Gradex banner
Faculty of Design

Environmental Design

Salma Coovadia

Escape on King

Environmental Design
2026
Where public space, transit and landscape become oneReimagining King Street as a pedestrian and transit-oriented green corridor. That merges mobility, public life and landscape. By integrating transit systems, social spaces and green infrastructure, the project transforms the street into a shared urban landscape that improves accessibility, air quality, and public well-being.Stretching from Stanley Park to St. James Park, the corridor is bookended by two major green spaces. The greenery is drawn inward through the downtown core to reconnect fragmented urban green spaces.Curving ttc tracks and bike lanes break up the linearity of the street while also creating opportunities for green islands growing off those contours.All vehicles are removed from the corridor to prioritize three modes of transport, cycling, walking and public transit.Transit, cycling and pedestrian movement all operate on one continuous level. Material transitions and planting define each zone while maintaining openness and accessibility.All low lighting, up lights on trees and shrubs, lighting intergrated into ttc stop and benches and bollard lighting along the path ways. As well as a reliance on ambient lighting from surrounding shops and restaurantsPlay areas, art installations, seating, and pocket parks are spread along the corridor. They act as an escape from the bustle of the city, offering places to gather, relax and engage with nature.A continuous canopy of native trees provides shade, improves air quality and establishes a recognizable identity along the corridor.

Share with someone

Escape on King
Escape on King
Escape on King
Escape on King
Escape on King
Escape on King
Escape on King
Escape on King
Escape on King
Escape on King
Escape on King
Escape on King
Escape on King
Escape on King
Escape on King
Escape on King
Escape on King
Escape on King
Escape on King
Escape on King
Escape on King
Escape on King
Escape on King
Escape on King
Escape on King
Escape on King
Escape on King
Escape on King
Escape on King
Escape on King
Escape on King
Escape on King

Work by

Salma Coovadia

Environmental Design

“Design is more than the creation of spaces, it is the shaping of experiences, movement, and connection. My approach is rooted in the belief that a successful design should respond to the way people...” [More]