Toronto 10 St Mary | 197.73m | 60s | Mattamy Homes | a—A

Today.
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Well, that could be something.

I do like the about-to-topple-over look. It's way more exciting than buildings that just stand around not threatening to topple over.

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So creative, this city's architects.

Do you think multi-residential architects can demonstrate their creativity when on one side the planning department tells them pretty much the exact massing that is permitted on any given site, and clients penny-pinch?

Architects don't get to exercise creativity or "design" in this city - they get to carry out the strict demands of the planning department (who are not trained in architectural design or housing typology) with almost no wiggle room unless they fight doggedly for it.
 
Do you think multi-residential architects can demonstrate their creativity when on one side the planning department tells them pretty much the exact massing that is permitted on any given site, and clients penny-pinch?

Architects don't get to exercise creativity or "design" in this city - they get to carry out the strict demands of the planning department (who are not trained in architectural design or housing typology) with almost no wiggle room unless they fight doggedly for it.

This is wildly hyperbolic.
 
I speak from experience when I say that the planners nickel-and-dime you on inconsequential minutiae in much the same way clients nickel-and-dime small floor areas to ensure they hit outrageously inflated GFA's. It is not conducive to good architecture.

That is perhaps true. And thus the culpability of shit design lies primarily with the client, not city staff. Some architects are smart enough to stay away from the profit-chasing grind and only do institutional work, or are selective about their development clients.
 
That is perhaps true. And thus the culpability of shit design lies primarily with the client, not city staff. Some architects are smart enough to stay away from the profit-chasing grind and only do institutional work, or are selective about their development clients.
Institutional work has its own challenges.
 
That is perhaps true. And thus the culpability of shit design lies primarily with the client, not city staff. Some architects are smart enough to stay away from the profit-chasing grind and only do institutional work, or are selective about their development clients.
I don't want to impugn the nobility of architects, but they have to eat too, so 99% of them are out there looking for work from any client who is likely to pay their fees. We simply will never get a great building every time a building goes up, but everyone wants to do good work, no matter their ability, and despite the constraints put on the projects (budget, planning rules, etc.), as they all want to work again. Very few can afford to turn down the big players from whichever sector they specialize in, multi-unit housing or institutional or whatever.

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That's true for a large established partnership set up as a design factory. There are also plenty of design architects out there working for themselves without compromising their art. That may involve working and establishing oneself first at one of those design factories.
 

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