Alsop’s filmport

Karlo Ghokasian

Sometimes an artist describes him or herself so aptly that it leaves others with nothing much more to say. In the case of Toronto-based illustrator Karlo Ghokasian, he has this to say about himself: ‘Most people go to university to become fancy doctors and sexy lawyers. You know, real important type careers. I on the other hand spent four years drawing vaginas. So, why have I chosen to be an illustrator? Well, I’m not in it for the money. I do it to impress women’. Read more

Little Girls cover Beach House’s 10 Mile Stereo

Josh McIntyre, aka Little Girls, recently released a cover of Beach House’s epic 10 Mile Stereo. Little Girls will also be releasing a 7-inch split, Volume 2 of Best of Both Records, a Toronto and Oslo based label that does splits with bands from both cities. We have a free download of 10 Mile Stereo in our Music Download section.

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Rock Paper Scissors World Championships

The traditional game of Rock, Paper, Scissors is generally considered to be a children’s activity, but some adults use it to solve their differences. And, get this, it’s also now a ‘sport‘ controlled by an international association with tournaments played in many countries. The highest authority is the World Rock Paper Scissors Society located in Toronto, Canada, which regulates and promotes the sport and organizes conferences, an annual retreat, and monthly tournaments in clubs and institutions. And then there’s the World Championship, which takes place annually in Toronto. Now, quick choose your weapon. We take Scissors. [Watch a video of last year's exciting World Championship final] Read more

Floating House

This house has many facets that make it an intriguing example. First of all, it is a very aesthetically pleasing project with the use of light horizontal timbers and a clean pitched roof. Designed by MOS, an interesting design collective based in America, the secret to the Floating House is that it floats on a structure of steel pontoons. The house rises and falls with the changing waters and is frozen in place depending on the season. The steel pontoons were constructed first and towed to the lake outside the contractor’s factory and then the house was built atop of it. When finished it was towed to its position, anchored and enjoyed in its unique position. Finally, it forms a bridge between the land and an island. Wonderful!

Torre Bicentenario

Dutch uber-firm OMA, headed by Rem Koolhaas, has created this concept in Mexico City to symbolize the coming two hundred years of Mexico’s independence. There are many layers of symbolism in this building, from Mayan pyramids to which part of the building controls the park and which part controls the city, to the fact that the bulge of the building is below the centre height, and that it all happens on a relatively small footprint. Most of all, in this building there is a barely contained energy that seems near to release and it may be that this is what Torre Bicentenario represents.

Danish Building Bridge

The Danes are renowned for their considered and subtle design. However, in these times of change, they must feel they need something with this selection of a bridge building as the winner of a recent architectural competition in Denmark. The American architect Steven Holl designed this building with a pedestrian bridge that links two sides of the harbour in the distinctly low-rise Copenhagen. Read more