit that drew developers to Toronto in the first place.
After their home is sold to Dutch developers ProWinko, the Spadina Gardens tenants form an association to petition for heritage status to protect the building amid dramatically rising property values. While easily among the most privileged of Toronto’s constituents, the fight to preserve Spadina Gardens nevertheless offers insights into the current housing crisis and about the solidarity required to preserve the rapidly disappearing soul of the city.
Join us for a post-screening Q&A with filmmaker Jamie Kastner.
Generously sponsored by Alvin Yee and May Chow
The Architecture + Design Film Festival (A+DFF) in Winnipeg presents critically acclaimed films focusing on the importance of architecture and design in everyday life. The films cover a range of design-oriented topics from architecture and urban design to graphics and product design. A+DFF (adff.ca) is the only Canadian based festival devoted solely to architecture and design. The festival is presented with the support of the Winnipeg Foundation, Urban Idea and the Manitoba Arts Council.
