Jarrek
Active Member
Agreed. You don't see masonry workers today spending eons working on new construction.
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Lost Toronto
- Thread starter AlbertC
- Start date
Agreed. You don't see masonry workers today spending eons working on new construction.
adma
Superstar
But the paradox, as I've indicated, is that it might still be the modernism, rather than the retro/traditionalism, that'll inspire rallies in the future.
Maybe that turns the preservation movement into something of a modernist relic in its own right--at least, re the values involved...
Maybe that turns the preservation movement into something of a modernist relic in its own right--at least, re the values involved...
Urban Shocker
Doyenne
Some good news - I understand that a book about Toronto's brutalist buildings is going through the editing process, though I don't have a publication date yet.
jaborandi
Active Member
The General Post Office (36 Adelaide East) c.1873
In case anybody is interested, the original architects rendering for the magnificent General Post Office is in the special collections department of the Toronto Reference Library - at least it was when I saw it about twenty years ago. If memory serves me correctly (and it doesn't always do so) in the rendering, the stone was a lovely pale yellow/beige and the roof rather suprisingly was a pale mauve though I have no idea if it was so when completed.
Such a sad loss.
In case anybody is interested, the original architects rendering for the magnificent General Post Office is in the special collections department of the Toronto Reference Library - at least it was when I saw it about twenty years ago. If memory serves me correctly (and it doesn't always do so) in the rendering, the stone was a lovely pale yellow/beige and the roof rather suprisingly was a pale mauve though I have no idea if it was so when completed.
Such a sad loss.
Urban Shocker
Doyenne
Mauve being slate?
jaborandi
Active Member
Ah, well, there's the question. I think it looked slatish (or at least like wooden shingles but it's difficult to imagine such a prominent civic structure using wooden shingles) but I don't know if slate even comes in pale mauve. I do recall raising an eyebrow ever so slightly in surprise when I saw it. It might well be a case of artistic license, a grand tradition which renderers still stubbornly cling to.
AlbertC
Superstar
I found these old pics of the new City Hall while under construction in 1963:
I can see the old armouries building before it was demolished for the courthouse (?).
A shame that there was no way to incorporate the Registry Office into the modern square.
Imagine how geeked up skyscraper fans must have been in 1963 when they saw this going up! lol =P
I can see the old armouries building before it was demolished for the courthouse (?).
A shame that there was no way to incorporate the Registry Office into the modern square.
Imagine how geeked up skyscraper fans must have been in 1963 when they saw this going up! lol =P
Urban Shocker
Doyenne
Briefly, during construction of New City Hall, we had our very own faux Parthenon kinda thing sitting atop a little hill amidst the rubble.
AndreaPalladio
Senior Member
Albeit, one that was only about 30 years old.
Urban Shocker
Doyenne
... and with the wrong kind of columns.
And no big gold and ivory statue of Athena by Pheidias either.
And no big gold and ivory statue of Athena by Pheidias either.
Lone Primate
Active Member
It is. It's kind of a neat looking building. Seems so out of place when you see photos of the construction. But at least Old City Hall's still with us. I've seen plans that eliminated it, or, interestingly, left behind only the clock tower, standing alone like a spire.
Urban Shocker
Doyenne
At least the bellringer would have still been gainfully employed.
Conrad Black
Senior Member
It is a shame they knocked that one down.
ganjavih
Senior Member
They should have moved it.
Observer Walt
Senior Member
At the time, this was considered as "progress" and "modern". I think the appreciation of heritage structures came later. We are lucky that the Old City Hall didn't get torn down to make way for the Eaton Centre.