Toronto Clear Spirit | 131.36m | 40s | Cityscape | a—A

Just to clarify, Rack House M is from 1927. It is not included on the inventory of heritage properties, quite deliberately, since many of the other buildings in the complex are.
 
Urban Shocker said:
We're not talking about the demolition of the modernist heritage of Molson Brewery to make way for West Harbour City, after all.
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Though looking at the long term, we *might* be talking about the demolition of the modernist heritage of Redpath Sugar to make way for whatever, whenever. Just a forewarning...
 
US, Why shouldn't Victoriana have a special place in the hearts of Torontonians? It is the true architectural vernacular of the city, after all, and one of the city's most significant architectural attributes. Indeed, Toronto boasts one of the most extensive and best-preserved stocks of Victorian architecture in North America. And though many of us here may wax rhapsodic over post-war modernism, its aesthetic undeniably fashionable once again, the fact remains that the numerous grand gestures of modernism in Toronto do little to eclipse the true heart and spirit of the place as revealed more intimately, street by street, in the rows and rows of red-brick beauties that grace the city's neighbourhoods. The Distillery is an important part of this heritage, and though I am not opposed to more cutting-edge, modern architecture around the site, and am in fact in favour of this, I do think that the overall success of the project hinges, in large part, on the preservation of heritage.
 
I guess King George The 5th-era architecture doesn't have the same preservationist ring to it. As for Rackhouse M, it looks Dickensian, er - Victorian enough to earn its credentials as an integral piece of the site's in situ heritage. Much like Pure Spirit Condos looks enough like a Mies VanDerRohe socialist seidlungen to be acclaimed as modern.
 
"Victoriana" - bay and gable residential architecture in the older neighbourhoods, ornately carved furniture, horse-drawn carriages on the streets, dresses with bustles, top hats and frock coats, coal-burning locomotive trains chugging along the Esplanade - was indeed the true vernacular of the city once, but a lot has happened in the world since Victoria died in 1901, and all vernacular styles evolve. Of course we cherish the best from each age, and the Distillery District certainly celebrates the distinctive architectural vernacular of that era, linked to the present by architects working in our contemporary vernacular.

There's a 50% off sale in lileo, by the way. Got myself a nice pair of grey Rag & Bone jeans this aft.
 
I also checked out the Clear Spirit model again ...

I noticed that the sexy, gently undulating point tower will be jauntily cantilevered out over the east side of the new five storey podium building ( Ding! Dong! Rack House 'M' is dead! ) and set at an angle to it, supported on five storey stilts. Missed that detail before. I love the little visual tweaks that aA are adding to their buildings now - such as the famous Spire balconies.
 
I guess I got a little riled up on the subject, it's not so much anger as much as concern. They seem to be going about the redevelopment quite well so far, but I'm still a little "on edge" so to speak.

Urban Shocker said:
There's a 50% off sale in lileo, by the way. Got myself a nice pair of grey Rag & Bone jeans this aft.
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That's funny, I probably saw you, as that's where I work. Well, that and at the Livia juice bar as well.
 
I almost bought one of those grey and black asymmetrically zebra-striped Japanese v-neck sweaters, but the last thing I need is more woolies. The jeans are button fly, which is always an adventure.

That's one of my favourite DD stores.
 
Urban Shocker said:
I almost bought one of those grey and black asymmetrically zebra-striped Japanese v-neck sweaters, but the last thing I need is more woolies. The jeans are button fly, which is always an adventure.

That's one of my favourite DD stores.
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Hmm, I can't think of which sweater that is. Those jeans are very nice though, although the button fly is my only qualm with them. Good to hear you like our store, it is a nice little spot.
 
There were two of the sweaters, M and L, on a rack near the north west corner.

Do Urban Toronto members get an extra 25% off?

I love grey, it's a more versatile neutral than black.
 
But they are on topic! Urban Shocker is trying to show that since he visits and shops at the District often, he is more familiar with the District than others, and this gives his opinions on the two "Spirits" more creditibility. :)
 
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