The Unzipped exhibit in Toronto is a unique opportunity to browse through projects from the architecture company Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), and those in collaboration with real estate development firm Westbank Corporation. It’s housed in the 2016 Serpentine Pavilion, which attempts to contrast the free-flowing element of a zipper to that of something of the opposite—a brick wall. As you walk in the pavilion, the brick wall—made of fibreglass frames—opens up like a zipper, creating the inner cavity. The open frames and the translucent properties of the fibreglass wall give off plenty of light-play within, as people move about outside and inside the structure.
From the entrance—facing south from King Street—you see the “wall” open up in front of you as you walk in. But seen from the east, facing west, the pavilion is seen as a perfect rectangle, mimicking a brick wall.
It is quite unique to see something like this in the middle of an urban street like King Street, and is a joy to walk in and around it on the lawn that was also created around this exhibit. Believe it or not this area was originally a parking lot!
If you get the chance, I recommend you go see it for yourself, even if it is to just sit down on the grass with a cup of coffee, enjoying the view around you.
Booking is required, and you can register for your time slot here.
Here’s a gallery of images that I took from when I went during the opening weekend. Click images below for larger versions.
Unzipped Toronto as seen from the entrance. Unzipped Toronto with the CN Tower. 
Looking up from the inside of Unzipped. 
The exit of Unzipped. 
Loving the play of lines seen from one side of Unzipped. 
Looking from the East facing West, the frames are hollow, allowing for light to pass through. The exhibit is rectangular in shape when seen from the east or west side. 
The entrance to Unzipped as seen from the East side. 
The fibreglass frames are stacked above each other almost like a brick wall. Enjoying the view from the faux hill. 
The “brick wall” opens up as you walk inside. 
The patterns seen from the shadows casting from the mid-day sun. 
More patterns when seen directly facing the frames. 
Guests peak through the fibreglass frames for a picture from the other side. 
The CN Tower seen through the cracks of the fibreglass frames. 
Another view looking up from within, near the wall. 
Looking through one of the fibreglass frames. 
Reflecting on one of the showcases. 
The light and shadow play here is great, especially when it is reflected off the showcase glass. 
One more view of facing up from inside. 
The patterns created by the light and shadow are quite mesmerizing. 
The Unzipped exhibit shown from behind the entrance bush. 
The Unzipped exhibit shown from behind the entrance bush.
Es una maravilla
Thank you!