Toronto Four Eleven King Condominiums | 149.04m | 45s | Great Gulf | KPMB

[ADRM]

There is some strange business going on with the podium, but, man, is that one good-looking tower.

 

[Automation Gallery]

Although the tower looks nice, what a mess at the bottom

 

[Gphorce]

I like it, then again I've always liked the ROM addition so maybe I just have a thing for unapologetic angles and geometry.

 

[Lenser]

Yeah, I like it too. I find the bottom quite dynamic and refreshing.

 

[Ramako]

God damn I love Teeple.

 

[Waterloo_Guy]

Is this the version they took to the OMB? I imagine that they are making changes ahead of time as they negotiate a deal with the city.

 

[smably]

That podium is... very tall. I like the diagonal columns, but this thing is going to loom.

Does anyone know whether Terracap has any experience building anything like this? The properties on their web site don't exactly scream design excellence, or really any kind of design at this scale. How does a company like Terracap suddenly get into the condo business and decide hire Teeple, of all architects, to do the design? There's gotta be a story behind this.

 

[interchange42]

Terracap brought Tridel in, and (AFAIK) Tridel triggered the switch to Teeple from the original Core design.

The pre-hearing on this one was on July 14, where a Feb 21 date was set for the hearing next year… so yes, I would assume that if negotiations are underway with the City in advance of the hearing (at 55 storeys, the City might simply have said "not a chance", and may therefore not be talking with the proponents), it would be this design that is heading for the OMB now. Its tweaked design would be a response to the DRP assessment that the initial Teeple design should have been more daring to be worth going so much higher than what the City wants here. The DRP also said, however, "way too tall, what's in it for the city in terms of other benefits?," etc., so if they've made more changes other than just a greater degree of sculpting (i.e. affordable housing, new community facilities of some kind), we don't know that yet, and may not for another half year or so.

42

 

[Irishmonk]

Very eye-catching. Hope this height is permitted and that the design doesn't get value engineered into another glass box. (Prepare to see pigs flying and Lucy not yanking the football away from Charlie Brown if this actually happens.)

 

[maestro]

Would have really complimented the design of the tower to build over top of the heritage building with angular column projecting from the warehouse's roof. Nice tower but, does seem to tall for what is being accomplished in the greater community despite all the compromises from fear of losing section 37 contributions.

 

[smably]

Terracap brought Tridel in, and (AFAIK) Tridel triggered the switch to Teeple from the original Core design.

Thanks for the background! That's really interesting, and bodes well for Tridel's work at the Well if they're the ones pushing Teeple here. Between SQ/SQ2, the 3XN project, and now this project, maybe they are finally ready to embrace good design.

 

[P23]

I'm not sure about the bit hanging over the existing building as it's a little messy, but the section of the podium on the corner is quite interesting. Haven't seen one like it anywhere else.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

The tower is great - the portion atop the heritage structure is trying too hard to transition and defer to the latter when it fundamentally couldn't. That's way too timid an approach - why not acknowledge that difference and make the contrast a part of the design instead of trying desperately to avoid it and not being able to do so? Bring the angularity all the way to the level of the heritage facade and celebrate it.

AoD

 

[ChesterCopperpot]

Thanks for the background! That's really interesting, and bodes well for Tridel's work at the Well if they're the ones pushing Teeple here. Between SQ/SQ2, the 3XN project, and now this project, maybe they are finally ready to embrace good design.

They won't be using Teeple at The Well

 

[ProjectEnd]

Thanks for the background! That's really interesting, and bodes well for Tridel's work at the Well if they're the ones pushing Teeple here. Between SQ/SQ2, the 3XN project, and now this project, maybe they are finally ready to embrace good design.

So why continue to retain Kirkor as the go-to arch of record then? Anyone can dream up cute shapes but if you're serious about constructing them, a competent firm is required to execute.