Toronto architecture studio Raw Design had its annual industry party Thursday night at one of the oldest working bread factories in the city. Tapping into the pop-up party trend, Raw Rising took place in the parking lot, entrance, and loading dock of the Ontario Bread Co. as the bakers worked to prepare the next day’s delivery orders.
The historic location was an interesting choice for the design firm, as it is the future site of a Raw Design 16-unit town house development, now in the approval stage of planning. “It’s important to instill this memory in the designers, architects, and planners who are here. These are the people who are changing the face of Toronto,” said Kim Graham of Kim Graham & Associates, who produced the event. “We need to have them see and experience history before it’s gone.”
While last year’s party took place in the new Mini Cooper showroom, Graham explained, “I felt very strongly that we had to take this year to the street and not be confined by a space.”
In a lane off of the Ossington strip, the 80-year-old factory was the visual focus, with decor kept simple. Under a white tarp in the parking lot, the bar served sparkling wine alongside raw oysters on wooden loading pallets from Sublime Catering. Inside, servers passed ceviche, pâté, and freshly sliced charcuterie while DJ Robert Turner played. The Glenfiddich tasting lounge took over the loading dock, with grey sofas offering guests a glimpse of the bakers at work.
The event decor was whimsical, evident in the bread that decorated the space, with suspended bread loaves serving as lights and bread covering the walls. A wall of graffiti—which would have been larger, if not for the rain—brightened a wall of the parking lot. “We wanted to give a sense of play,” Graham said. “Sometimes we take ourselves too seriously.”
Sponsors included Steam Whistle Brewery, Lifford Wines, and Atlas Block.
