Toronto Architecture from the 1940's and 1950's

[jaborandi]

Photos taken June 1954. Some of these are pretty obvious, but others are now more obscure. No addresses or identifying info provided in the file.

Great set of photos. I recognized them all except for the image above which flummoxed me until an hour ago. I was walking along Granby Street and realized that the houses are identical to the ones in the background of the photo, thus the rendering is for 27 Carlton Street.

 

[LowPolygon]

Great set of photos. I recognized them all except for the image above which flummoxed me until an hour ago. I was walking along Granby Street and realized that the houses are identical to the ones in the background of the photo, thus the rendering is for 27 Carlton Street.

wow, good spot!
that poor 27 Carlton building is one of the most long-suffering modernist buildings in the city. its been relentlessly meddled with and monkeyed with since the 1970's, in a bid to stay aesthetically 'current'. it recently reached a particular apotheosis of ugliness with the imposition of a L-shaped metal half-cornice that has been rudely affixed to the facade.

 

[thecharioteer]

Exhibition Stadium, Marani & Morris, completed 1948. Silver Medal winner in the inaugural Massey Medals 1950. Demolished 1999:

Original architectural model:

 

[CityPlaceN1]

Thanks for the memories. Saw a lot of shows and games there.

 

[thecharioteer]

Thanks for the memories. Saw a lot of shows and games there.

 

[junctionist]

wow, good spot!
that poor 27 Carlton building is one of the most long-suffering modernist buildings in the city. its been relentlessly meddled with and monkeyed with since the 1970's, in a bid to stay aesthetically 'current'. it recently reached a particular apotheosis of ugliness with the imposition of a L-shaped metal half-cornice that has been rudely affixed to the facade.

Today, I wouldn't advocate undertaking such drastic renovations to good Modern buildings, but this facade looks comical yet sincere. It's like it's saying "we like cornices and ornamentation, but wait! We still like simple modern style. We can't make up our minds! Throw it all on there, but try not to make a mess of it." That basically summarizes what happened to architectural tastes over the past 30 years among society in general. Good Postmodern design is laden with meaning, so I think they got something right. The half cornice is deconstructivism on a simple, local level--something you never see because it didn't trickle down to the local level. By the time it could have, people decided they liked Modernism again.

 

[adma]

In this case, because it happened so recently, I wonder if "taste evolution" really did catch the landlords midway--that is, they started with total-reclad intent, but then caught wind of "modern fans" and stopped midway...

 

[thecharioteer]

Queen Elizabeth Building CNE, Peter Dickinson at Page & Steele, 1957:

Hockey Hall of Fame CNE, Allward & Gouinlock, completed 1962, demolished 2005:

The entrance re-used:

The Food Building, Richard Fisher, 1954:

The Dufferin Gates, Phillip Brook, 1959 (original gates 1895):

 

[thecharioteer]

Deer Park Public Library 1952, Arthur H. Eadie:

 

[junctionist]

Some subtle changes have detracted from the building. The original sash windows and signage enlivened the facade, but both are now gone. It's fortunately no longer flying the Union Jack, but now it isn't flying anything. The architectural flagpole looks to be in bad shape. They also cut down the lush trees along the side street, which is another way it appears to have declined.

 

[J T CUNNINGHAM]

"Some subtle changes have detracted from the building. The original sash windows and "
QUOTE: junctionist.

They also added those "stupid" dashes beneath (most) of the windows, it ruining the bond of the brickwork.


Regards,
J T

 

[LowPolygon]

One of the oddest medley’s of modern, deco and neo-traditional architecture in the city is right across the road from the library at 25-27 St. Clair E.
The Arthur Meighen Building, from 1954 was designed by Charles B. Dolphin(1888-1969). He is also the architect of the epochal Consumer’s Gas building on Yonge St, (1930) and the Postal Delivery Building that is now Air Canada Centre (1941). So this is rather a late work of his.

Photo from here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jfitzg/sets/72157609488011163/with/5836021062/

 

[junctionist]

That building is fantastic and underrated. From the contrast of vertical and horizontal lines, the prominent entrance with artistic panels and bold, polished-stone framing, to the effective use of colourful materials like smooth beige-grey stone, orange brick and polished black and orange stone--it makes a strong impression. There's some artwork on the facade that's skillfully incorporated. It's remarkably bold and urban for a building that was relatively far from downtown when originally built. Too bad they didn't get architects like Charles Dolphin to design our first subway stations. We might have beaten Montreal to stations with interesting design and art.

 

[Earlscourt_Lad]

...The original sash windows and signage enlivened the facade, but both are now gone...

Surprisingly archaic windows for a modern building. 3 over 3 hung windows really don't suit that building, though that being said, the newer windows are abysmal.

 

[adma]

Too bad they didn't get architects like Charles Dolphin to design our first subway stations. We might have beaten Montreal to stations with interesting design and art.

Though by this evidence, they might have been "fantastic" on more of a Moscow than Montreal level. And besides, Dolphin's somewhat later TTC HQ might be the stodgiest, most constipated piece of 50s retardataire Toronto ever saw...