Upper Toronto is a science fiction design proposal to build a new city in the sky above Toronto. 

Imagine a city resting on the Bay Street towers – or the CN Tower as a walk up restaurant .

Once Upper Toronto is finished, Lower Toronto will be abandoned and turned into a combination of national park, farmland and intentional ruin.

This is, of course, a terrible idea.

But it’s a terrible idea that allows us to imagine a new city. To ask what would happen if, knowing what we now know, we could start fresh.

While clearly infeasible, it is important that all the proposals that make up Upper Toronto are good ones, even if forced relocation to the sky is not.

This has to be a city that we – the people planning it – want to live in.

To find out more check out uppertoronto.ca

Other posts and writing about the project:

Read Tim's great post on Quiet Babylon
Article on io9
Article on the Torontoist

WHAT WE’RE DOING

Stage 3: Presentation – 2015+
In condo presentation centres, public squares, libraries, and art festivals, the city of Upper Toronto is presented, much like a developer’s pitch or a time-share sale, to the people of Toronto. With models, animations and all the implements of sale, we convince voters to write their city councillor to propose a referendum on the adoption of Upper Toronto.

Stage 2: Working with Experts – 2012-14
Upper Toronto will be made with geographers, urban planners, policy makers, architects, engineers, marketers and real estate folk.

Stage 1: Community Consultations – NOW
In partnership with theatres, libraries, science fiction conventions and city councillors, we are holding consultations across the city – talking to people about the city they imagine.