nrb
Active Member
There is a significant difference between Toronto and american cities. Mainly that Toronto lacks the entrepeneurial exuberance that usually leads to the most monumental buildings in american cities. Toronto's economy only really took off when the banks moved there from montreal, and the skyline reflects that. Aside from TD, the banks built pretty plain buildings. They are conservative insitutions. And the TD center at that only really exists because of the Bronfman families influence with Mies. They also funded the seagram building in New York.
Compare, if you will, to Pittsburgh's US steel tower. The Carnagie and the Mellon famiy's influence can be seen throughout the city. The cathedral of learning wouldn't exist without Mellon's help. Other american cities bear similar architectural developments. They owe their splendor to absurdly successful businessmen who wished to build monuments to themselves.
You can look at Toronto and ask where exactly is this? Failed projects like the weston tower are examples of why toronto remains conservative. Maybe it's too much red tape, a stronger municipal government that doesn't want eccentric billionaires running amok with the cityscape, or maybe it's the generally much less successful and much more conservative business culture in Toronto that leads to monuments of mediocrity like the Rogers building instead of a unique skyscraper.
The architects don't fund the projects. There's only so much they can do with so much money. They are ultimately subservient to their clients. If their clients don't want something impressive or decadent, it's not going to be built.
Compare, if you will, to Pittsburgh's US steel tower. The Carnagie and the Mellon famiy's influence can be seen throughout the city. The cathedral of learning wouldn't exist without Mellon's help. Other american cities bear similar architectural developments. They owe their splendor to absurdly successful businessmen who wished to build monuments to themselves.
You can look at Toronto and ask where exactly is this? Failed projects like the weston tower are examples of why toronto remains conservative. Maybe it's too much red tape, a stronger municipal government that doesn't want eccentric billionaires running amok with the cityscape, or maybe it's the generally much less successful and much more conservative business culture in Toronto that leads to monuments of mediocrity like the Rogers building instead of a unique skyscraper.
The architects don't fund the projects. There's only so much they can do with so much money. They are ultimately subservient to their clients. If their clients don't want something impressive or decadent, it's not going to be built.