• Source: Partisans (architectural firm)

PARTISANS is an internationally-recognized architecture firm known for its future-forward approach to design and technology, civic advocacy, and cultural engagement. Based in Toronto, Canada, the firm was founded in 2012 and operates under the leadership of Alex Josephson. Stemming from a philosophy rooted in defying conventional norms, PARTISANS designs architecture, cities, concepts, and even ideas, with projects that range from furniture, houses, skyscrapers, to masterplans. PARTISANS operates as a diverse group of architects, thinkers, storytellers, and cultural enthusiasts united by a shared mission to revolutionize the boundaries of architecture. The firm's portfolio includes versatile projects for varied clientele, including renowned restauranteurs, real estate trusts, and Fortune 500 companies. The name PARTISANS represent the firm's interest in collective action and architecture as a political force for social and cultural good.




Contribution to Canadian Architecture


Since its establishment, the firm has played a pivotal role in enhancing Canada's cultural climate, employing an innovative methodology centered around process-based solutions.
The 2016 Luminato Festival in Toronto saw an unprecedented success when PARTISANS creatively repurposed The Hearn, a decommissioned power plant, into a dynamic venue for multidisciplinary performances. Simultaneously, the firm took on the challenge of revitalizing Ontario Place, a cultural hub with deep roots in Toronto's history. Through multi-phased renovations, PARTISANS transformed Ontario Place into a year-round destination for the latest exhibitions in performance, music, art, and culture. This groundbreaking initiative set a precedent for reuse projects in Toronto, sparking an ongoing conversation about the city's built environment.
PARTISANS has also championed community-driven and value-based design initiatives, exemplified by their design work for iconic landmarks like Windsor's Charles Brooks Memorial Peace Fountain. In 2020, the firm received the prestigious Emerging Architectural Practice Award from the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada. The jury commended PARTISANS for their original, powerful, and evocative projects that transcend scales, from interiors to city planning. The firm's commitment to architecture as a social vehicle is evident in the beloved spaces they have crafted, reflecting a bold and expansive vision of architecture as both an art form and a profession engaged with profound cultural questions.




History


Founded by Alex Josephson and Pooya Baktash in 2012, PARTISANS emerged from a commitment to defy norms. Their collaboration began during their Master of Architecture studies at the University of Waterloo, where a shared dissatisfaction with larger firms' lack of creativity and innovation sparked the inception of PARTISANS.
PARTISANS emerged with modest commissions, gradually advancing to larger projects. In 2013, the firm secured a pivotal commission to redevelop and expand Toronto's historic Union Station's commercial real estate. Leveraging the station's identity as a major transit hub, PARTISANS transformed the landmark into an unprecedented culinary and retail center. The year 2014 marked a turning point for PARTISANS, propelling them into the spotlight with internationally acclaimed wood sculptural endeavors such as The Grotto Sauna and Bar Raval, setting the stage for later signature projects like the high-rises 55 Yonge, 69 Yonge, Elm St, and the Innisfil Orbit Masterplan. These projects showcased PARTISANS' exceptional mastery of materiality, underscoring their commitment to pushing the boundaries of architectural discipline.
Jonathan Friedman, an architect with over a decade's experience in Ontario, joined PARTISANS as a third partner in 2014. In 2023, the partners parted ways by mutual agreement, and Jonathan Friedman and Pooya Baktash have started their own ventures. Currently, PARTISANS is led by Alex Josephson who continues to shape the firm's legacy of architectural innovation and boundary-pushing designs. A Toronto native, Alex Josephson gained experience with architect Massimiliano Fuksas in Rome before returning to Canada with a mission to bring a strong creative vision to Toronto. Alex Josephson has been awarded the Globe & Mail 2013 Catalyst Award for PARTISANS' innovations in architecture and cultural engagement.




Publications






= Graphic Novel

=
In 2014, Partisans published a graphic novel called "Suburbabylonia", a part manifesto, part satire novel. The book has the appearance of dreamy images and truth-seeking spaceman hero, but beneath the surface, the authors aim to mock an off-kilter version of a Toronto-like metropolis, destroyed by unchecked building boom and ineptitude of municipal politicians.




= Book

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In 2016, Hans Ibelings along with Partisans co-wrote a book called "Rise and Sprawl: The Condominiumization of Toronto". Together they tackle the criticism of Toronto's current skyline, and how the rapid growth of downtown as well as the condominium development has changed Toronto.




Recognition


2020 - RAIC Emerging Architectural Practice




Notable Projects & Awards


Current: 1925 Victoria Park Ave
2023 - Holcim Gold Medal, North America
Current: 55 Yonge
2022 - Chicago Athenaeum International Architecture Award, Skyscrapers & High-rises
2023: Canvas House
2021: Vela
2021 - Azure Magazine's Top 10 Interiors of the Year
2020: Gusto501
2023 - Toronto Urban Design Award
2020 - International Masonry Institute JBC Masonry Innovation Competition
2020 - IES Illumination Award
2019: Innisfil Orbit Masterplan, Garden City Plan for 50,000 new homes in Ontario
2022 - Chicago Athenaeum International Architecture Award, Urban Planning
2021 - AZ Awards: Urban Design Visions Finalist
2021 - International Property Awards: Best Landscape Architecture Canada & Ontario
2019: Toronto Biennial of Art
2018: Quetzal
2022 - Michelin Star
2019 - Canada's 100 Best Restaurants: Best Restaurant Design
2019 - Canadian Interiors, Best of Canada, Hospitality
2018: Fold House
2021 - WAF House & Villa (Rural/Nature) Finalist
2018: Union Station, Toronto's central train terminal, Interior Fit-Out
2017: Yeoui-Naru Han Gang Wishbone Ferry Terminal
American Architecture Prize: Winner in Architectural Design & Transportation
2016: Luminato Festival of the Arts at The Hearn
2017 - Toronto Urban Design Awards, Special Jury Award for Urban Activation
2015: Bar Raval
2016 - MCHAP Emerging Architecture, 2016 Nominee
2016 - American Architecture Prize, Gold in Hospitality Interior Design
2016 - AIA International Region Merit Award
2015 - Architect Magazine R+D Awards, Special Mention
2015 - Canadian Interiors Magazine, 18th Annual Best of Canada Design Competition
2015 - Ontario Wood WORKS! Interior Design Award
2014: Grotto Sauna
2015 - OAA Design Excellence
2015 - WAF World Building of the Year Shortlist
2015 - BOY, Best in 10: Beauty/Spa
2015 - Architizer A+ Healthcare & Wellness Popular Choice Winner
2014 - Interior Design "2014 BOY Winner: Spa"
2014 - AIA International Honor Award
2014 - Interior Design Magazine Award, Best of 2014
2014 - Ontario Wood WORKS! 2014 Wood Design Award
2014: Gweilo
2018 - Wallpaper* Design Awards, Lighting
2017 - European Product Design Awards, Silver for Illumination/Floor Lamps
2016 - Azure Magazine AZ Awards, Best Lighting Installation
2015 - Architizer A+ Awards, Architectural Lighting
2015 - LAMP, Lighting Award




References

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Partisans (architectural firm)
• Partisan
• Decentralization
• Corporate sociopolitical activism
• Chetniks
• Ingalls Rink
• Yugoslavia
• Democratic Party (United States)
• Austria
• Architecture of Estonia