Architectural Politics

by Courtney Meagher

With Toronto’s municipal elections just recently behind us I found my mind wandering to civic architecture and issues of architectural politics. Specifically, I wondered what happened with the debate over protecting the viewshed of the Ontario Legislative building? The issue, which was brought all the way to the Ontario Municipal Board in May of this year, was this: buildings erected to the north of the Legislative Assembly, if built too tall, will ruin this historical and civic monument’s prominent silhouette against the sky. Should the viewshed of such a symbolic building remain unobstructed?

If asked, "what are some of Toronto’s most notable buildings?" the Ontario Legislative building would no doubt cross many peoples’ minds. Forming a terminating vista at the north end of University Avenue it was built in 1893 and designed by the architect Richard A. Waite. It is one of Toronto’s best examples of the Richardsonian Romanesque style, a style characterized by its overall massive quality: heavy, rusticated masonry, geometric massing and monumental proportions, it became a popular style for important civic buildings in North America in the late 19th century. As one of Toronto’s key civic and historical monuments, does the viewshed of the Ontario Legislative building deserve to be protected? This is what historical advocates, namely the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario (ACO), have been fighting for.

 

I am Going to Buy a Groovy Condo Downtown

By Astra Burka

Architect and Filmaker

"Dreaming of Space"
Réunion, view of Indian Ocean
Photo by Astra Burka

Recently I decided to take a tour of the latest über kül condominiums by Freed Developments. Why? Because I am thinking of downsizing at some point and wanted to see what was available in the price range of $445,000 - $600,000 (approx. 900-1200 square feet). I was guided by a tall condo hostess to 75 Portland, interiors by Philippe Starck. The lobby was über white with a long diagonal table that continued in the outside space. Along with oversized white planting pots, these white objects dominated the interior court. The courtyard space, long, narrow, and 8 stories high, was claustrophobic.

I first thought the space I entered in the 1st unit was a large mudroom. I did not know that a “den” is defined as a windowless space. Or how would I have guessed in the 2nd unit that a 4 feet by 3 feet space with a column in it, was called a “den”. I went to look at a 3rd unit in the new Thomson residences and said: “Oh, what a huge walk-in closet with opaque glass sliding doors”. I was told this space was “the second bedroom”.  Can you imagine putting a child or guests in a windowless room? For the price, I was disappointed that Frigidaire stainless steel kitchen appliances were chosen instead of European products like Bosch and Miele. From the balcony, I could even reach into the open window of one of the Thomson Hotel rooms.

Welcome to Architecture for Humanity Toronto’s blog!

This is somewhat of a test-run meant to smooth out any glitches before we really dive into the world of architectural blogging and as a one-time thing we all tackled the same topic: the Corus Quay Entertainment Building (so please forgive us for the overlap). We expect exciting changes in the next couple of months as we become more comfortable with blogging...stay tuned!

My Bicycle Trip to Corus Entertainment on the Waterfront Or, Where is the Lake?



Corus Quay Building, view of northwest corner.

Photo by Andrew Chiu


By Astra Burka, OAA

Architect and Filmmaker

After being terrified by a police officer, who warned me NOT to ride my bicycle along Queens Quay during G20 week from Bathurst to Sherbourne, I decided to do it anyway. Starting from Little Italy, I get terrified crossing the “anti-pedestrian” intersection at Lakeshore Boulevard and Bathurst Street to our waterfront.

Happily, I followed the bicycle path east on Queens Quay when it suddenly disappeared at Spadina. The path never reappeared until east of Yonge, where delivery vans were blocking it.

Finally, I arrived at the Corus building that is still under construction. The official opening is not planned until September 30th. My first reaction was that the somber greenish glass façade looked like any of the sprouting towers situated on highways instead of one of the first major Waterfront Toronto projects. What was the design review panel smoking? If I had not seen the small stainless steel Corus sign at the entrance, I would not have known that this was a building housing a successful integrated media and entertainment complex. Half of the lower portion of the city facing façade consisted of metal grills for the electrical panels. Where was the water view?

Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall, Who on our Waterfront is Fairest of All?

View of west facade looking south.
Photo by Andrew Chiu

By Andrew Chiu

At first glance, the Corus building is all about the glass. After taking a closer look, it is still all about the glass, and it will always be that way because that’s what it is: ageless, hard-edged, shiny and as long as we keep it clean, always perfect.

FACTS:

Official building name is Corus Quay, located just south of Queens Quay and east of Lower Jarvis across from Redpath Sugar. It is a 500, 000 square foot, eight-storey building. It is the headquarters of Corus Entertainment Inc. Designed by Diamond and Schmitt Architects, tenant interior space designed by Quadrangle Architects Limited.

Corus Quay reminds us of a perfect and complete design for a corporate headquarter. It is a finished product straight off of an assembly line. The process is to eliminate unevenness in an effort to improve the flow of work. It is working from the perspective of the client who consumes a product. ‘Value’ is defined as any action or process that a customer would be willing to pay for. It is the Lean principles that come from the Japanese car manufacturing industry. It’s manufactured purity meant to fit into any context in various ways. If I secretly air-lifted the entire building and turned it around, nobody would notice it other than the Corus employees coming to work the next morning.

There is a saying: “practice makes perfect”. If you do the same thing over and over, you will do it very well, and in some cases, not much else. Perfection is a process; Toronto is a city struggling to be perfect. Our waterfront is not complete, our bike lanes are not all connected and our public transit system is too small for a growing mega-city. As we are struggling to make sense of our city, we need to challenge ourselves to confront something less defined and familiar. Our waterfront will continue to evolve in the coming years. Torontonians want to see spaces and buildings that are exciting, innovative, and colorful, instead of their own reflection on the glass as they are walking by.