D
Darkstar416
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It took me eight long days to get back into the spirit of posting pictures about London, Ontario, but here's the remainder of our little trip (as continued from Part I).
This St. Jamestown-esque collection of buildings is called the Colborne Centre Apartments and they were completed in 1987 (although I think they look a tad older).
This Hamilton-esque building is named London Towers North.
This newish project -- The City Place Apartments -- wouldn't be acceptable for downtown T.O., but seems alright enough for downtown London. The massing of the towers is o.k., but the podium is a little squat..and bland. Also note the lack of retail tenants and the fact that the two-storey storefronts are actually disguised above-ground parking (on the second floor).
Easily one of the finest London has to offer. The original TD Building (which still houses a TD Canada Trust branch).
Fancy signs are great, but the frequency is anything but.
We then headed north to the University of Western Ontario for a quick walk-around. Nothing much has changed from my last visit save for a few new buildings that are made to look (or at least mimic) some of the older buildings. I only took pictures of the original buildings.
Western is definitely beautiful, but the lack of variety doesn't offer much to urbanists nor architecture aficionados. We also couldn't help but wish that Western was a little closer and more integrated into the downtown.
We were going to check-out more of the campus, but this sign had us reconsider.
Back downtown we finally find something interesting in this town. London City Hall! Yes, we're serious.
The building was completed in 1971.
We found the City Hall to be well built out of a nice choice of materials and of a unique late modernist design.
Amazingly, it is near impossible to find any info about this building. There's nothing of note on Emporis, the City's website, Wikipedia or even via Google.
Perpendicular to City Hall (and also flanking the public square) is a rental building whose best days are long behind it. It is pretty cool though in a Birmingham-esque way and adds for a touch of gritty modernism. Note the cheap new concrete sidewalk doesn't align with the original tiles, nor the building's overhang.
In a desperate attempt to get more info on City Hall, I e-mailed the London Mayor's Office and amazingly got a response saying they weren't sure about the architect or history of the building, but that there should be plenty of information if I go to the Central Library and speak to one of the librarians in the "London Room." Unbelievable!
I get the sense London has no love for its City Hall and may be plotting something new in the not-so-distant future.
Miesian-type stairs.
Cool tiles and grate.
Nice gentle curve.
Curvature meets linear.
Desolate public squares make for bad urbanity, but great picture taking opportunities!
The square was completely empty for the hour we spent there (not even skateboarders) and isn't in the best of shape. I don't think it's even programmed for the summer, but I could be wrong.
Flanking the other side of the square is Centennial Hall which was likely a 1967 centennial project for the city and is a multi-purpose facility offering space for concerts, dances, banquets, meetings, etc. It's also home to one of the world's worst web sites.
One final shot of City Hall...and of London.
Hope you enjoyed...sort of.
This St. Jamestown-esque collection of buildings is called the Colborne Centre Apartments and they were completed in 1987 (although I think they look a tad older).
This Hamilton-esque building is named London Towers North.
This newish project -- The City Place Apartments -- wouldn't be acceptable for downtown T.O., but seems alright enough for downtown London. The massing of the towers is o.k., but the podium is a little squat..and bland. Also note the lack of retail tenants and the fact that the two-storey storefronts are actually disguised above-ground parking (on the second floor).
Easily one of the finest London has to offer. The original TD Building (which still houses a TD Canada Trust branch).
Fancy signs are great, but the frequency is anything but.
We then headed north to the University of Western Ontario for a quick walk-around. Nothing much has changed from my last visit save for a few new buildings that are made to look (or at least mimic) some of the older buildings. I only took pictures of the original buildings.
Western is definitely beautiful, but the lack of variety doesn't offer much to urbanists nor architecture aficionados. We also couldn't help but wish that Western was a little closer and more integrated into the downtown.
We were going to check-out more of the campus, but this sign had us reconsider.
Back downtown we finally find something interesting in this town. London City Hall! Yes, we're serious.
The building was completed in 1971.
We found the City Hall to be well built out of a nice choice of materials and of a unique late modernist design.
Amazingly, it is near impossible to find any info about this building. There's nothing of note on Emporis, the City's website, Wikipedia or even via Google.
Perpendicular to City Hall (and also flanking the public square) is a rental building whose best days are long behind it. It is pretty cool though in a Birmingham-esque way and adds for a touch of gritty modernism. Note the cheap new concrete sidewalk doesn't align with the original tiles, nor the building's overhang.
In a desperate attempt to get more info on City Hall, I e-mailed the London Mayor's Office and amazingly got a response saying they weren't sure about the architect or history of the building, but that there should be plenty of information if I go to the Central Library and speak to one of the librarians in the "London Room." Unbelievable!
I get the sense London has no love for its City Hall and may be plotting something new in the not-so-distant future.
Miesian-type stairs.
Cool tiles and grate.
Nice gentle curve.
Curvature meets linear.
Desolate public squares make for bad urbanity, but great picture taking opportunities!
The square was completely empty for the hour we spent there (not even skateboarders) and isn't in the best of shape. I don't think it's even programmed for the summer, but I could be wrong.
Flanking the other side of the square is Centennial Hall which was likely a 1967 centennial project for the city and is a multi-purpose facility offering space for concerts, dances, banquets, meetings, etc. It's also home to one of the world's worst web sites.
One final shot of City Hall...and of London.
Hope you enjoyed...sort of.