67Cup
Active Member
So, which buildings will most significantly affect the skyline of Toronto in 2013, in your opinion? The building does not have to be completed this year. Even an incomplete tower can change the appearance of the skyline. In my view, this would be a combination of height, design and location. For example, both the Shangri La and the Four Seasons affected the skyline more than the Trump tower in 2011, because the latter was mostly obscured from any distance by the towers of the CBD. For 2012, I think the clear candidate for skyline changer of the year was L Tower. Its height, slight separation from the CBD and eye catching design make it the clear winner. A photo of the skyline in January 2013 looks recognizably different from the same view in January 2012. That would be the determining factor for me.
My candidates:
1. Aura. To this point the building, though already massive, has not stood out from its neighbours such as ROCP, from any distance. You have to look for it in a panoramic photo. To this point, the skyline has been two islands, the CBD and the Bloor-Bay-Yorkdale cluster. The skyline is now becoming a ridge from the waterfront to north of Bloor Street. Aura will stand out by the end of the year as a central high point in that ridge.
2. Ice East. One of the most noticeable aspects of the Toronto Skyline will be the canyon entering the city eastbound along the Gardiner, as when travelling downtown from the Airport, for example. Ice West is not really enough taller than the Maple Leaf structures to make a big difference. But Ice East will definitely have an effect. This canyon effect will be amplified if and when the three buildings on Harbour St are constructed.
3. Westlake Village. I am less sure about this one since it is hard to find information about expected progress. But Toronto and area has a series of secondary skylines, downton Mississauga, the NYCC, even Yonge and Eglinton, in addition to the CBD and Bay-Bloor. The Etobicoke lake shore will likely become another one. At present, it is a series of separated towers but, at a guess, Westlake will make the area look like its own skyline.
What are your thoughts/
My candidates:
1. Aura. To this point the building, though already massive, has not stood out from its neighbours such as ROCP, from any distance. You have to look for it in a panoramic photo. To this point, the skyline has been two islands, the CBD and the Bloor-Bay-Yorkdale cluster. The skyline is now becoming a ridge from the waterfront to north of Bloor Street. Aura will stand out by the end of the year as a central high point in that ridge.
2. Ice East. One of the most noticeable aspects of the Toronto Skyline will be the canyon entering the city eastbound along the Gardiner, as when travelling downtown from the Airport, for example. Ice West is not really enough taller than the Maple Leaf structures to make a big difference. But Ice East will definitely have an effect. This canyon effect will be amplified if and when the three buildings on Harbour St are constructed.
3. Westlake Village. I am less sure about this one since it is hard to find information about expected progress. But Toronto and area has a series of secondary skylines, downton Mississauga, the NYCC, even Yonge and Eglinton, in addition to the CBD and Bay-Bloor. The Etobicoke lake shore will likely become another one. At present, it is a series of separated towers but, at a guess, Westlake will make the area look like its own skyline.
What are your thoughts/
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