Best Toronto Buildings of 2010

current · December 28th, 2010, 05:55 AM

Toronto Star article:

Hume: When it’s good, it’s very good

SUPPLIED ILLUSTRATION
Arc Condominiums

Christopher Hume
Star Columnist
December 23, 2010

It was one of those years: When it was good it was very good, when it was bad . . .

About the bad there’s nothing new. About the best, there’s much to be said. Toronto has reached a point where developers and planners are willing to build outside the box. That translates into more innovative approaches, an openness to mixed uses and architectural excellence. Here, in no particular order, are five of the best projects of the year:

• The Republic (70 Roehampton Ave. and 25 Broadway Ave.): Putting a high school and two condo towers in one complex would have been unimaginable not so long ago. Not only does that happen now, it does so with aplomb. This North Toronto scheme is a model of urban mixed use.

• Corktown District Lofts (52 Sumach Street, 549 and 569 King Street E.): Three buildings registered as one condo, this innovative project fits in effortlessly with the historic but run-down part of town. Lowrise and modest, it offers a convincing alternative to the tower.

• Arc Condo (2885 Bayview Ave.): A welcome attempt to enliven the monotonous suburban landscape with something entertaining, even whimsical. This nautically-themed building lives up to its name nicely, and even makes the effort to bring activity to these otherwise forbidding sidewalks.

• 60 Richmond St. E.: Okay, so it’s not a condo, but it does happen to be one of the most remarkable pieces of residential architecture to appear in Toronto in ages. This is the new face of community housing in the city. Unlike its predecessors, it’s a brilliant addition to the streetscape.

• Maple Leaf Square (Bremner Blvd. east of York St.): This mammoth development represents a rare instance when corporate and civic agendas overlapped happily. Included are two condo towers, a hotel, an office tower and an array of shops, restaurants and, of course, the inevitable sports bar. Easy to forget that this used to be a parking lot.

http://www.yourhome.ca/homes/realest...it-s-very-good

Elnerico · December 28th, 2010, 06:34 AM

I just looked up the Richmond, interesting building:

http://news.nationalpost.com/tag/architecture/

MattToronto · December 30th, 2010, 07:30 AM

I see this on the bus whenever I come back from a weekend in Ottawa. Lovely building.

For me the best completed project of 2010 has to be Bell TIFF Lightbox and Festival Tower. I think they've added so much to not only the streetface and night life but also the skyline. Great tower!

gundust · January 1st, 2011, 07:48 PM

60 Richmond St. East hands down.

December 28th, 2010, 05:55 AM	#1
current Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,940 Likes (Received): 3	Best Toronto Buildings of 2010 Toronto Star article: Hume: When it’s good, it’s very good SUPPLIED ILLUSTRATION Arc Condominiums Christopher Hume Star Columnist December 23, 2010 It was one of those years: When it was good it was very good, when it was bad . . . About the bad there’s nothing new. About the best, there’s much to be said. Toronto has reached a point where developers and planners are willing to build outside the box. That translates into more innovative approaches, an openness to mixed uses and architectural excellence. Here, in no particular order, are five of the best projects of the year: • The Republic (70 Roehampton Ave. and 25 Broadway Ave.): Putting a high school and two condo towers in one complex would have been unimaginable not so long ago. Not only does that happen now, it does so with aplomb. This North Toronto scheme is a model of urban mixed use. • Corktown District Lofts (52 Sumach Street, 549 and 569 King Street E.): Three buildings registered as one condo, this innovative project fits in effortlessly with the historic but run-down part of town. Lowrise and modest, it offers a convincing alternative to the tower. • Arc Condo (2885 Bayview Ave.): A welcome attempt to enliven the monotonous suburban landscape with something entertaining, even whimsical. This nautically-themed building lives up to its name nicely, and even makes the effort to bring activity to these otherwise forbidding sidewalks. • 60 Richmond St. E.: Okay, so it’s not a condo, but it does happen to be one of the most remarkable pieces of residential architecture to appear in Toronto in ages. This is the new face of community housing in the city. Unlike its predecessors, it’s a brilliant addition to the streetscape. • Maple Leaf Square (Bremner Blvd. east of York St.): This mammoth development represents a rare instance when corporate and civic agendas overlapped happily. Included are two condo towers, a hotel, an office tower and an array of shops, restaurants and, of course, the inevitable sports bar. Easy to forget that this used to be a parking lot. http://www.yourhome.ca/homes/realest...it-s-very-good Last edited by current; December 28th, 2010 at 07:08 AM.

December 30th, 2010, 07:30 AM	#3
MattToronto Less is More Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Toronto Posts: 2,804 Likes (Received): 0	I see this on the bus whenever I come back from a weekend in Ottawa. Lovely building. For me the best completed project of 2010 has to be Bell TIFF Lightbox and Festival Tower. I think they've added so much to not only the streetface and night life but also the skyline. Great tower! __________________ Industrial Designer with a love of Architecture.

January 1st, 2011, 07:48 PM	#4
gundust Gundust Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Toronto, ON Posts: 33 Likes (Received): 1	60 Richmond St. East hands down. __________________ www.flickr.com/photos/gundust

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December 28th, 2010, 06:34 AM	#2
Elnerico Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Vancouver, Tdot Posts: 747	I just looked up the Richmond, interesting building: http://news.nationalpost.com/tag/architecture/