One City Hall Condos (Diamante, 16s, Hariri Pontarini) COMPLETE

[Archivist]

Strangely, given all the praise this building has received in both published sources and on this board, I still find myself indifferent to it. Since so many people whose opinions I value have said that they like the building, I've decided that it's my own failing that I can't warm to it and I've generally been quiet about it. I don't dislike the building, I just can't seem to actually bring myself to like it either.

I look forward to Phase 2. I think Phase 2 might make me like Phase 1 more.

 

[simply Dan]

The design is successful in that it stresses horizontality in a very effective way (much like how College Park stresses verticality in a not-so-effective way). It is a very large building, but the various facades are given slightly different treatments that break up the massing, keep the building interesting from all angles and cohesive as a whole. It looks sleek, confident, and not overbearing. A real winner in my books!

 

[SP!RE]

Yes-- the horizontal theme on this building is very successful, and very attractive.

It's a simple design, but the details are what make it really great.

Surprisingly, I do like the way it meets the street in a very low-key, not overly "open" way. Most buildings do that anyways these days, so this one got away with a more low-key, darker-looking ground level.

Someone else I believe mentioned that it pulls the surrounding areas together well / fits into its location... I agree!

 

[adma]

Strangely, given all the praise this building has received in both published sources and on this board, I still find myself indifferent to it. Since so many people whose opinions I value have said that they like the building, I've decided that it's my own failing that I can't warm to it and I've generally been quiet about it. I don't dislike the building, I just can't seem to actually bring myself to like it either.

Maybe that's its best quality--inspiring the best kind of "indifference"...

Whatever that means. (But it sure seems "Toronto", somehow.)

 

[CanadianNational]

A couple of facade pics from August 3rd

 

[yyzer]

best horizontal lines of any condo in T.O.?

 

[lordmandeep]

i saw it from the ryerson business building quite nice.

I heard something about a massive 50+ story tower called city hall phase 2??

 

[SP!RE]

Yeah... old news, yet nothing seems to be happening with phase 2 currently. Does anyone know what's going on with that?

 

[Hydrogen]

Has all the chipped concrete been repaired on it?

 

[SP!RE]

I don't think this building had any chipped concrete issues. Did it?

And does anyone know about the tall Phase 2 tower? What happened to that?!

 

[Hydrogen]

^You can actually see some in the photos.

 

[rbt]

And does anyone know about the tall Phase 2 tower? What happened to that?!

My understand is that it will go up for sale after "The Florian" is sold and underway.

Developer is small enough that one project at a time is enough, and they decided to wait until Dundas reconstruction and the Ryerson building were complete.

 

[allabootmatt]

Excellent news that it is still on the way..that corner needs some serious love. I think the Bay/Dundas/Chestnut area is probably the ugliest in central Toronto, between the awful smokestack, parking lots, and very uninspiring architecture. Something like this might kick-start matters.

 

[Waterloo_Guy]

I think the Bay/Dundas/Chestnut area is probably the ugliest in central Toronto, between the awful smokestack, parking lots, and very uninspiring architecture.

I agree, but I also find that that area has a natural urban feel to it that most parts of the city lack. I'm not sure I can get used to shiny new buildings in that area.

 

[adma]

And I tend to think of that John Andrews-esque smokestack as more worthy of praise than damnation...