Does anybody know why they decided to put the office building on Queens Quay and the residential towers closer to the Gardiner? Every time I pass this building I'm struck by the fact that it would seem to make more sense the other way around...almost as if somebody held the plans upside down...
I've gotta say, as much as I love this development, I think I'd prefer it without the residential towers. The podium buildings are so perfect, and I worry that the towers on top might be a bit much (it all looks especially packed in that last live-cam shot).
Here are a few shots from about an hour ago. I have to agree with insertnamehere, the building is pretty disappointing. One Rainsford definitely turned out better.
I think this looks much better than a bright orange glass (which is what I was expecting) would have. This brings a touch of colour without being garish or tacky. I love it!
This is looking significantly different from the renders. The stone (probably faux-stone like the Building next door) portion looks like it won’t be going right to the top as it does in the render. The shape of the whole top floor of the building is quite different really.
To be honest, those tower designs are pretty underwhelming. I think it works for the middle building with the heritage-esque podium, since it echoes the dynamic of buildings like QRC. But overall I was hoping for something with more variety. I guess its better to have memorable podiums (podia?)...
This just goes to show that it is possible to design something that feels like it draws from the past without being kitschy or fake. This is the kind of thing I want to see more of in Toronto. Can't wait to see it built!
I really don't understand why these things seem to happen in Toronto, and not anywhere else. Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems like there are a pretty wide variety of impediments to having a nice urban environment that simply don't exist in other places. I mean, why is it so hard to get nice garbage...
It makes me so happy to know that the public realm here is in the hands of Claude Cormier. I actually have faith that we will get something of quality here.
Also, after the huge success of Berczy park, I think the inclusion of cats is a great idea.