NorthYorkEd
Active Member
Aroma Espresso Bar just opened their location in the podium of the south tower (5162 Yonge). Looks nice. Outdoor patio, too. Will try to get some shots unless someone else beats me to it.
Toronto Gibson Square Condominiums | 137.46m | 42s | Menkes | Rafael + Bigauskas
- Thread starter sum1
- Start date
Yesterday evening, Gibson Square looked much better than I had been expecting, mostly owing to a rather pleasant public realm surrounding it.
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sunnyraytoronto
Senior Member
In the previous post, that apple tree in picture # 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 & 7 (photo 5 is especially nice) is the last remaining apple tree from the original apple orchard at Gibson House. The trunk has hollowed out and I'm surprised it survived the last ice storm,... it still yeild quite a bit of apples,.... still see folks trying to grab whatever they can,.... since this apple tree has historical significance, city is trying to graft some of the branches so it'll live on,....
junctionist
Senior Member
What a beautiful public realm. The plantings are lush, varied and attractive. The use of stone pavers and stone finishes is outstanding. There is no cheap poured concrete to be found. The preserved trees enhance the space significantly. Retail and patios front onto the square like many a European square.
The towers themselves wouldn't be much without the arches, but they undoubtedly have character because of their tops. I also like how the towers have interesting setbacks. These are massive buildings, but they don't have the oppressive presence of many a slab tower thanks to their massing and setbacks. The red brick on the townhomes evokes the Victorian character of downtown. It's a great addition to the city.
The towers themselves wouldn't be much without the arches, but they undoubtedly have character because of their tops. I also like how the towers have interesting setbacks. These are massive buildings, but they don't have the oppressive presence of many a slab tower thanks to their massing and setbacks. The red brick on the townhomes evokes the Victorian character of downtown. It's a great addition to the city.
NorthYorkEd
Active Member
We live at Gibson Square, and think they did a great job. The new rose garden park on the west side of the building is also a nice quiet spot to perch for a coffee or some people-watching, They also just put a sign up on the bottom of the north tower announcing the coming of the "3 Brewers" pub and restaurant, for winter. I expect the rest of that podium to fill in with retail/offices before too long.
Our only complaint is there are 5 elevators and only 1 or 2 seem to ever be working. Sure, they "are" technically working, but you can stand there and watch 3 of them not moving from their floors. But so far we are really enjoying the building. Great amenities, too. The gym is like a mini-Goodlife.
Our only complaint is there are 5 elevators and only 1 or 2 seem to ever be working. Sure, they "are" technically working, but you can stand there and watch 3 of them not moving from their floors. But so far we are really enjoying the building. Great amenities, too. The gym is like a mini-Goodlife.
lead82
Senior Member
Another great addition to the neighbourhood. Finally a decent coffee shop with a nice patio. There are so few in this area. The fact that retail is set back from Yonge makes it that much more appealing. Yonge is busy, and loud. Sitting at Aroma 50m away is pleasant and calm.
The fact the Rose Garden was saved was due to hard work of locals and the councillor,who convinces Menkes to setback the south tower and not destroy the garden. Now Gibson Square actually has a square in front of it.
The fact the Rose Garden was saved was due to hard work of locals and the councillor,who convinces Menkes to setback the south tower and not destroy the garden. Now Gibson Square actually has a square in front of it.
condovo
Senior Member
As night follows day, bring out the spray paint that never really fades away.
Hah! That's nothing compared to the amount of spray paint just on the other side of Park Home Avenue. Check these out:
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NorthYorkEd
Active Member
I'm assuming these are utility markers for the underground tunnel construction that is now underway (connection to NYCC Station from Gibson Square P1 parking level) . Supposed to be completed by Spring 2016.
kris
Senior Member
The towers
The preserved tree
Gibson house
The preserved tree
Gibson house
modernizt
Senior Member
I'm actually very impressed with the public realm at the bottom of this project-- those great pics. from interchange42 really show it to be a great urban public space. And what a difference mature trees make!
junctionist
Senior Member
Another aspect of the architecture that's interesting is the contrast between the fully glazed parts of the facade and the parts that are precast with small individual windows.
I like the precast lines running up the towers which culminate in the concrete torchere tops, and the punched windows in those strips are a nice touch, but…
the tops of the towers are not as light as they were depicted in the renderings, as they are neither open to the sides nor as deep at their front or back, giving far less surface showing reflected light at night. That said, it still or of works at night because of the strip of light, but during daylight hours it just looks overly heavy.
Meanwhile, none of the spandrel was depicted, as it never is, but what looked crisper in this rendering—with windows reflecting the sky—in reality is all pale green glass, and pale light gray spandrel (or darker gray at podium level), plus medium gray mullions, and it all looks dull. We need to get away from all these washed out pastels and at least get crisper white precast and black mullions on more buildings for some contrast. Photo editors don't spend time making sure photos look washed out on the page, why are our architects and developers so often going for pallid?
Anyway, the ground level public realm, and the ambient charm of "magic hour" lighting at dusk save this development.
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the tops of the towers are not as light as they were depicted in the renderings, as they are neither open to the sides nor as deep at their front or back, giving far less surface showing reflected light at night. That said, it still or of works at night because of the strip of light, but during daylight hours it just looks overly heavy.
Meanwhile, none of the spandrel was depicted, as it never is, but what looked crisper in this rendering—with windows reflecting the sky—in reality is all pale green glass, and pale light gray spandrel (or darker gray at podium level), plus medium gray mullions, and it all looks dull. We need to get away from all these washed out pastels and at least get crisper white precast and black mullions on more buildings for some contrast. Photo editors don't spend time making sure photos look washed out on the page, why are our architects and developers so often going for pallid?
Anyway, the ground level public realm, and the ambient charm of "magic hour" lighting at dusk save this development.
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sunnyraytoronto
Senior Member
Ever since GibsonSquare opened, city staff have recieved numerous complaints from neigbouring condo residents about the lights shinning off the torchere tops as being way too bright!
