Toronto Drake Hotel Expansion | 18.9m | 5s | Diamond Schmitt

[junctionist]

The cantilevered part really makes this one special. The whole design is sophisticated but quite playful. It seems like they went with deconstructivist design language for the exterior, which is quite cool and unexpected. The white facade looks like an old building that has been modified numerous times and also appears "tacked on" to a red brick building in a curious way when seen from the west.

The cantilevered part looks like a different building altogether. I definitely didn't expect this design from Diamond and Schmitt. I'm really looking forward to the project's completion.

 

[AlbertC]

Oct 4, 2020

 

[ADRM]

Looking absolutely fantastic. Reflective cladding on the cantilevered bit looks awesome, and love the detail where the light brick meets the red, and the brick screening just north of it.

 

[AlbertC]

Dec 22, 2020

 

[Towered]

Neat optical illusion in photo 2.

 

[ADRM]

Just lovely.

 

[goodcitywhenfinished]

This what Toronto needs as far as heritage extensions and redevelopment go. Great contextual design.

Too many developers are slapping glass boxes on top of heritage structures and calling it a day.

 

[Bogtrotter]

I like the brick detailing and mismatched windows are fun, but I'm not sure about the rooftop module- but perhaps it looks better in person.

 

[AlbertC]

 

[WestEnd]

 

[UtakataNoAnnex]

From that angle it looks like a miniature factory has sprung out from that building...

 

[picard102]

I guess I'm alone in finding this sloppy looking and cheap.

 

[ADRM]

Yeah, I'm thinking "excellent and very well detailed."

 

[innsertnamehere]

gotta love the stupidity of doing that little cut in the building in the rear to meet the angular plane.. like does that even make any impact?

 

[Bogtrotter]

Quite like the façade of the new extension although I'm thinking the it might have worked better with some actual arched windows included- as seen on the original. Still not sold on the shiny shipping container up top. Really curious how it looks inside.