Toronto U of T: Robarts Library Renovations & Robarts Common | ?m | ?s | U of T | Diamond Schmitt

[Rascacielo]

Today. Glad they kept the Sakura trees.

 

[MichelleBrozovic]

Gorgeous. One of the best buildings!

 

[UtakataNoAnnex]

...snap, sakura blossoms are out. Need to go see those before they disappear for the year again! >.<

 

[Rascacielo]

...snap, sakura blossoms are out. Need to go see those before they disappear for the year again! >.<

In case you don't want to brave the crowd at High Park, there's this and a grove at the north end of Ramsden Park (across from Rosedale Station).

 

[UtakataNoAnnex]

In case you don't want to brave the crowd at High Park, there's this and a grove at the north end of Ramsden Park (across from Rosedale Station).

...thanks for the tip, but ones here at Robarts will suffice. That's where I've been going to for the last couple of Springs to beat both crowds and Covid. <3

 

[Johnny Au]

Part 1 of 3 on April 30, 2022:

Sakura trees:

Spoiler: Click here for Sakura Sakura, a traditional Japanese song that is very appropriate for the above photos

Listen here (it's sung by Miku Hatsune from Vocaloid):

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ed/Sakura_Sakura.song.ogg

Original Japanese:

桜　桜
野山も里も
見渡す限り
霞か雲か
朝日に匂う
桜　桜
花ざかり

桜　桜
弥生の空は
見渡す限り
霞か雲か
匂いぞ　出ずる
いざや　いざや
見に行かん

Romanization of the Above:

sakura sakura
noyama mo sato mo
mi-watasu kagiri
kasumi ka kumo ka
asahi ni niou
sakura sakura
hana zakari

sakura sakura
yayoi no sora wa
mi-watasu kagiri
kasumi ka kumo ka
nioi zo izuru
izaya izaya
mini yukan

English Translation:

Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms,
In fields, mountains and villages
As far as the eye can see.
Is it mist, or clouds?
Fragrant in the rising sun.
Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms,
Flowers in full bloom.

Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms,
Across the spring sky,
As far as the eye can see.
Is it mist, or clouds?
Fragrant in the air.
Come now, come now,
Let's go and see them.

 

[Johnny Au]

Part 2 of 3 taken on April 30, 2022:

 

[Johnny Au]

Part 3 of 3 taken on April 30, 2022:

All interior:

 

[UtakataNoAnnex]

And not exactly a someMidTowner-that-was...

...but somewhere behind this lot is the Robarts Library proper.

(Photo taken by me on an unfortunately overcast May 4 of this year.)

Edit: And in case anyone is wondering: Yes, this would be my first photo contribution since joining the UT comment gallery in March 5th, 2020. And for what that is worth.

 

[Kenojuak]

Part 3 of 3 taken on April 30, 2022:

All interior:

View attachment 398381View attachment 398382View attachment 398383View attachment 398384View attachment 398385View attachment 398386View attachment 398387View attachment 398388View attachment 398389

Meh

Not super impressed. Not sure the best decisions were made about where to spend money and design attention. The giant seat-stairs are a dumb design trope and a waste of space.

 

[ADRM]

Meh

Not super impressed. Not sure the best decisions were made about where to spend money and design attention. The giant seat-stairs are a dumb design trope and a waste of space.

I think "meh" is being pretty generous here. This is pretty rough both inside and out. Sloppy pastiche.

 

[Northern Light]

Meh

Not super impressed. Not sure the best decisions were made about where to spend money and design attention. The giant seat-stairs are a dumb design trope and a waste of space.

Agree completely.

But would add, the shtick around 'seat stairs' which have shown up in multiple buildings as of late, is generally billed as 'learning commons'.......which typically has two traits.

One is social space where you may also do some reading.

Two is purposable for public talks/lectures.

****

On the first, the design as constructed fails on several levels. It's not warm, it's disconnected from ground level below, which is key to making such spaces work; the 'jail bars' around it really reinforce its anti-social quality, it has an after-thought feel.

On the second, the space doesn't appear to be set up to support talks/lectures (extra room at the lowest level for a speaker/dias/microphone). No evidence that I can see of a drop-down screen or multi-media capability.

Why bother?

 

[AlexBozikovic]

My piece on the addition and its significant accessibility problems:

When it comes to accessibility, architects must hold themselves to a higher standard

The accessibility issues at Robarts Common encapsulate a larger problem

www.theglobeandmail.com

 

[AlbertC]

 

[AlbertC]