Vision
At the intersection of architecture, performance and installation, Space & Story is an interdisciplinary art and design practice that brings the element of narrative to spatial design, creating unique physical and sensory experiences.
Based in Toronto, Space & Story specializes in contemporary architecture and interior design, as well as multimedia immersive art installations and performance design. Started by Margaret Krawecka as an ‘out-of-the-box’ alternative to conventional design practice, its goal is to bring a unique and refined artistic approach to the design of physical environments.
Space & Story partners with collaborators to suit the requirements of each project as required.
Margaret Krawecka (Artistic Director)
Margaret completed her Bachelor of Architecture at the University of Toronto (2001) and Masters of Arts in Scenography at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, University of the Arts London, UK (2005). She is an interdisciplinary artist and architectural designer who brings a research-based, body-centered, intercultural perspective to the process of spatial design.
Born in Poland, Margaret spent her childhood in the sensory-immersive world of Kuwait, before immigrating with her family to Canada. She focused her BArch thesis on movement in architecture and contemporary dance, and then studied performance design in the UK, where she discovered promenade theatre and site-specific performance installation. It is in the UK and Europe that her passion for the discovery of space through sensory perception and movement of the body further developed, and continues to influence her current work.
With many years of experience working internationally in architecture firms, as well as on theatre, dance, and multimedia projects, Margaret continues to develop her practice, working across disciplines and focusing on immersive narrative space. She enjoys collaborating with dancers, sound designers and other artists, and is also a part-time sessional instructor at the University of Waterloo School of Architecture.
With a life spent between three continents, I draw on my passion for understanding other cultures to bring the element of empathy to my work, opening up diverse points of view through tangible spatial experience. My architecture background plays a key role in my creative approach to installation, scenography, and other time-based work. I am interested in exposing essential hidden structures, patterns and diagrams in space and time, applicable to ordering narrative or configuring physical movement. Through my immersive environments, I strive to combine my experience in architecture and theatre to create narratives experienced through sensory interaction and physical movement in space.
- MK
CV
EDUCATION
2004-2005 - Master of Arts in Scenography - Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, University of the Arts London, UK
Study Placement: BAI Bizkaia Drama School, Bilbao, Spain (spring 2005)
1996-2001 - Bachelor of Architecture - University of Toronto Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design, Canada
Exchange program at Kraków Polytechnical University (spring 2000)
Study Abroad program in Nice, France (autumn 1999)
1996 - Graduated from the University of Toronto Schools high school
1981-90 - Lived in Kuwait and attended Kuwait English School
1978 - Born in Kraków, Poland
SOLO SHOWS
web - The Hunger - World Stage Design 2013 online exhibition
2013 - Space and Story: a retrospective - UTS Keys Gallery, Toronto
2012 - Narrative Spaces: scenographic projects by Margaret Krawecka - Nova Resto Bar, Kraków
2012 - The Hunger - Scotiabank Studio Theatre, Pia Bouman Studios, Toronto
2009 - The Hunger (workshop v.1) - Deleon White Gallery, Toronto
GROUP SHOWS
2017 - The New Normal - The Hangar UMAM D&R & Dawawine, Beirut, Lebanon
2012 - The Hunger (adaptation) - Harvest Festival, Ontario
2011 - Hansel and Gretel (The Hunger workshop v.2) - Gallery 99, Toronto Nuit Blanche
2011 - Kaleidoscope - Sunnyside Beach Juried Art Show & Sale, Toronto
2010 - Excavations - Polish Combatant Hall, Toronto Scotiabank Nuit Blanche
2010 - My Sunnyside - Sunnyside Beach Juried Art Show & Sale, Toronto
2009 - Changing Room - Sunnyside Beach Juried Art Show & Sale, Toronto
2009 - Fragment - Polish Combatant Hall, Scotiabank Nuit Blanche, Toronto
2008 - Cocoon Garden - St. Patrick's Market Square, Toronto Scotiabank Nuit Blanche & Harvest Festival, Ontario
2006 - Empty Act - La Cathedral, Dublin, Ireland
2001 - Territory - Gallery Este, Toronto
2001 - Optic 2001 - The Warehouse nightclub, Toronto
ARCHITECTURE & INTERIOR DESIGN
2018 - 2020 - Doe Lake Cottage, Gravenhurst, Ontario (in collaboration w/ Sylvia Pawlowska)
2020 - Joven Huard, Toronto (contract)
Luxury condominium amenity areas, Toronto - interior design
Luxury penthouse suite, Toronto - interior design
Moxy Hotels (Marriott), Australia - interior design
2015 - 20 - besomething, Edmonton - interior design & permanent art installations with branding company
Prairie Noodle Shop ramen restaurant
Huang Long restaurant
Sherbrooke Liquor Tasting Room
New Skin Laser Studio skin care clinic
2017 - 2019 - House addition & renovation, Toronto
2018 - Hunter Coffee Shop, Toronto
2017 - Part-time collaboration w/ Nakamura Cassidy Design Architecture, Toronto (residential)
2017 - Interior design project: Skills for Change childcare centre kitchen renovation, Toronto
2015-16 - RAW Design, Toronto (contract)
Contract administration assistance for new mid-rise condominium: detail design, checking shop drawings
2015 - Royal Ontario Museum (contract): design development & working drawings for mineralogy collections storage compaction & new classroom with minerals display area; assistance in selection of finishes, furniture & lighting
2014 - Interior design project: residential kitchen renovation, Kraków
2013-4 - Interior design project: minor renovations & design for new two-bedroom house, Kraków - kitchen, two bathrooms, custom millwork, lighting, interior finishes, furniture selection
2013-15 - Beaches house addition & renovation, Toronto (in collaboration w/ re:Built Developments)
2012 - Design and production of thematic wall installations (plus architectural films & general interior design consulting) for family physician offices in Orillia, Ontario
2012 - Interior design project: residential kitchen renovation, Toronto
2011 - Clarendon Development, Sudbury (contract)
Feasibility studies for MacKenzie Lofts conversion of elementary school into residential units in Sudbury, Ontario
2010-11 - Taylor Smyth Architects, Toronto
Completed with team design & detail development for Cedarvale School addition tender package
Designed with team CUPE Ontario Regional Headquarters offices (40,000 sqft interior retrofit): managed two assistants & drawing packages; schematic to tender
Completed with team DD & building permit package for Market Street Development (commercial restoration & renovation of listed buildings & new addition next to St. Lawrence Market)
2010 - Interior design project: residential bathroom renovation, Toronto
2010 - Susan Speigel Architects, Toronto (contract)
Worked with team on hard landscaping for Toronto Community Housing Curb Appeal projects
2008 - Team Project, Toronto (contract)
Designed with team new office/studio spaces for LIFT (Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto)
2007-8 - Giannone Associates Architects, Toronto
Designed with team renovation of Ontario Science Centre Valley Marketplace cafeteria, including sculptural ceiling elements (schematic to tender)
Researched new materials: sustainable & recycled
2007 - Donaghy + Dimond Architects, Dublin, Ireland
Completed DD & tender package for renovation & extension works to 3-storey Georgian house & garden shed in Ranelagh, Dublin
Completed with team DD & building permit package for addition & renovation of (historic) elementary school in Inchicore, Dublin
2007 - Interior design project: bathroom renovation for private apartment, Kraków
2006 - Interior design project: flexible studio apartment in new residential unit, Kraków
2005-6 - Brooks Murray Architects, London, UK
Worked on design for facade restoration & addition to Victorian seaside hotel
Worked on schematic design of exterior elevations for six-storey mixed-use building in Central London
2003-4, 2008 - Gulf Consult Architects Engineers Planners, Kuwait
Completed planning of large private residential complex, Wafra
Completed schematic design of private seaside chalet complex, Julaya
Completed DD of exterior elevations for Center for Research and Studies on Kuwait (institutional)
Completed with team schematic master plan study for the Scientific Center extension (recreational)
Designed key outdoor elements for the College of Business Studies (clocktower & sundial)
2001-2 - Hariri Pontarini Architects, Toronto
Designed outdoor architecture / landscaping for private residence: schematic to working drawings
Assisted with proposal for U of T Faculty of Law master plan: drawings, booklet & vision statement
Worked with team on DD for York University Schulich School of Business Resource Center
Assisted with McKinsey & Co. office millwork working drawing package
Assisted with writing project pursuit vision statements & graphic design layouts
1997 - Ministry of Culture and Communications, Hull, Quebec - Ontario-Quebec Summer Student Job Exchange Program
Completed architectural documentation & recommendation for improvement of 50 municipal libraries in the Outaouais region
MUSEUM EXHIBIT DESIGN
2014 - Museum of the Home Army, Kraków - Szare Szeregi (Gray Ranks) exhibition on the history of Polish Scouts during WWII - Artistic Collaborator: exhibition installation manager, painting, display case arrangements
2008 - Lublin Museum, Lublin, Poland - New permanent multimedia archeological exhibition by MM Radniccy, Kraków - Design Assistant: design development & working drawings
EVENT DESIGN ARTISTIC DIRECTION
2006 - Promenade theatre event Egyptian Fantasia - University College London, UK - Commissioned by the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archeology
2005-6 - Future Cinema (now Secret Cinema, part of Future Shorts Film Network), London, UK - Associate Artist
The Matrix - Mansion House, Dublin, Ireland - Artistic Direction
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off - Greenwich Park, UK - Direction of live performance
Gothic Nightmares - Ashton Court Mansion, Bristol, UK - Set Dressing
In Transit - London Film Festival, SE1 / London Bridge Vaults, London, UK - Installation
SCENOGRAPHY
2019 - Everybody Dies In December - Theatre Passe Muraille Backspace, Toronto
2016 - Workshop with Sasha Ivanochko
2014 - Coming music video by Ewa Uryga - Bytom, Poland - Set Design Collaborator
2014 - Legendy - Rozbark Theatre, Bytom, Poland
2013 - Speak, Love - Rachel Browne Theatre, Winnipeg; OFFTA Festival, Montreal; Winchester Street Theatre, Toronto
2012 - what i learned from a decade of fear - Aluna Theatre, Toronto - Research Assistant
2010 - Dancemakers: Double Bill #2 - Enwave Theatre, Toronto - Set Design Assistant to Trevor Schwellnus
2009 - Artform, Toronto - Television Production Design Assistant
2007 - Bette Midler - Colosseum, Las Vegas - Set Design Assistant to Michael Levine
2006 - Perfection - Old Red Lion Theatre, London, UK
2006 - 4:48 Psychosis - Tangram Theatre, Old Red Lion Theatre & Arcola Theatre, London, UK
2006 - Gotterdammerung - Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, UK - Production Design Internship
2005 - Space is Not Empty - Scenoworks Festival, Cochrane Theatre, London, UK
2005 - Citric City - Ollerias factory, Periferiak Festival, Bilbao, Spain
VIDEO SCREENINGS
2018 - Green Zoo Festival, Krakow
2012 - Kaleidoscopic Landscapes - FAT: Toronto Arts & Fashion Week, Toronto
2012 - Roll out the croissants - 14th Annual Parkdale Film + Video Showcase, Toronto
ARTIST RESIDENCIES
2015 - Banff Artist in Residence (BAiR) summer program in Visual Arts, The Banff Centre, Alberta
LECTURES / ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE
2019 - Sessional Lecturer at Daniels Faculty of Architecture, University of Toronto
2018 - Guest critic at University of Waterloo School of Architecture
2018 - Guest critic at Daniels Faculty of Architecture, University of Toronto
2017 - Adjunct Assistant Professor at University of Waterloo School of Architecture
2015 - Artist talk at monthly Urban Toronto Beekeepers' Association meeting
2013 - Presented paper at Prague Quadriennale of Performance Design & Space symposium "Layering Reality: the Right to Mask" - Topic: "Masking as narrative tool in multi-sensory immersive performance installation"
2011 - Translated 6000-word introduction to photographic album from Polish to English (summary of the history of architecture in Kuwait): "Architectural Legacy." Contemporary Architecture in Kuwait. By Jacek Woźniak. Kuwait: JACK-ART Production, 2013. 2-17.
2010 - Lectured at the University of Winnipeg, Canada (Department of English Literature: fairy tales unit) - Topic: "Narrative structure in self-directed performance installation based on Hansel and Gretel"
2010 - Worked with drama teacher & students to create thematic lobby installation for the University of Toronto Schools Centennial Play
1998 - Teaching Assistant for 2nd year history of architecture course by Kenneth Hays: “Modern Movements in Architecture” - University of Toronto Faculty of Architecture, Landscape & Design
WORKSHOPS / OTHER ACTIVITIES
Extensive travel throughout Europe, the Middle East, North / South / Central America & Japan
2019 - Participated in “The Hidden Lives of Spaces: Site-Based Performance Ecology” mixed reality workshop, Prague Scenography Quadrennial, Czech Republic
2019 - Participated in “On the Properties of Things: Collective Knowledge and Objects of the Museum” symposium, Ryerson University, Toronto
2016 - Completed introductory "3D Rhinoceros" & "Revit for Architecture" courses
2014 - Visited the Alhambra complex to study organic architectural tessellations, Granada, Spain
2014 - Attended COLOSS & EurBee 2014 conferences, Murcia, Spain
2014 - Attended the Venice Biennale of Architecture, Italy
2014 - Participated in Prague Quadriennale Sharedspace scenography workshop, Zbigniew Raszewski Theatre Institute, Warsaw
2013 - Attended "The Body in Muslim Culture" conference, University of Warsaw Faculty of Oriental Studies
2013 - Attended Boska Komedia International Theatre Festival, Cricoteka festival ("Choreographic Machine" / "Poliphonies"), Academy of Fine Arts symposium on 20th-21st century Polish scenography, Kraków
summer 2013 - Completed "Visual Grammar Basics" documentary film-making workshop, Doc Story Studio, Toronto
2010 - Attended University of Toronto FALD landscape architecture symposium "Innate Terrain"
2010 - Attended FALD conference "Architecture Therapeutics Aesthetics"
2009 - Attended Dublin Dance Festival, Ireland
2008 - Travelled to Iran to research the use of ornamental calligraphy & pattern on architectural surfaces
2007 - Attended U of T FALD symposium "Ornament: Islamic Traditions & Contemporary Practice", Toronto
2007 - Attended Prague Scenography Quadriennale, Czech Republic
2005 - Attended Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Scotland
2005 - Attended & performed in ACT International Theatre Schools Festival, Bilbao, Spain
2003 - Completed film directing workshop, University of Toronto Hart House Film Board
2003 - Attended conference "Theatre by Design: Scenography in Canada", Toronto
2003 - Completed manual rendering techniques course, Ryerson University, Toronto
2002 - Completed video production / post-production workshop, Trinity Square Video, Toronto
1998, 2000 - Attended Expo 1998 (Lisbon), Expo 2000 (Hanover)
GRANTS / AWARDS
2016 - Finalist at Canadian Regional Design Awards (for Prairie Noodle Shop interior design & installations)
2014 - Ontario Arts Council Integrated Arts creation grant for Requiem Apis
2014 - Toronto Arts Council Media Arts creation grant for Requiem Apis
2011 - Canada Council for the Arts Integrated Arts production grant for The Hunger
2010 - Ontario Arts Council Exhibition Assistance grant for Fragment
2009 - Ontario Arts Council Integrated Arts creation grant for The Hunger
1996 - Hattie Aileen Sommerville Scholarship - University of Toronto Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design
BIBLIOGRAPHY OF CRITICAL REVIEWS
Bacha, Kyle. Torontoist. Weekend Planner May 26-27, 2012. Events. Web. 25 May 2012.
Bateman, David. “The Hunger”. Bateman Reviews. Blog. Web. 23 May 2012.
Bugała-Azarko, Marzena. "Legends: first pemiere at Rozbark Theatre". Dziennik Zachodni. 31 June 2014.
Davis, Benjamin. “4.48 Psychosis”. Time Out London. 8-15 March. 2006: 129. Print. (Critic's Choice - 5 stars)
Ed. “Scene and Heard: The Hunger. Interactive theatre goes edible.”. The Scene in T.O. Web. 24 May 2012.
Hatfield, Erin. “The Hunger explores mass consumption in Parkdale”. Inside Toronto. 24 May 2012.
M., Adnan. “The Hunger: An Immersive Theatre Experience”. The Arts Scene. Blog. Web. 27 May 2012.
M., Heidy. “The Hunger”. Hye’s Musings. Blog. Web. 25 May 2012.
Mohr-Blakeney, Victoria. “Dance in the City: The Hunger”. Toronto Standard. 26 May 2012. Web. 25 May 2012.
"Pociag Kulturalny." Kultura i Rozrywka. TVP. 29 May 2014. Television.
Sanecki, Tomasz. "First premiere at Rozbark Theatre behind us". bytom.pl. Web.
Wycisk, Karolina. "Werewolves are afraid of tar". Teatralia online magazine. Web. 5 June 2014.