Tag Archives: modernist

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20150321. The oblong spirals of a concrete stairwell at the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus Andrews Building.

20150321_6829_1800x1013The Andrews Building containing these stairwells was designed by the Australian architect John Andrews in 1965 who later went on to design the CN Tower.

Note the raw concrete (beton brut) look furnished by the wood forms in which the concrete was poured in place.

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20150308. The unique 1971 modernist Building T pumping station in Toronto’s Pump House Park.

20150308_6615_1600x1100The attributes that make this building unique include the circular plan, the engaged inverted engaged catenary arches on the lower wall and the taller engaged catenary arches on the upper wall with fins that extend beyond the original roofline. Unfortunately, the recently added metal penthouse (or cap on top) obscures these fins from view and diminishes the brilliant original design that you can see at http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pumping_station_in_Ashbridges_Bay_Toronto.jpg. This pumping station is officially known as the Mid-Toronto Interceptor Pumping Station but being a part of the Ashbridges Bay Treatment Plant, it goes by the name Building T.

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20150115. Under the stars and beyond the tracks stand the West Lodge Towers.

20150115. Under the stars and beyond the tracks stand Parkdale'sLocated in Toronto’s Parkdale neighbourhood, these curved 1965 modernist buildings are also known as the Bnai Fishel Towers. They were opened by then Premier John Robarts. Although initially quite luxurious, they fell into decline quickly. Recently the balconies were replaced – perhaps additional renovations were completed to help lessen the infamy of the complex.
I could not resist posting this image despite its low quality – I lived here for a short while when five years old!

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20140822. Modernist high-rise demolition cross-section in Regent Park, Toronto.

20140822_1945-2We should applaud the revitilization in Regent Park but should also appreciate the design of these modernist towers before all five are gone.

They were very unique. John Bentley Mays did a good job describing these apartments: “Every one of the five high-rises is a stack of 97 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, each disposed, like a small townhouse, on two floors. By eliminating corridors on every second floor — the elevator skips the floors without hallways — Dickinson was able to open out the common area in each apartment to the width of the whole slab. The results: a sense of spaciousness, light coming from two directions, good cross-ventilation and views of Lake Ontario for almost every resident of the towers.”