"The EDIT Festival, which stands for Expo for Design, Innovation and Technology, will take place from September 28 to October 8 inside the abandoned Unilever Soap Factory near the Don Roadway and Lake Shore Boulevard East.

The 10-day event will come alive across five separate floors in the 150,000 square foot factory.

The overarching theme, Prosperity for All, will be brought to life by designer Bruce Mau and his massive photo exhibit of global conflicts. It'll take place on the main floor of the Unilever building.

Four sub-themes of Shelter, Care, Education and Nourish will be explored by Carlo Ratti, the Jamie Oliver Foundation, physician-scientist Julielynn Wong and Kentaro Toyama, among many other designers.

They'll each create installations that push the idea of how design thinking, coupled with innovative technology, can "help elicit change."

Jamie Oliver will present a VIP dinner, architect Philip Beesley will create an immersive, responsive light exhibit, and artist Moritz Waldemeyer will showcase an eight foot tall infographic interactive art installation.

The highly interactive festival will also include things like a giant robotic arm that shoots glitter, an aquaponics farm, pavilions, yet-to-be-announced performances and a light-graffiti project.

Each of the five floors will have its own theme, and in addition to the installations, there will be a food component where visitors can taste "futuristic meals," such as cricket Bolognese."

- BlogTO (http://www.blogto....p-factory-toronto/)



you can also check out the official website here: http://editdx.org/

Coooool! Wish I could go!! Sounds a lot like Luminato in Hearn.

I wonder if the property managers will consider doing more short-term rentals like this. Anyone know if the place is still going to be turned into a subway station down the road?

What's the deal with Toronto and turning abandonments into rental space for events?

First Hearn, now Korex... So odd.

Posted by Skye_Ann What's the deal with Toronto and turning abandonments into rental space for events? First Hearn, now Korex... So odd.

We think the interiors are unique and interesting. Other people do as well, so they rent them for events. We've been trailblazers, finding value in buildings that would have otherwise been seen as outmoded and worthless.

Posted by Hi/Po We think the interiors are unique and interesting. Other people do as well, so they rent them for events. We've been trailblazers, finding value in buildings that would have otherwise been seen as outmoded and worthless.

Great idea and great way to use these spaces!

Posted by Hi/Po We think the interiors are unique and interesting. Other people do as well, so they rent them for events. We've been trailblazers, finding value in buildings that would have otherwise been seen as outmoded and worthless.

+1

I think it's nice to see these types of creative re-use. It's far more desirable than demolition IMO.
There are actually quite a few great examples I can think of in the city - The Brickworks, Tip-Top Condos, Symes, to name a few. Hopefully we see more to come.