Toronto The Gloucester on Yonge | 147.82m | 44s | Concord Adex | a—A

[UtakataNoAnnex]

In case anyone is wondering:

“Paley is the first metal sculptor to have received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Institute of Architects.” Via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Paley

Toronto Sculpture

Installing in late 2020 this sculpture is designed for a pedestrian plaza at the intersection of Gloucester Street and Yonge Street in Toronto, Canada. The scul

www.albertpaley.com

I guess his "pieces of junk" are infectious...

 

[Booster]

I guess his "pieces of junk" are infectious...

Toronto has the worst one, red is not a good choice for that specific location. Art should serve the community and be part of it, this one is totally out of it.

 

[ADRM]

I kinda like it. Splash of colour in an otherwise pretty drab and grey streetscape. It’s kinda loud in a city that loves to be quiet.

 

[Northern Light]

I kinda like it. Splash of colour in an otherwise pretty drab and grey streetscape. It’s kinda loud in a city that loves to be quiet.

The 'splash of colour' is fine; the design I'm not particularly enamoured by; but in fairness I'm not typically one for the abstract in art; I tend to think if a typical 10 year old could have come up with something similar (design-wise) by accident;
then it's probably over-priced; but that's just my personal taste.

I confess, though I know this is heresy, I'm of the view Toronto has too much public art, that we have quantity over quality + maintenance.

Over in the St. Lawrence thread, where there is discussion of the re-do of Market Lane Park, the consensus of the public and the consultants is actually to remove or 'decommission' the current public art; which has been
in perpetual disrepair for years, and was never exceptionally popular.

I would have preferred the $$ here be spent on the podium facade, giving back to Yonge Street in high-quality architectural expression with better finishes and flourishes; by all means, including said 'splash of colour'.

Where we are investing in public art, I'd rather see funds from more than 1 development brought together to fund a dramatic water feature with maintenance endowment; or more generally to endow a Public Art Conservancy for the City.

I'd like to see more money spent on stylish public realm, from stone sidewalks or ornate light fixtures to fulsome planting beds that are irrigated, will offer 4-season perennial beauty, as well as high-quality architecture.

But preferences will differ.

 

[condovo]

^^^ I tend to agree but I love this art piece. Maintenance is key though and this is where Toronto fails every time.

 

[Northern Light]

^^^ I tend to agree but I love this art piece. Maintenance is key though and this is where Toronto fails every time.

In fairness, not every time; but yes, it's all too common.

The Elevated Wetlands in the Don Valley, roughly at Don Mills Road, have yearly maintenance ensuring the water flows as it should and the plants are healthy.

But this is the exception to the rule.

For those who aren't sure, a picture of the above noted:

taken from: https://land-lab.com/project/elevated-wetlands/

 

[Benito]

From today.

 

[Johnny Au]

November 27, 2021:

 

[Kai]

1-30 by Kai White, on Flickr

 

[TossYourJacket]

November 27, 2021:

View attachment 365980View attachment 365981View attachment 365982View attachment 365989

I really wish they'd done more to separate the retail spaces at grade. Bring in some of the precast or something. But nope, yet another bland A-a curtainwall street level. They design some great towers, but they truly deliver the most soulless street interfaces.

 

[Northern Light]

I really wish they'd done more to separate the retail spaces at grade. Bring in some of the precast or something. But nope, yet another bland A-a curtainwall street level. They design some great towers, but they truly deliver the most soulless street interfaces.

In a few years, when this section of Yonge is narrowed (which it will be)......and the sidewalks widened, this development should see that inset area at-grade infilled to bring the retail out to the same spot as the adjacent building.

When that is done, the cladding should be changed out for something more appropriate at-grade, and all the way up the podium too! (on the glass portion, the northern bit is fine and just needs to be brought down to grade like that)

 

[j_yyz]

Today

 

[drum118]

I take the Yonge line from Finch to Queen every day for work. The amount of people that get on south of Bloor is incredibly miniscule, and is almost always less then the amount of people getting off. Condos in North York and the other suburbs do far more to increase the burden on the Yonge line that any condo going up downtown, because those who live in condos downtown are probably going to walk or bike to work.

On a cynical note, it's become clear that we live in a politically reactionary city. If we sit around and wait for upgraded transit before increasing density, it will never happen. Sadly, the only way to spur change is to bring on a transit crisis by building to the point where council has no choice but to upgrade transit.

Faster to walk south of Bloor than try getting on pack trains. Only a 30 minute walk from Bloor to King for me. Ridership is north of Bloor.

Dec 16
Lot more up on site and not the greatest shots.

 

[jackattack]

a few from Yonge St (Dec 22)

 

[UtakataNoAnnex]

Thankfully this got built before the corrupting forces of Concord had their say...