- Kuuala HQ
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Reduce. Reuse. Reinvent. Once a symbol of the industrial era in the 1900s, the Darling Foundry has transformed into a contemporary visual arts centre at the turn of the 21st century. The Darling once employed more than 800 workers, handling the manufacturing and storage of an array of industrial equipment. However, the foundry’s transportation source, the Lachine Canal, was closed in 1970; thus, destroying the future of Darling and many other industrial companies. The Darling Foundry was completely abandoned in 1991.
In 2001, the Darling Foundry was renovated into a visual arts centre that was focused on the role of the artist at the heart of the city. The foundry has been converted into exhibition arenas, creation studios, and living quarters for traveling artistic talent from all over the world. 10,000 visitors a year frequent the two main showrooms.
- Kuuala HQ
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Three years ago, in the building adjacent to the exhibition areas, the architectural firm, L’Oeuf, created a collection of ten artists’ studios, production workshops, and three living spaces. L’Oeuf which specializes in green design, incorporated contemporary, sustainable design into the existing, historic brick walls and foundry fixtures, which amplified the synergy of past and present architecture.
- Darling Foundry Event
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At present, the Darling Foundry has a new tenant. Kuuala, a green building and office product supplier to the U.S. and Canada, moved in to one the reinvented spaces created by L’Oeuf. Kuuala is working now to help the local community’s facility managers, designers, and planners create sustainable commercial spaces which will accelerate the growth and potential of this quickly developing area. This reincarnation of a foundry established in 1880, morphed into an artist’s fantasy, turned small social enterprise, is the essence of reuse and reinvention.
Article:
http://www.greenteamagazine.com/?p=623L'Oeuf:
http://www.loeuf.com/index.php.enKuuala:
http://www.kuuala.com/
