Reimagining Rack House D

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Designed as a space where entertainment and healing coexist, this project transforms the conventional performance venue into an environment of comfort, reflection, and renewal. A central chest brace element anchors the design, symbolizing support and emotional strength, while the staircase—positioned to echo the heart—represents circulation, safety, and life. Movement through the space becomes a subtle journey of healing, balancing the energy of performance with moments of calm.

Developed as a collaborative project by Hamna Ayaz and Nishim, the design is set within The Rack House D in The Distillery Historic District. Drawing from its history as part of the Gooderham and Worts Distillery, a place once defined by aging and transformation, the space is reimagined as one of emotional renewal — where history supports healing.

The chest brace element is constructed from salvaged materials sourced across Toronto, allowing reclaimed wood and metal to carry traces of the city’s past into a new form of support — reinforcing the project’s narrative of healing through preservation and renewal.