HOP TO IT!

Hop To It! draws on the aesthetic of agricultural infrastructure to create a temporary oasis within a landscape transitioning from industrial use to a future residential community. Conceived as a foundational landscape, the installation establishes shade, vegetation, and water management infrastructure before permanent site services and amenities are in place.

Rented scaffolding forms the primary structural framework, supporting a network of wire trellises and metal planters. By utilizing rented components, the installation minimizes material consumption and reduces its embodied carbon footprint. The scaffold perimeter defines the outer boundary of the space, while an existing shipping container serves as its central focal point.

Shade sails stretch between the perimeter structure and the container, creating sheltered gathering spaces while harvesting rainwater. Together with the container roof, these surfaces direct runoff into storage barrels, where it is collected and reused to irrigate the planting.

The use of hop vines (Humulus lupulus) is intentional. Fast-growing and non-invasive, the vines can reach lengths of up to nine metres in a single growing season, quickly transforming the structure into a lush green canopy. Climbing the scaffold towers and spanning between them on a series of tensioned wires, the hops create a vaulted archway that defines the interior space.

Beyond their visual and environmental benefits, the hops also produce a harvestable crop that can be shared with Toronto's home-brewing community through GTA Brews. Solar-powered string lights, repurposed Muskoka chairs, and reclaimed cable reels used as tables complete the design palette, reinforcing the installation's emphasis on reuse, adaptability, and community engagement.

*Hop To It! was submitted for the 2026 Ookwemin minising Pop-up Gathering Space installation in Toronto hosted by Waterfront Toronto. The winning installation was by our friends at Arcana Materials with 3XN Architects and ha/f climate Design.