Filip
Senior Member
This project is almost criminal 
Toronto One Thirty Eight | 130.1m | 29s | Cityzen | BBB
- Thread starter AlbertC
- Start date
david-realtor
Active Member
please do enlighten us
urbandreamer
recession proof
One idea they could consider: extrude the red brick base motif up the side of the building, switching between fritted glass and red brick as it rises.
Filip
Senior Member
Demolishing York Square for a generic condo? These intimate public spaces are what make Yorkville tick, and why it's such a successful and dynamic neighbourhood. Previous developments went over parking lots, but now they're going directly into its essence.
I haven't heard nary a peep from KWT or the usual historical designation folks... Got their panties in numerous twists over Stollery's and Hue's (both generic, forgettable and a dime a dozen in the city) but aren't upset over the loss of a project that in fact started the whole historical redevelopment movement in the city in the first place!
The irony is delicious.
Armour
Senior Member
Hue's Kitchen is hardly generic. It is actually quite a beautiful building and one the better preserved ones in the city. If only all our older buildings could be so well maintained...
adma
Superstar
Oh, the "usual historical designation folks" are engaged, all right. Trust me. They are. It's just that the process here has been more "complicated", and there's been no in-your-face attention-drawing drastic action a la the weekend wreckers hitting Stollery's.
Remember: when it comes to getting panties in a knot, all too often it ain't what you do, it's the way that you do it.
modernizt
Senior Member
You can put plenty of effort into saving the bricks and mortar, but it's not the solid that's important here so much as the void that the buildings give shape to. The courtyard space is what's special on this block and truly "Yorkville". Really sad to see the most important part of York Square disappearing.
It's not enough to just save the facades, because those are really the least important part. A public space is an experience, whereas the bricks and mortar are just materials. Without the public space within, the buildings are no longer anything more than the sum of their parts.
As much as I am pro-density and often pro-highrise, I do feel that Yorkville's character is under attack. The characteristics that made it special in the first place and have continued to give it any of the charm it has left, are being eroded quickly.
Also, the design of this project is unfocused. It's so incohesive; the revisions are going to have to be pretty deep-cutting to make a positive difference.
It's not enough to just save the facades, because those are really the least important part. A public space is an experience, whereas the bricks and mortar are just materials. Without the public space within, the buildings are no longer anything more than the sum of their parts.
As much as I am pro-density and often pro-highrise, I do feel that Yorkville's character is under attack. The characteristics that made it special in the first place and have continued to give it any of the charm it has left, are being eroded quickly.
Also, the design of this project is unfocused. It's so incohesive; the revisions are going to have to be pretty deep-cutting to make a positive difference.
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Skeezix
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That's really well said, modernizt.
AlvinofDiaspar
Moderator
Not sure if this has been posted - it's the Heritage Impact Assessment report by ERA:
http://www1.toronto.ca/City Of Toro...s/pdf/H/Heritage_HIA_33Avenue_Rd_Aug27-14.pdf
(amusing to see UT in the citations)
AoD
http://www1.toronto.ca/City Of Toro...s/pdf/H/Heritage_HIA_33Avenue_Rd_Aug27-14.pdf
(amusing to see UT in the citations)
AoD
That's good to see actually.
urbandreamer
recession proof
Alternatively, they could recreate the square or square's atmosphere on top of the podium--access via podium top restaurants?
UrbanLurker
Active Member
alklay
Senior Member
This is a thousand times better than the original proposal. Instead of a hulking structure swallowing the corner with a bland façade of glass and cookie cutter design, the pedestrian is given lots of room to breath (and the design has at least a few interesting elements). I also like how the tower steps back from the podium.
ProjectEnd
Superstar
NBGtect
Active Member
This is way more fitting to be branded 'Tableau' than Tableau.
No one thought the original would be approved. This is Toronto's premier area.
No one thought the original would be approved. This is Toronto's premier area.