May 8-9, 2024

Join the BSI's Summit and help develop forward-thinking solutions around smart sustainability based on societal and planetary challenges.

BSI International Charrette 2024

Join the workshop and help design sustainable living and growing spaces! Create low-carbon housing units and grow food locally in the city.
Date:
Feb 22, 2024
Feb 26, 2024
Location:
3 Lower Jarvis St. Toronto

Overview

The Brookfield Sustainability Institute will be hosting its 21st International Charrette on the theme of "Sharing, Caring and Living: Sustainable Communities for the Future". The charrette challenges will revolve around the design of innovative solutions that follow the simple living philosophy for sustainable lives for all. In this charrette, teams will design main life domains: food, health and housing in inclusive and sustainable perspectives. There are 11 potential projects in this charrette that explore design solutions including urban food systems, mobile health/well-being service, sustainable cabin, sustainable community center, sustainable park and attainable housing models at three different scales.

To learn more about the participants and projects in this Charrette, Click Here.

Meanwhile, explore our past charrettes and valuable handbooks to learn more:

Special Keynote:

“Weather Gone Wild: Building Right for a Changing Climate” by Dr. Blair Feltmate

What are the Streams?

Ways of Sharing

• The relationship between Working & Learning

• Themes: harmonization of work and learning practices, people-friendly workspaces, sustainable learning methodologies

‍• Facilitator: Eric Meerkamper
• Case Study: FireINtegra



In a world facing sustainability challenges, the relationship between work and learning needs a paradigm shift. Not only do traditional models contribute to environmental strain but emerging technologies are increasingly both enabling change and disrupting existing work and learning models, creating a pressing need for sustainable innovations that harmonize work and learning practices.

This Stream will explore sustainable innovations in learning and work.

Determine how cutting-edge practices can provide solutions to the environmental and social upheaval that is underway. From the harmonization of work and learning practices, to people-friendly workspaces, to sustainable learning methodologies, we'll delve into transformative solutions that shape a future that is more socially sustainable.

• The relationship between Health & Wellness

• Themes: mental well-being, community resilience, and inclusive care strategies

• Facilitator: Jane Cooke-Lauder
• Case Study: Source Farm



Exploring novel ways of caring for individuals and communities.

In our fast-paced world, health challenges abound, impacting both individuals and communities. The traditional approaches to healthcare often fall short in addressing the holistic well-being of individuals, leaving communities vulnerable to various health-related issues.

This Stream will explore innovative solutions in the realm of health and wellness.

We’ll lead discussions on holistic approaches to healthcare, mental well-being, community resilience, and inclusive care strategies. We’ll delve into the latest advancements, compassionate strategies, and collaborative initiatives that contribute to healthier societies.

Ways of Caring

Ways of Living

• The relationship between Housing & Community

• Themes: redefine urban living, infrastructure development, and housing design

• Facilitator: Kristina Verner
• Case Study: Eglinton West



Our current living practices and infrastructure often contribute to environmental degradation and urban challenges.

Traditional approaches to housing and infrastructure can be unsustainable, posing threats to both the well-being of individuals and the health of the planet.

This Stream will explore cutting-edge solutions and sustainable practices that redefine urban living, infrastructure development, and housing design. We’ll envision and create a blueprint for tomorrow’s living spaces where comfort and environmental harmony coexist.

More Details

Sharing, Caring and Living: Sustainable Communities for Future: The Brookfield Sustainability Institute at George Brown College will be hosting its 21st International Charrette in February on the theme of shairng, caring and living in our environment. The charrette challenges aim to experiment with innovative ideas for re-thinking the essential life domains connected to food, housing, and health, aiming to shift the idea of sustainability towards the concept of sufficiency.

The challenge will bring together interdisciplinary groups working on various projects, producing tangible solutions, including AI and Digital Technologies, Service Design, Nature-Based-Solutions for Urban Planning, Architectural Designs, and Prototyped Products. From the design of affordable and sustainable housing units that follow the simple living philosophy that embraces a low carbon footprint lifestyle, to challenges focused on the design of the components of an automated and decentralized urban farm that would be operated in partnership between the community and an educational institution. The challenge of the various scales of local growing for food security in the urban context will be explored ranging from personal growing to public growing of food in the city. 

Projects:

Project 1 – Urban Farming/Composting Kit: Design of “Sustainable and Modular Urban Farming Kits” for residential use. Allows for vegetable growing at home.


Project 2 – Food Connect Digital Platform: A digital platform design to foster a vibrant, inclusive and interconnected food ecosystem.


Project 3 – City Harvest Network: Vertical/Horizontal growing structures placed in underutilized urban spaces that allow for hi-tech (AI and robotics) urban food production.


Project 4 - Mobile Health/Well-being Popup: Design of a modular and expanding sustainable well-being/clinic structure.


Project 5 – Digital Platform for Well-being: An inclusive and ICT based connected platform for health & well-being service design.


Project 6 - Sustainable Cabin Design: Design of a smart sustainable cabin design for small budget families


Project 7 - Sustainable Community Center: Design of a sustainable community centre and health and wellness facility for Wooler, (a village in Ontario Canada).


Project 8 - Sustainable Community Park: Nature-based solutions for outdoor community recreation spaces in Wooler (a village in Ontario, Canada)


Project 9 - New Attainable Housing Model / Scale 1: Affordable and sustainable housing design at a small scale in downtown Toronto.


Project 10 – New Attainable Housing Model / Scale 2: Affordable and sustainable housing design at a medium scale (row houses) design in downtown Toronto


Project 11 – New Attainable Housing Model / Scale 3: Affordable and sustainable mid-rise apartment building design in downtown Toronto. This group will also develop strategies for a new innovative real estate development model.

Don't hesitate to join us on this insightful journey towards a brighter future.

Secure your spot now by clicking here.

Fully Booked

Gallery

Recordings from the Summit are now available!