SpadinaBus
Active Member
Fashion House Redux
Anyone go to this event on Thursday night at the sales centre? I walked by it and it looked more like party crashers rather than potential buyers.
http://www.thestar.com/article/656169
Designers bring runway style to hallways
Putting the fashion back in the fashion district was developer Peter Freed's aim in hosting a splashy relaunch event for Fashion House condos.
Situated at King and Spadina in the heart of the Fashion District, the condo was first launched a year ago, and about two-thirds of the 228 units have sold. In a push to sell the rest – and move into the construction phase – Freed has pulled out all the stops.
And he's called on 11 Canadian fashion giants to help him do it: Andy The-Anh, Beckerman, Bustle Clothing, Dean Davidson Jewelry, Greta Constantine, Jeremy Laing, Joeffer Caoc, Jay Godfrey, Jenny Bird, Mikhael Kale, and Smythe.
Each was given carte blanche – one to a floor – to "make a creative statement" within a 200-square-foot space opposite the elevator and to design the hallway in colours pre-selected by the site's interior designer, Chris Koroknay. Hence the title of the event: From Runway to Hallway.
"Every floor will have real personality to it, but there is also a measure of co-ordination and control on the rest of the public space," says Freed, who says he twigged to the idea from a European hotel using a similar concept.
For Toronto designer Jenny Bird, whose handbags and jewellery are carried by Holt's and Henri Bendel, and are sported by celebrities like Whitney Port and Rihanna, it was the chance to be in on a "unique" project.
"In Europe and Dubai there's a lot of collaboration between architecture and fashion, but rare here," she says. "The collaboration is fun, and brings the fashion community into the heart of this landmark building. People living in this area chose it for a reason – it's an exciting creative place."
Bird's installation is comprised of wall covering in her three favourite leathers – high gloss patent, lambskin and suede – then mounted with nests (a play on her name) comprised of jewellery materials, such as oversized gold chains and bangles.
To celebrate the collaboration, a cocktail reception for 500 was held Thursday with a guest list that included top models, photographers, fashion design firms, local club and business owners, as well as the buyers who have purchased, or intend to purchase, suites at Fashion House, slated for completion in 2012.
Media arrived at 6, fashion designers at 7, and buyers – prospective and otherwise – at 8 to be feted with hors d'oeuvres and a free-flowing bar. They were entertained by a DJ and dance music.
For Bird, the party was an "opportunity to celebrate with colleagues and see each other's designs unveiled, since most days we are too busy running businesses to play."
A video, shot by celebrity fashion photographer Bryan Ishi, played images across the wall of the sales centre of Andy The-Anh's gauzy frocks, the bold creations of the three Beckerman sisters, Bustle Clothing's mostly male gangsta chic and Joeffer Caoc's consistently feminine superwoman fare and many others.
Holt Renfrew, which carries all 11 designers, created a 100-foot window display of the collections, and sponsored a draw open to those who have bought or will buy a condo. The winner will get a $100,000 gift certificate to the store.
Splashy events notwithstanding, it's good to remember that the 12-storey Fashion House condo is itself a design statement. Designed by Core Architects, the LEED certified building rises as a series of glass "blocks" balanced asymmetrically atop one another, creating a cascading waterfall effect from its glass facades. Uniform window treatments are red facing out, and white facing in, like a series of red shutters.
The first floor of retail gives way to the upper 11 floors, interrupted by the ninth floor elevated garden, open to the sky and landscaped with large trees and an infinity swimming pool.
Maintaining the 1850s' Ontario silver plate building as part of the King St frontage allowed the architect to create a study in contrasts – red historical brick against the sparkle of the glass tower. In the heritage building, retail on the main floor gives way to brick and beam lofts on the second and third floors.
Many layouts are still available, ranging from studio, through one and two bedrooms, to penthouses, from 464 to 2,200 square feet and priced from $219,900 to $1.4 million. Standard features include hardwood in principal rooms, ceramic in laundry and storage areas, custom cabinets, stone counters, energy efficient stainless steel appliances, soaker tub and separate glass shower, floor to ceiling windows, nine or 10 foot ceilings in the one storey units, and 18-feet ceilings in the two-storey townhomes.
Fashion House is the eighth condo project that Freed has developed in the Fashion District, all situated between Bathurst and Morrish, and Wellington and Adelaide.
The sales centre for Fashion House, 560 King St. W. (between Portland and Brant), is open Monday to Wednesday noon to 6 p.m.; Thursday noon to 7 p.m., closed Fridays and Saturday/Sunday noon to 5 p.m. For information: 416-366-0560; fashionhousecondos.com.
Anyone go to this event on Thursday night at the sales centre? I walked by it and it looked more like party crashers rather than potential buyers.
http://www.thestar.com/article/656169
Designers bring runway style to hallways
Putting the fashion back in the fashion district was developer Peter Freed's aim in hosting a splashy relaunch event for Fashion House condos.
Situated at King and Spadina in the heart of the Fashion District, the condo was first launched a year ago, and about two-thirds of the 228 units have sold. In a push to sell the rest – and move into the construction phase – Freed has pulled out all the stops.
And he's called on 11 Canadian fashion giants to help him do it: Andy The-Anh, Beckerman, Bustle Clothing, Dean Davidson Jewelry, Greta Constantine, Jeremy Laing, Joeffer Caoc, Jay Godfrey, Jenny Bird, Mikhael Kale, and Smythe.
Each was given carte blanche – one to a floor – to "make a creative statement" within a 200-square-foot space opposite the elevator and to design the hallway in colours pre-selected by the site's interior designer, Chris Koroknay. Hence the title of the event: From Runway to Hallway.
"Every floor will have real personality to it, but there is also a measure of co-ordination and control on the rest of the public space," says Freed, who says he twigged to the idea from a European hotel using a similar concept.
For Toronto designer Jenny Bird, whose handbags and jewellery are carried by Holt's and Henri Bendel, and are sported by celebrities like Whitney Port and Rihanna, it was the chance to be in on a "unique" project.
"In Europe and Dubai there's a lot of collaboration between architecture and fashion, but rare here," she says. "The collaboration is fun, and brings the fashion community into the heart of this landmark building. People living in this area chose it for a reason – it's an exciting creative place."
Bird's installation is comprised of wall covering in her three favourite leathers – high gloss patent, lambskin and suede – then mounted with nests (a play on her name) comprised of jewellery materials, such as oversized gold chains and bangles.
To celebrate the collaboration, a cocktail reception for 500 was held Thursday with a guest list that included top models, photographers, fashion design firms, local club and business owners, as well as the buyers who have purchased, or intend to purchase, suites at Fashion House, slated for completion in 2012.
Media arrived at 6, fashion designers at 7, and buyers – prospective and otherwise – at 8 to be feted with hors d'oeuvres and a free-flowing bar. They were entertained by a DJ and dance music.
For Bird, the party was an "opportunity to celebrate with colleagues and see each other's designs unveiled, since most days we are too busy running businesses to play."
A video, shot by celebrity fashion photographer Bryan Ishi, played images across the wall of the sales centre of Andy The-Anh's gauzy frocks, the bold creations of the three Beckerman sisters, Bustle Clothing's mostly male gangsta chic and Joeffer Caoc's consistently feminine superwoman fare and many others.
Holt Renfrew, which carries all 11 designers, created a 100-foot window display of the collections, and sponsored a draw open to those who have bought or will buy a condo. The winner will get a $100,000 gift certificate to the store.
Splashy events notwithstanding, it's good to remember that the 12-storey Fashion House condo is itself a design statement. Designed by Core Architects, the LEED certified building rises as a series of glass "blocks" balanced asymmetrically atop one another, creating a cascading waterfall effect from its glass facades. Uniform window treatments are red facing out, and white facing in, like a series of red shutters.
The first floor of retail gives way to the upper 11 floors, interrupted by the ninth floor elevated garden, open to the sky and landscaped with large trees and an infinity swimming pool.
Maintaining the 1850s' Ontario silver plate building as part of the King St frontage allowed the architect to create a study in contrasts – red historical brick against the sparkle of the glass tower. In the heritage building, retail on the main floor gives way to brick and beam lofts on the second and third floors.
Many layouts are still available, ranging from studio, through one and two bedrooms, to penthouses, from 464 to 2,200 square feet and priced from $219,900 to $1.4 million. Standard features include hardwood in principal rooms, ceramic in laundry and storage areas, custom cabinets, stone counters, energy efficient stainless steel appliances, soaker tub and separate glass shower, floor to ceiling windows, nine or 10 foot ceilings in the one storey units, and 18-feet ceilings in the two-storey townhomes.
Fashion House is the eighth condo project that Freed has developed in the Fashion District, all situated between Bathurst and Morrish, and Wellington and Adelaide.
The sales centre for Fashion House, 560 King St. W. (between Portland and Brant), is open Monday to Wednesday noon to 6 p.m.; Thursday noon to 7 p.m., closed Fridays and Saturday/Sunday noon to 5 p.m. For information: 416-366-0560; fashionhousecondos.com.
