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building babel
Guest
( deafening silence ).
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borgos
Guest
Please share with us.
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Archivistower
Guest
I like babel's summary. I hesitate to identify any particular firm with the style though. aA is also responsible for Home, Optima, and Grenadier Landing, for instance, all of which might be considered out of the style.
Bogtrotter: of course other architects work is great, and in fact this is recognized by the many awards given to non-new-Architects in the city. Also, there is nothing wrong with curved buildings. Ask yourself this, because you like 18 Yorkville it is necessary to dismiss Waterparkcity?
Henry street: The entire block that complex is located on was going to be a hydro station, but due to community opposition they replaced that plan with housing, preserving many of the original buildings. It's an example of good nimby-ism.
Bogtrotter: of course other architects work is great, and in fact this is recognized by the many awards given to non-new-Architects in the city. Also, there is nothing wrong with curved buildings. Ask yourself this, because you like 18 Yorkville it is necessary to dismiss Waterparkcity?
Henry street: The entire block that complex is located on was going to be a hydro station, but due to community opposition they replaced that plan with housing, preserving many of the original buildings. It's an example of good nimby-ism.
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Bogtrotter
Guest
"Ask yourself this, because you like 18 Yorkville it is necessary to dismiss Waterparkcity?" Depends- does the architect have frizzy hair?
But that was what I was getting at. I sense from some on this board that buildings are automatically considered second rate if they do not conform to this Toronto Style. Personally I like such buildings as the Morgan as well. In some ways, in terms of context for instance, they're much more successful than many of these neo-modern towers. Indeed one of the reasons I like the MEt so much is that it departs from the cubic form.
But that was what I was getting at. I sense from some on this board that buildings are automatically considered second rate if they do not conform to this Toronto Style. Personally I like such buildings as the Morgan as well. In some ways, in terms of context for instance, they're much more successful than many of these neo-modern towers. Indeed one of the reasons I like the MEt so much is that it departs from the cubic form.
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Archivistower
Guest
I tend to agree. I'm happy to define a Toronto neo-modern style, and I do think it tells us something interesting about the buildings in our city, even if any definition we arrive at will be difficult to apply. I'm even on board with the idea that Toronto neo-Modern represents some of the best the city has to offer.
However, not all projects by architects associated with Toronto neo-modern are great examples of the style, and not all awards or significant commissions are given to those architects. The world is more complex than that, which is why (for me) it's so much fun trying to define the style. Ultimately, a sort of definition is interesting because it provides insight and an enhanced ability to understand broad range of buildings. My goal is not to dismiss other buildings, or to exclude them from discussion. I'm way too forgiving for that, and rather fond of curves.
However, not all projects by architects associated with Toronto neo-modern are great examples of the style, and not all awards or significant commissions are given to those architects. The world is more complex than that, which is why (for me) it's so much fun trying to define the style. Ultimately, a sort of definition is interesting because it provides insight and an enhanced ability to understand broad range of buildings. My goal is not to dismiss other buildings, or to exclude them from discussion. I'm way too forgiving for that, and rather fond of curves.
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building babel
Guest
Other than OCAD, I can't think of any recent local projects by non-Toronto Style neo-Modernist architects winning awards.
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Archivistower
Guest
According to TOBuilt, which I've come to rely on, here are some awards winners since 2000:
Historicist or postmodern:
Morgan - Quadrangle - OAA Award of Excellence, 2005
Upper Beach Village - Guthrie Muscovitch Architects - Toronto Architecture and Urban Design Awards, 2003
Regent Park Community Health Centre - Diamond Schmitt - Toronto Architecture and Urban Design Awards - 2000
International / Expressionist
Excluding OCAD which also won awards.
Graduate House - Morphosis + Teeple - OAA Award of Excellence, 2002
CCBR - OAA + Lubetkin Prize - 2006
aA awards
There are three awards won by aA, but not perhaps for the buildings you'd expect (18 Yorkville also won an honourable mention):
Home - aA - Canadian Architect Award - 2001
Ideal Condos - aA - Toronto Architecture and Urban Design Awards, Honourable Mention - 2003
I note that you neglected to vote for Home one way or another in the polls section - meaning possibly that it's not neo-Modern in your view.
Possibly neo-Modern, but off the radar
These buildings are possibly neo-Modern, but neither the architects nor the projects have been mentioned in this context.
And some Toronto style buildings are by architects who we've hardly mentioned - Kongats Phillips Centennial College Student Centre, or Lett/Smith's Isabel Bader theatre.
For me, though these are both lovely buildings, I tend to feel they are more continuous with other forms of institutional architecture and don't adhere that well to a neo-Modern school, but I think that's also debatable.
All that this list suggests is that the real world is more complicated than you are imagining. When you concentrate on newly built structures that have won awards, and compare the list above with what we have been discussing as the best examples of neo-Modern architecture, it's hard to find a trend.
Historicist or postmodern:
Morgan - Quadrangle - OAA Award of Excellence, 2005
Upper Beach Village - Guthrie Muscovitch Architects - Toronto Architecture and Urban Design Awards, 2003
Regent Park Community Health Centre - Diamond Schmitt - Toronto Architecture and Urban Design Awards - 2000
International / Expressionist
Excluding OCAD which also won awards.
Graduate House - Morphosis + Teeple - OAA Award of Excellence, 2002
CCBR - OAA + Lubetkin Prize - 2006
aA awards
There are three awards won by aA, but not perhaps for the buildings you'd expect (18 Yorkville also won an honourable mention):
Home - aA - Canadian Architect Award - 2001
Ideal Condos - aA - Toronto Architecture and Urban Design Awards, Honourable Mention - 2003
I note that you neglected to vote for Home one way or another in the polls section - meaning possibly that it's not neo-Modern in your view.
Possibly neo-Modern, but off the radar
These buildings are possibly neo-Modern, but neither the architects nor the projects have been mentioned in this context.
And some Toronto style buildings are by architects who we've hardly mentioned - Kongats Phillips Centennial College Student Centre, or Lett/Smith's Isabel Bader theatre.
For me, though these are both lovely buildings, I tend to feel they are more continuous with other forms of institutional architecture and don't adhere that well to a neo-Modern school, but I think that's also debatable.
All that this list suggests is that the real world is more complicated than you are imagining. When you concentrate on newly built structures that have won awards, and compare the list above with what we have been discussing as the best examples of neo-Modern architecture, it's hard to find a trend.
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building babel
Guest
Archivist:
I agree with you on the Morgan.
Also Grad House. I think it is more an example of foreign Thom Mayne "starchitecture" than local style Stephen Teeple contextualism.
With CCBR, I don't know how the design balance between Behnisch and aA was worked out, though I believe they have gone on to work on other projects together.
Whatever we decide it is, the Isabel Bader Theatre is a nice match for the McKinsey building across the street - which seems mostly a tribute to Prairie School architecture as seen through the eyes of a neo-Modernist.
But the jurors' comments on their honourable mention for Upper Beach Village seem mostly backhanded complements that avoid dealing with style: Alex Krieger, for instance, says "it is not the architecture that is noteworthy here"; similarly, Bruce Kuwabara likes the laneway and sees the facades as a reflection of building codes etc.
I don't see Diamond+Schmitt's Community Health Centre as being historicist. It, Kongats Phillips's Centennial College building, and the aA buildings ( including Home ) fit comfortably into the neo-Modernist Toronto Style category for me.
I don't think that, when you run through all the websites with sexy pictures of local award winning buildings over the past few years, you find many that diverge from the style we're discussing in this thread.
I agree with you on the Morgan.
Also Grad House. I think it is more an example of foreign Thom Mayne "starchitecture" than local style Stephen Teeple contextualism.
With CCBR, I don't know how the design balance between Behnisch and aA was worked out, though I believe they have gone on to work on other projects together.
Whatever we decide it is, the Isabel Bader Theatre is a nice match for the McKinsey building across the street - which seems mostly a tribute to Prairie School architecture as seen through the eyes of a neo-Modernist.
But the jurors' comments on their honourable mention for Upper Beach Village seem mostly backhanded complements that avoid dealing with style: Alex Krieger, for instance, says "it is not the architecture that is noteworthy here"; similarly, Bruce Kuwabara likes the laneway and sees the facades as a reflection of building codes etc.
I don't see Diamond+Schmitt's Community Health Centre as being historicist. It, Kongats Phillips's Centennial College building, and the aA buildings ( including Home ) fit comfortably into the neo-Modernist Toronto Style category for me.
I don't think that, when you run through all the websites with sexy pictures of local award winning buildings over the past few years, you find many that diverge from the style we're discussing in this thread.
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AlchemisTO
Guest
Stewart street, between Portland and Bathurst is the ne plus ultra of Toronto Style Architecture. It should be designated a historic district.
Ah! Here's a page about it from the Blue Guide to Toronto Architecture in the year 2098.
"...it may be hard to believe today but the abandoned glass building located at 550 Wellinton West was once one of the poshest hotels in the city. Until it was gutted by fire in 2068, the turn-of-the-century building at 75 Portland was notable for its Phillippe Starck-designed interiors. Lamentably, the seminal 20 Niagara condominums were razed in 2071 to make way for the on-ramp of the new Spadina expressway. Before their demolition, preservationists painstakingly fought to save the unique private elevator shafts, and they have become landmarks to passing motorists on the nearby elevated Gardiner expressway for nearly thirty years..."
Ah! Here's a page about it from the Blue Guide to Toronto Architecture in the year 2098.
"...it may be hard to believe today but the abandoned glass building located at 550 Wellinton West was once one of the poshest hotels in the city. Until it was gutted by fire in 2068, the turn-of-the-century building at 75 Portland was notable for its Phillippe Starck-designed interiors. Lamentably, the seminal 20 Niagara condominums were razed in 2071 to make way for the on-ramp of the new Spadina expressway. Before their demolition, preservationists painstakingly fought to save the unique private elevator shafts, and they have become landmarks to passing motorists on the nearby elevated Gardiner expressway for nearly thirty years..."
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Archivistower
Guest
Alch, too funny. Thanks for the laugh.
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building babel
Guest
Lisa Rochon on Henry Street ( from Up North, published last year ):
" A.J. Diamond & Barton Myers produced another seminal work in urban architecture in 1978 when Beverly Place ( the Hydro Block ) opened, on a full city block located just south of the University of Toronto. Because the complex is designed with deft attention to fine urban grain, it is surprising to learn that it includes 152 units of row housing and nine restored houses. The brick elevation facing Henry Street features a crisp fenestration and basement units scooped into the facade. Small backyards provide direct access to an interior courtyard. The property operates as a social experiment in housing that absolutely works - Beverley Place enlivens the funky neighbourhood village of Baldwin Street.
Jack Diamond with Donald Schmitt has designed the Four Seasons Performing Arts Centre in Toronto, the Jewish Community Center in Manhattan, the Israeli Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem and much of the University of Toronto, but when asked to single out his most significant work in his adopted hometown, he names Beverley place."
" A.J. Diamond & Barton Myers produced another seminal work in urban architecture in 1978 when Beverly Place ( the Hydro Block ) opened, on a full city block located just south of the University of Toronto. Because the complex is designed with deft attention to fine urban grain, it is surprising to learn that it includes 152 units of row housing and nine restored houses. The brick elevation facing Henry Street features a crisp fenestration and basement units scooped into the facade. Small backyards provide direct access to an interior courtyard. The property operates as a social experiment in housing that absolutely works - Beverley Place enlivens the funky neighbourhood village of Baldwin Street.
Jack Diamond with Donald Schmitt has designed the Four Seasons Performing Arts Centre in Toronto, the Jewish Community Center in Manhattan, the Israeli Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem and much of the University of Toronto, but when asked to single out his most significant work in his adopted hometown, he names Beverley place."
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adma
Guest
When it comes to Toronto Style point towers, I still like Stuttgart's Tagblatt-Turmhaus most of all
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Bogtrotter
Guest
Looks more like the 'Stuttgart style' to me.
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Citywriter
Guest
Speaking of Diamond Schmitt, the Upper West Side Jewish Community Center in Manhattan is a perfect example of a Toronto Style export:
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billy corgan19982
Guest
^
Nasty
Nasty