Top 10 Lost Toronto Buildings

[Forgotten]

University, Avenue Road, Spadina, York, John, Bay, Kings College Circle, Frederick, Wellesley, Adelaide, Front (looking west to Church)......

I had forgotten about those. Some of those other ones aren't much to write home about. York Street in particular strikes me as one that could be much better.

 

[Red October]

I had forgotten about those. Some of those other ones aren't much to write home about. York Street in particular strikes me as one that could be much better.

I'm torn on York Street. The vista would be great with the east portico of Osgoode Hall visible, but that would sacrifice a lot of mature trees on the ground, which would make the grounds themselves look a lot worse, IMO.

 

[thecharioteer]

Speaking of vistas (and lost buildings), an appropriate place to cite the Princes' Gates and the Shell Oil Tower at the CNE:

 

[AndreaPalladio]

I'm torn on York Street. The vista would be great with the east portico of Osgoode Hall visible, but that would sacrifice a lot of mature trees on the ground, which would make the grounds themselves look a lot worse, IMO.

It's more visible now with the leaves off the trees. Think of it as a seaonsal treat - like shellfish, asparagus and strawberries.

 

[junctionist]

University, Avenue Road, Spadina, York, John, Bay, Kings College Circle, Frederick, Wellesley, Adelaide, Front (looking west to Church)......

Toronto has a lot of vistas. Frederick Street interestingly had the Campbell House as its vista until it was moved to Queen and University. George Brown College had the great idea of building a new building aligned with Frederick Street. One seldom appreciated vista is that of the Fisher Rare Book Library (part of the Robarts complex) on Hoskin Ave. The head of the "peacock" is aligned perfectly with the centre of the street, though the building is seen in profile view from that perspective.

 

[One Nut Kruk]

There's a great terminating view of the CN Tower from Bedford Rd, south of Davenport.

 

[thecharioteer]

Also, three "lost" vistas:

The Provincial Lunatic Asylum terminating Ossington:

Trinity College terminating Strachan:

The Normal School terminating Bond:

Notwithstanding Ryerson fulfilling the same function:

 

[Red October]

Trinity College terminating Strachan:

View attachment 20627

At least there the gates still keep the vista existent in a way.

 

[thecharioteer]

Also, it's always bothered me the way the Mining Building on College Street was designed (symmetry above all!) that it missed terminating McCaul Street.

 

[Red October]

Like when you realise Queens Park is asymmetrical...

There's a reason for this, though.

 

[junctionist]

Great stuff, thecharioteer. Toronto has many great vistas, but they're mostly underappreciated--even among our urban planners and architects. All of the city's heritage agencies should promote awareness of them. New vistas are possible too. Urban planners and architects should keep that in mind.

 

[junctionist]

Like when you realise Queens Park is asymmetrical...

Buildings don't have to be symmetrical to make for striking vistas. However, they should have an interesting profile; buildings that have a boxy, rectangular profile like the Vu condo on Adelaide East generally don't make for interesting vistas.

 

[thecharioteer]

Great stuff, thecharioteer. Toronto has many great vistas, but they're mostly underappreciated--even among our urban planners and architects. All of the city's heritage agencies should promote awareness of them. New vistas are possible too. Urban planners and architects should keep that in mind.

Thanks, junctionist. Good example of a new vista was the creation of the vista of St. James Cathedral through the sensitive site-planning of Market Square and the creation of the Sculpture Garden.

 

[thecharioteer]

Buildings don't have to be symmetrical to make for striking vistas. However, they should have an interesting profile; buildings that have a boxy, rectangular profile like the Vu condo on Adelaide East generally don't make for interesting vistas.

I agree. Vu doesn't quite work on Adelaide, whereas Verve (as banal as it is) seems to work on Wellesley East.

 

[thecharioteer]

New vistas are possible too. Urban planners and architects should keep that in mind.

Will the new design of Women's College address the vista up Elizabeth Street?

Looks like it won't:

As to why a unique Deco building had to be demolished for a parkette and driveway is a whole other story....