Wait a minute, is this old or new?

Since like "forever", architects take inspiration in old styles when it comes to creating the blueprints for new homes. Some major architectural movements are based on pure nostalgia of the past. There was (and still is) some good, and some very bad.

Don't get me wrong - when it is done well, a new built that is inspired by older homes is simply grandiose! And it's a pure success when it's matching the surrounding.

But sometimes it's just wrong, or simply weird. Like a full size scaled fisherprice home, the badly inspired "new comer" can look pretty hideous.

I don't know... do you really need:

- A garage door in front of the house?

- A facade made of stucco instead of brick, wood or stone?

- Cheap "off the shelves" windows and doors?

- Strange proportions?

The empty shell heritage

If you knew me, you would be aware that I HATE seeing the older buildings of Toronto going to the "other world" to lead place for taller/greater/cleaner structures (which most of the time happens to be a darn condo tower). Layers of older architectures and styles is what really defines a city - in my book at least.

But lately I've seen a new phenomenon: people buying old houses and... keeping them! At this point, I am happy and I may even jump of joy if it's a nice heritage house who needs only TLC to renew its former glory. Only there is a problem sometimes....... the house may "appear" to be preserved, but in fact it is not! Introducing the lovely example of this former corner store in Cabbagetown.

The architect who bought this saw the opportunity to put his stamp on it. Fine you will say, just a glance at the building before would make you happy with the gentrification. See below the "before":

Yes the outside is now clean - Yes the windows and doors are new and match with the style of the building - YES YES YES! But here's where I am not happy. The corner store is no more a store.... it a residential space now:

And NOTHING inside was salvage... And why is that? The architect would probably say that nothing was good inside. Or maybe everything was ripped off in the 1960s.... But why would you have to make the place look so sterile? So "2009"? This is a nice example of the Cabbagetown brick structure shaped to receive a CORNER STORE at the first floor... NOT A CONTEMPORARY GALLEY KITCHEN....

But I have to aggree: it's better than demolition. But still.

Still...

The Felician Sisters Convent & its twin, Rivervilla

It's been soooo long since I wrote something here that I won't even tell you how ashamed I feel about it! Instead, I will jump right in with a "Vanished Toronto" story!

The photograph you see up here is "Rivervilla” , a wonderful italianate villa that use to be at the northeast corner of Queen and River Street.  It was built for Thomas Davies (co-owner of the Daw Brewery situated just in front) in 1878... and of course was demolished in 1974 to make some space to the Toronto Humane Society. By then the house had such bad additions that it was considered "no good no more".

But this is where we are celebrating! The Rivervilla had a twin! And it's still standing today:

And the photo up here (by friend Scott!) shows that it's still "all there".  The twin, Leadlay House, is an exact mirror of the Rivervilla and it is unknown why. Even the architect of "the twin" is unknown apparently. The Felician Sisters are owning this house since the 1930's and it is probably one of the reasons why we can still enjoy this great piece of architecture.

2 thumbs up for the Sisters!

John and Richmond Street Corner, 1935-2009

John & Richmond Street Corner - 1935/2009
Originally uploaded by Eric P + Concepteur + Designer + Graphiste

This is a shot of a corner that was nothing interesting in 1935... and still not very interesting nowaday! From small parking lot on a quiet corner of a residential street, it became a very busy corner in the middle of a busy Toronto.

The Montana sits in a building that was probably built just a couple years after the photo was taken in 1935. The victorian houses on the right are not there anymore, but if you look at the back on the left side, there is a building that still remains - minus the water reservoir.

197 Spadina Avenue, 1891-2009

197 Spadina Avenue, 1891-2009
Originally uploaded by Eric P + Concepteur + Designer + Graphiste

I really wonder what Dr. W.T. Stuart would think about what happen to his lavish nice house on Spadina... Being right there in downtown Toronto, Spadina Avenue went from residential boulevard to busy Chinatown.I would LOVE to know why this house had to go. Was it in decay? Was it just in the way?

I tried to find out more about this doctor and his house... I have to say I found nothing really, except that in 1883, he was the doctor of Herbert George Hawkins, who died within 2 weeks of bronchitis.... Thanks Google!

I am not dead... buy Walnut Hall is!

Walnut Hall.JPG
Originally uploaded by southofbloor

This is a message to show that this blog is not dead at all... I've been more than busy in the past month and I just can't keep up my "good work" on my Toronto blog... Sorry about that.

Anyhow, I am still here and I am still going on and about.

I wanted to share this flickr profile I found recently. http://www.flickr.com/photos/southofbloor/

This is exactly the kind of torontonian that I like! I don't know him personaly, but one look at his images on Flickr.com tells me that he is into what I like the most: urban architecture - history - conservation.

I invite you to browse his many sets. Very very interesring to discover his point of view in images. Most of it in Toronto, but also other places.

The photo displayed here is from him. This was Toronto's best remaining Georgian row until it mysteriously collapsed in May 2007 (right when I moved here in Toronto.... Bienvenue to me???) Anyhow, it was sitting at George and Shuter....

Toronto New Landmark - Canada's National Ballet School

I think it would be interesting to look at our new heritage. Believe or not, I think there is some good ideas out there that are working out just beautifully!

My first example is the National Ballet School, on Jarvis Street. Not only the married old buildings with new ones, but they also included interesting details - such as the music notes in the large windows OR, if you looked closer to the motif of the 2 top condo towers, you noticed that they are in fact keyboard, like a piano.

I think this is a good example of a project that include many type of buildings for many type of uses, but still keeping it pleasing as an urban ensemble.

What do you think?