| Wong Dai Sin Temple | |
|---|---|
 View from Steeles Ave E, North York, ON in 2021 | |
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | |
| Address | 378 Steeles Ave E, Thornhill, ON L3T 0E7 1 |
| Town or city | Markham, ON |
| Country | Canada |
| Coordinates | 43°48′20″N 79°23′11″E / 43.80556°N 79.38639°E |
| Technical details | |
| Floor area | 3271 ft² |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Brigitte Shim |
The Wong Dai Sin Temple is a Taoist temple located in Markham, Ontario, Canada. It was designed by Shim-Sutcliffe Architects and completed in 2015 to provide a new home for The Fung Loy Kok Institute of Taoism, a group dedicated to their inner spiritual growth via the ancient physical practice of tai chi.[1][2] The temple was specifically designed to meet the spiritual needs and unique practices of The Fung Loy Kok Taoist Tai Chi Society while also reflecting the modern and contemporary world of its members.[2][3]
The Fung Loy Kok Taoist Tai Chi Society's practices are based in Taoism, and are represented in the temple's architecture. Similar to a well-executed tai chi position, the building's asymmetry and balance symbolize the harmony and balance of the universe according to Taoism and the balance of energy (chi and yin yang). The temple's daring floating one-story structure is one of the boldest gestures of architecture in the area,[4] and rises above the ground on a small number of rectangular columns that are suspended several meter's above the ground.[1] It is supported by one of the longest pre-stressed concrete cantilevers in North America.
The Canadian Architect (2016) lauded the elegance and refinement of the temple's design and layout, among other publications. According to Hume (2015),[4] the temple is also raising the bar for Markham's architecture. Several awards, including the Governor General's Awards in Architecture, a prestigious award in Canada that recognizes remarkable performance in the field of architecture[9],[1] have been given in recognition of the buildings daring and impressive architectural achievements. Azure Magazine (2016) also recognizes Wong Dai Sin Temple as the 2016 AZ Awards Winner for Outstanding Architecture Under 1000 Square Meters,[3] the RAIC (2016) exhibits the work of Governor General's Medal winners.
- ^ a b c "Wong Dai Sin Temple / Shim-Sutcliffe Architects". ArchDaily. 2017-08-24. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
- ^ a b "Wong Dai Sin Temple | Blackwell Structural Engineers". blackwell.ca. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
- ^ a b officebureau (2016-08-17). "2016 AZ Awards Winner: Best Architecture, Under 1,000 Square Metres". Azure Magazine. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
- ^ a b Hume (2015). "Temple raises the stakes in Markham: Taoist building has sophistication". Toronto Star.