Lesser recognized buildings in Toronto that you enjoy

[Towered]

It's such a joy to see intact - or in this case, partially intact - details on these old commercial buildings. The iron cresting and finials especially, as these bits are often the first to go. Beautiful millwork over the third storey windows as well.

Now they just need the restoration that they deserve...

 

[busybeaver]

I've always had a soft spot for this building at the corner of Yonge and Adelaide. The Lumsden building, designed by architect John Alexander Mackenzie, was apparently the the largest concrete-faced building in the world when its construction was completed in 1910.

 

[70Challenger]

Another gem robbed of its cornice. Hope the next restoration brings it back.

 

[AlbertC]

Toronto Hydro Electric System - Ossington Station at 137 Winona Ave, a bit of St. Clair Ave West

 

[busybeaver]

Another gem robbed of its cornice. Hope the next restoration brings it back.
View attachment 608114

oh no! I wonder why it was removed?!

 

[DSCToronto]

I've always had a soft spot for this building at the corner of Yonge and Adelaide. The Lumsden building, designed by architect John Alexander Mackenzie, was apparently the the largest concrete-faced building in the world when its construction was completed in 1910.

View attachment 608111

I always call this the "Angry Building" as it looks as though it is scowling! (I like it, maybe for that reason!)

 

[DSCToronto]

oh no! I wonder why it was removed?!

They are almost always removed because they needed repair and replacing an ornate one with a simple one is both simpler and cheaper. I agree it would be good to get it back! Here it is in 1939 and it WAS quite ornate.

 

[adma]

I always call this the "Angry Building" as it looks as though it is scowling! (I like it, maybe for that reason!)

I call its style "Aspergers Edwardian"

 

[70Challenger]

Drake Hotel & Annex | 1140 Queen St W. | Diamond Schmitt | 2020

 

[Towered]

So funky! I need to hang out there...

 

[AlbertC]

A couple wintery pics of the Woodgreen building at 721 Broadview Ave

 

[Towered]

Desecration Boulevard:

 

[adma]

Though, put it this way; even if they changed the colour scheme, the perforated-brick balconies are still there--they haven't sought to replace them w/tempered glass or some such abortion or anything (so far?)

 

[70Challenger]

So irritating, how is dark grey supposed to be better than the previous light colour? Just removing the contrast for no reason.

At least they didn’t paint the bricks white to “recreate” the contrast they removed in the first place.

 

[adma]

Sadly, there seems to be a non-regard for the subtle "original" off-white or cream or "natural" tones of so much 60s/70s modernism in Toronto--it has to be something like this "pseudo-Brutalist grey" (all too often misguidedly applied to *real* Brutalist structures), or something garish like the blue of Edgeley Village, or even the blinding white of Sherbourne Estates...