Toronto Architecture From The 1960's and 70's

[thecharioteer]

Still looks good. Too bad so many of the white-brick buildings of this era have been terribly reclad.

 

[Armour]

The balconies have been replaced and the horizontal bands have been covered in EIFS, but it still looks petty decent. The one across the street looks much worse. And, yes, it is sad to see so many old the older apartments being reclad in EIFS, corrugated metal, etc.

 

[Armour]

Peter Dickinson's modernist gem to be lost to Toronto

Another Dickinson building soon gone: http://www.thestar.com/life/2016/01/02/peter-dickinsons-modernist-gem-to-be-lost-to-toronto.html

 

[someMidTowner]

Shot this earlier today:

Toronto Reference Library by Jack Landau, on Flickr

Toronto Reference Library (II) by Jack Landau, on Flickr

 

[thecharioteer]

I don't think I will ever grow to love this building on any level: urbanistically, architecturally, interior design-wise or even as a library patron. Fails on so many fronts....

 

[Red October]

I don't think I will ever grow to love this building on any level: urbanistically, architecturally, interior design-wise or even as a library patron. Fails on so many fronts....

I like the inside. The outside is pretty bad though. Definitely could use a renovation/recladding that's more than a single glass box out front.

 

[Armour]

I don't think I will ever grow to love this building on any level: urbanistically, architecturally, interior design-wise or even as a library patron. Fails on so many fronts....

The interior is pretty interesting, but the exterior is forgettable.

 

[J T CUNNINGHAM]

When the container overwhelms the contents . . .

Regards,
J T

 

[adma]

I like the inside. The outside is pretty bad though. Definitely could use a renovation/recladding that's more than a single glass box out front.

I actually don't mind the exterior and preferred it pre-glass box--even if it looks like the world's largest Neilson Chunk.

And the inside--well, better in the past when it still had the hanging banners and the library didn't occupy every square inch of the ground floor space...

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

I like the inside. The outside is pretty bad though. Definitely could use a renovation/recladding that's more than a single glass box out front.

The original glass box proposal for the reference library would have been far more interesting in a Hi-Tech, Centre Pompidou-ish sort of way (though one'd imagine it would look far, far better with late 20thc glazing tech - ultra low iron glass, etc)

(From TPL: http://torontopubliclibrary.typepad.com/trl/toronto-reference-library-renovation-project/page/2/)

It would have the significance and interest like Foster's Willis building.

AoD

 

[Armour]

Architects want to save Davisville school from chopping block

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life...e-school-from-chopping-block/article28535089/

 

[someMidTowner]

McLennan Physical Laboratories Burton Tower by Jack Landau, on Flickr

 

[Armour]

Where is that building located?

 

[someMidTowner]

Where is that building located?

https://goo.gl/maps/Ly37kXuaKm32

 

[junctionist]

The tower looks great in the photo. The details like the sash windows and Flemish bond brick panels are unique and interesting.

With that said, I always found it uninviting while a student at U of T. It meets the street with a strange low wall. Its street-level windows are anonymous and faded. The terrace needs a rethink as a public space. Large clear windows along the terraces would make it far sharper and more inviting as a building.