Category Archives: Architecture

Architecture in Toronto and worldwide

05.23.13
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NEW CITY HALL & NATHAN PHILLIPS SQUARE – AFTER A $50M FACELIFT

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<Photo above by Paolo Costa Baldi. License: GFDL/CC-BY-SA 3.0>

TORONTO’s principal square was named after NATHAN PHILLIPS, mayor of all the people from 1955-62.  It’s the forecourt of New City Hall (above on the left), and across Bay Street from Old City Hall (shown on the right).  The square and New City Hall opened in 1965.  The architect: Finland’s VILJO REVELL.

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After spending $40-50 million, NATHAN PHILLIPS SQUARE now looks the way the architect originally intended: a wide open space with plenty of room for a farmer’s market, concerts, ice skating, public events of every description, demonstrations, New Year’s Eve celebrations, and the annual Festival of Lights.  More fountains have been installed, there’s a large permanent stage, new snack bar and skate rental building.  100 Queen Street West at Bay.

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04.09.13
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‘The Little House’ has its own website and a song . . . 128 Day Avenue

LITTLEHOUSE2“The Little House’, 128 Day Avenue in the Earlescourt neighbourhood, was built in 1912 by contractor ARTHUR WEEDEN.  An Englishman who came to Canada in 1902, Mr. Weeden became one of the early builders in TORONTO’s West End.  Originally the lot was destined to be a laneway, but when that didn’t happen he decided to make use of the land – and construct one of our city’s first laneway houses.

LITTLEHOUSE3Arthur Weeden and his wife lived at #128 for 20 years.  When Mrs. Weeden died, Mr. Weeden remained in the ‘Little House’ for another 6 years.  Maria Lee Carta recorded a song about the house in 2008.  It’s available on YouTube.

Little House website: http://thelittlehouse.ca

LITTLEHOUSE1There are several other tiny houses in TORONTO, but this one is the smallest.  Some others are on Craven Road, Gerrard Street East, Sword Street, Shuter Street and Sydenham Street.

03.30.13
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TORONTO Power Generating Station, NIAGARA FALLS (now retired)

TORONTOPOWERBuilt in the Beaux-Arts-style and designed by architect E. J. Lennox, this station provided electric power for the City of Toronto from 1906 until February 15, 1974.  In its prime, it had a generating capacity of 137,500 horsepower.  Now the station is a national heritage site, maintained by the Niagara Parks Commission.  <PHOTO – Mike Garrett>

03.28.13
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Ontario Assoc. of Architects ‘Design Excellence Awards/2013′: TORONTO wins 8!

Eight TORONTO buildings received Ontario Association of Architects Design Excellence Awards this week . . .

PHOTOS – 1)  Centre for Green Cities, Evergreen Brick Works, Diamond & Schmitt Architects;  2)  Division 11 Police Station, Stantec Architecture & ERA Architects;  3) Regent Park Aquatic Centre, MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects;  4) Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto, KPMB Architects;  5) Ryerson Image Centre, Diamond & Schmitt Architects.

Other winners: 6)  Cedarvale Ravine House, Drew Mandel Architects; 7)  House on the Bluffs, Taylor Smyth Architects; 8)  and the Stone Residence, Hagy Belzberg Architect

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02.21.13
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The mansion where Ernest Hemmingway once lived – may soon be uprooted.

An 1884 mansion, once belonging to Henry Gooderham, may soon be uprooted, and moved forward a few metres to accommodate a 50 storey condo tower.  Formerly home to one of TORONTO’s biggest gay bars (Boots), and now a Clarion Hotel, the house will be preserved and integrated into the new building’s podium.  It will be aligned with the James Cooper Mansion next door.   While ERNEST HEMMINGWAY worked as a reporter for the TORONTO STAR, he made his home here – 592 Sherbourne Street, south of Bloor Street East.

GOODERHAM1GOODERHAM2<Street level, 592 Sherbourne next to the James Cooper Mansion, bKL Architecture, Chicago>

02.17.13
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Mississauga’s Absolute Towers wins Architecture Daily award . . .

MISSISSAUGA’s Absolute Towers has won Architecture Daily’s ‘Building of the Year – Housing Category’ Award/2013.  Designed by Beijing’s MAD Architects, the two shapely towers (dubbed the Marilyn Monroes) have become landmarks for TORONTO’s next-door-neighbour.

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02.13.13
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The University of TORONTO, population 80,000, is a city within a city.

The geographic centre of downtown TORONTO is devoted to politics, medicine and education.  The Ontario legislature and provincial government buildings, a complex of 5 hospitals and scientific research facilties, and the University of TORONTO occupy several city blocks north to south, east to west.

The University of TORONTO was founded by royal charter as King’s College in 1827.  It was originally controlled by the Church of England, but is now a secular institution made up of twelve colleges.

UOFT8U of T was the birthplace of insulin and stem cell research, the site of the first practical electron microscope, the development of multi-touch technology, the identification of Cygnus X-1 as a black hole, and the theory of NP completeness. By a significant margin, it receives the most annual research funding of any Canadian university.

Some facts and figures:
3 campuses
12,000 faculty members
66,000 undergraduate students
Domestic tuition $5,695 – $13,203, depending on the program
International tuition $16,886 to $48,293
32 libraries
3 art galleries

Winter or summer, the St. George Campus, downtown, is a wonderful place for urban explorers.

SUBWAY STOPS: Queens Park, St. George, Museum

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02.10.13
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JOHN M. LYLE, leading architect in the Beaux Arts style, worked here

At the corner of Bedford Road and Bloor Street West, JOHN M. LYLE’s architectural studio has been reconfigured into a Starbucks.  The yellow-brick facade has been restored, and inside you can read about Mr. Lyle and his many contributions to Canadian architecture.

LYLE1LYLE3JOHN MACINTOSH LYLE (1872–1945) was a leading Canadian architect in the Beaux Arts style and was involved in the City Beautiful movement.  In TORONTO, his best known creation is the Royal Alexandra Theatre, as well as Union Station, bank buildings, and Runnymede Public Library.  In KINGSTON, he designed the granite and Indiana limestone Memorial Arch at the Royal Military College of Canada.

LYLE2A recently published book by Coach House Press, A Progressive Traditionalist, celebrates the life and work of Mr. Lyle, who was awarded the Ontario Association of Architects Gold Medal of Honour, and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects. From 1941 to 1944, he served as president of the Art Gallery of Ontario.