Those of you who discount Gehry as a Star of Architecture, based on your personal ideas of design or function are in the minority. I dare you to find any recent list of the greatest architects of our time where Gehry is not included.
1.) Frank Gehry (born 2.28.1929):
"There is no mistaking Gehry’s works, as they are the most distinctive, and innovative architectural phenomena around. His deconstructive forms are iconic as tourists flock to all of his buildings worldwide to marvel at the architectural forms he creates."
"one thing is clear: Gehry’s buildings (including his private residence) are world’s hottest tourist attractions."
"What is the most important piece of architecture built since 1980? Vanity Fair’s survey of 52 experts, including 11 Pritzker Prize winners, has provided a clear answer: Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. "
"Toronto-born, LA-based Frank Gehry has become one the world most sought-after architects. His creations are instantly recognisable, stretching the boundaries of structural definition."
"Like it or not, Frank Gehry is the world’s most famous architect."
Architecture is, in it's own right, a tourist attraction and a draw for business and the entertainment industry alike.
While some of you want to preserve these banal warehouses rather than allow something unusual and unique to replace them, I think by far the majority want us to replace them with something new and exciting. I remember walking this strip with my parents when we were young. Ed's Warehouse was a favourite destination of ours for special occasions and visiting friends and family. The Prime Rib and Yorkshire puddings, The waiters in bow ties, the walls lined with ostentatious antiques and art. It was a spectacle. They are long gone but those of us who got to enjoy the place have our photos and memories. I don't think anyone feels that these restaurants ought to have been preserved because of my personal memories.
The density argument is nonsensical to me. We will go on to allow thousands of more units within steps of this location without doubt, but this one project will bring transit and road congestion to the tipping point? I say we cancel 3 or 4 other mediocre projects if that is the case, in order to get this one piece of "starchitecture" built.
To expect Gehry to incorporate these concrete bunkers into his design, in order to preserve some false sense of history that buildings seem to evoke in some is another stupid idea. What significant event or individual came to prominence, either for Toronto or Canada as a result of these buildings presence? These building are just old, and not by any standard other than our own. I can't imagine that any other city in the world would fight to protect these structures when an opportunity such as we are being given presets itself.
BlogTO
Look at Gehry's designs for this project and how they interact with the street. His designs are dramatic and playful, those buildings are staid and lifeless. It would be like incorporating a mausoleum into a splash pad.
I have an idea. Let's for a change throw caution to the wind! Let the project be built just as envisioned by Mirvish and Gehry. We'll fill it with galleries, and public access facilities and homes for those thousands who will be lucky enough to live in them. Let's watch the tourists from around the world come to the city to stare up this architectural marvel and watch how the world turns their eyes toward this city and look on to it as something to aspire to.
Or we can keep these gray bunkers, maybe make them somehow wheelchair accessible and do our best to keep the tagging to a minimum. Maybe a new shade of gray? Something dramatic! We'll place a historical plaque and have it on the tourist maps. I'm confident it will attract dozens.
