With his signature, outlandish, and dramatic forms, people usually either love or hate a Frank Gehry building in their vicinity.
After Gehry’s proposed skyscraper complex was put down by critics, he recently unveiled a reworked design that reduces the number of towers from three to two from the original plan for the development in Toronto’s entertainment district, DeZeen reports.
In addition to reducing the number of towers, he increased the number of floors—the original plan topped out at 86 stories for the tallest building; The revised plan tops out at 92 stories. The new design also allows the existing Princess of Wales Theatre at King Street West to remain, as the original plan would have required it to be demolished.
The mixed-use project, which is done in collaboration with Canadian art tycoon David Mirvish, is named the Mirvish+Gehry Toronto. According to the project's website, the building will "create a new visual identity for the city’s premier arts district. The conceptual designs, which will continue to evolve, consist of two six-story stepped podiums, which relate in scale and articulation to the neighbouring buildings, topped by two iconic residential towers, ranging in size from 82 to 92 storys. Each tower has a complementary but distinctive design, which fits with the history and texture of the surrounding neighbourhood."
The complex will house residential, retail, office, gallery and recreational spaces.
In an interview with the Toronto Star, Gehry, who was born in Toronto in 1929 and lived there until he moved to California as a teenager with his family, says that with two towers instead, he thinks the project is “more Toronto.”
“Fred and Ginger grew up and moved to Toronto,” Gehry joked, referencing how having two towers instead makes it similar to the Dancing House building he designed in Prague that also came under scrutiny at the time, with many dismissing it as an eyesore.
“In a way, two towers feel better. It’s not so crowded.”
Related Stories
| Sep 7, 2011
KSS Architects wins AIA NJ design award
The project was one of three to win the award in the category of Architectural/Non-Residential.
| Sep 7, 2011
Administration, Maintenance and Operations Facility in South Bend achieves LEED Platinum
The facility achieved 52 LEED points, including those for site selection, energy, materials and resources and innovation.
| Sep 6, 2011
Construction on Beijing's tallest building starts next week
The 108 floor mixed-use skyscraper consists of offices, apartments, hotels and shopping malls on the lower floors.
| Aug 31, 2011
Sebastopol, Cailf., invites designers to submit ideas for renewing city center
The goal of The Core Project is to explore how the physical presence of Sebastopol can become a more economically thriving and aesthetically vibrant place, reflecting the naturally beauty of the region and the character of the community.
| Aug 31, 2011
Wythe Confectionary renovation in Brooklyn completed
Renovation retains architectural heritage while reflecting a modern urban lifestyle.
| Aug 24, 2011
Deadline Extended: 2012 "Best AEC Firms to Work For” Awards
We’re looking for firms that create truly positive workplaces for their AEC professionals and support staff. In other words, this awards program will recognize those AEC firms that nurture and develop their most valuable asset—their people.
| Aug 23, 2011
Acoustical design education model
Pass this exam and earn 1.0 AIA/CES Discovery learning units. You must go to www.BDCnetwork.com/EnhancedAcousticalDesign to take this exam.
| Aug 19, 2011
Thought Leader: Boyd R. Zoccola, chair and chief elected officer of BOMA International
Boyd R. Zoccola is Chair and Chief Elected Officer of BOMA International. A BOMA member since 1994, he has served on the Executive, Finance, Investment, and Medical/Healthcare Facilities Committees. An Indiana Real Estate Principal Broker and a board member of the Real Estate Round Table, he is Executive Vice President of Hokanson Companies, Inc., of Indianapolis, and has been involved in the development of $600 million worth of real estate. On a volunteer basis, Zoccola was president of Horizon House and a board member of Girls, Inc. He holds a BA in biology from Indiana University.
| Aug 19, 2011
How and why AEC professionals choose flooring systems
Design and construction professionals who completed our flooring survey had strong opinions about their preferred flooring type.