Calatrava please - what firms do you want working in Toronto

[3Dementia]

Calatrava's galleria and heritage square are simply (largely unknown) masterpieces. His little footbridge in Humber Bay Parks, pure delight (hidden treasure).

I think Ry High was involved in discussions years back with Calatrava for a tower on Church Street... alas nothing.

So who do want to work here besides the clutch of super firms already here?

Me wants more Calatrava.

It's not the easy fit stylistically (and budget) and have no idea where and what.... but maybe the still blank canvas in the Portlands could be an opportunity. A modest, but unforgettable tower and spectacular inside/outside pedestrian space that acknowleges the water. A beacon/celebration of one the greatest painters in this era. Planning, politics and a plethora of other barriers not considered ;-)

A signature development to lead the remarkable transformation underway.

More Calatrava. And no ferris wheel.

 

[3Dementia]

P.S. what if the HUB had been a Calatrava job? Future waterfront pics changed forever lol.

 

[someMidTowner]

Álvaro Siza, Jean Nouvel, Herzog & de Meuron, Rafael Vinoly

Oh...and Walt Disney Imagineering

 

[smably]

How about some Japanese architects? Vancouver is getting a Kengo Kuma and a Shigeru Ban. I'd like to see some of their work in Toronto.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

Speaking of Japanese architects - SANAA, Toyo Ito

Some others not mentioned
Hopkins
SHoP, Steven Holl
MVRDV, UN Studio
Ingenhoven

AoD

 

[ADRM]

SHoP, MVRDV, UN Studio, OMA, Kuma, Herzog, SANAA, Ando, Zumthor, Chipperfield, Morris Adjmi, Adjaye, Mecanoo, and Nouvel are tops for me at that level.

I'd also love to see some lesser known (but still well reputed) architects, such as 5468796, Morris + Company, DDG Partners, and about a dozen Barcelona-based mid-rise specialists.

 

[Northern Light]

Let's see

MVRDV: - York U , Keele campus would be a preferred site to me, if I can only have one. That campus remains drab, this firm does very modern work, and often with a form that wouldn't be out of place on York's campus....yet.......it would be far better, more creative and a positive evolution for that space.

Robert Stern - I know I'm relatively alone here in appreciating that firm's expertise in recreating older styles of architecture or playfully re-expressing them. But I think they bring something unique in current times. I would love to see them do a replacement for Kerr Hall at Ryerson.

Calatrava - Love the one example we have here, see no reason to stop there. I'm not as taken by his 'buildings' as his grand gestures closer to the ground. I would love to hand him a re-do of one of the large-scale bridges in Toronto, maybe Kingston Road over the Rouge River, or the Bloor Bridge over the Humber. Something of size. I would also like to hand him at least one of our new subway stations.

Herzog is one I'd like to let loose in the Portlands.

Morris Adjmi is also a favourite for buildings that are their own 'man'; but which also fit beautifully into context with older architectural styles. I would love to see a few from then along Toronto's main streets, where there are some nice older buildings worth preserving, alongside too much junk. I'm thinking Queen Street in Parkdale, Liberty Village, Queen-Broadview, etc etc.

 

[smably]

Robert Stern - I know I'm relatively alone here in appreciating that firm's expertise in recreating older styles of architecture or playfully re-expressing them. But I think they bring something unique in current times. I would love to see them do a replacement for Kerr Hall at Ryerson.

Worth noting, in case anyone is unaware, that we do have a RAMSA building at One St Thomas.

Shigeru Ban’s proposal for the Arbour was gorgeous, but unfortunately it wasn’t selected.

I actually felt ambivalent about that competition entry. It looked unbuildable in that form (so much curved glass!), and I found it hard to visualize what could actually survive the inevitable cheapening. But I'd still love to see something get built.

 

[Northern Light]

Worth noting, in case anyone is unaware, that we do have a RAMSA building at One St Thomas.

One of the nicer condo towers to rise in the City.

But comparatively low profile.