The Arquives

The Toronto-based ARQUIVES is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to collecting, preserving and sharing the history and culture of the LGBTQ2S+ community. Connecting between the floors of the two-storey facility, a long ramp circumvents the interior of the building and provides a diverse audience with equal access to the organization’s floors. Anyone passing can enter the space and explore the history and culture of the LGBTQ2S+ community. 

  • Project Title: The Arquives
  • Project Type: Commercial
  • Location: Toronto
  • Work Completed: School
  • Tools: Revit, AutoCAD, Enscape, Adobe Suite
  • Tasks Completed:
  • Conducted target and market analysis to understand client needs, site context, and accessibility needs.
  • Developed design iterations based on analysis findings.
    Utilized AutoCAD and Revit for 3D modeling of floor plans and design iterations.
  • Employed Enscape for rendering to create realistic visualizations for presentation packages.

  • Incorporated accessibility into the core of the design to reflect the organization’s ethos.

Axonometric view

The ARQUIVES ramp is a central feature that connects different levels of the space, providing visitors with a unique and accessible exploratory experience surrounded by diverse media. The lower level’s storage facility uses the available space for integrated storage, while the library above features cozy reading spots. The ramp’s design serves a multi-purpose function beyond vertical circulation, giving it a more significant status in the overall layout.

Early sketches of design vision.

A view inside the ramp, with it’s archive’s collections lining it’s path.

North South Section

East West Section

The ramp encircles the perimeter, integrating the center’s functions both below, above, and within it.

Parti diagrams and process sketches

A view of the ramp from the sorting space on the ground floor. The design offers visitors a glimpse of the archival process, inviting them to further understand and connect.