flar
Active Member
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- Thread starter flar
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urbandreamer
recession proof
Home sweet home.
What is interesting to see is how in the past decade the area has become so much wealthier--or at least there seems to be more BMW's, Porsche's, etc opening flaunting their networth.
When I lived in the Annex, the area was dominated by Volvos, Subaru's, all-sorted small cars and 1970's clunkers.
I often wonder: who the hell are these people taking over my (old) neighbourhood? (I'm a nimby....)
What is interesting to see is how in the past decade the area has become so much wealthier--or at least there seems to be more BMW's, Porsche's, etc opening flaunting their networth.
When I lived in the Annex, the area was dominated by Volvos, Subaru's, all-sorted small cars and 1970's clunkers.
I often wonder: who the hell are these people taking over my (old) neighbourhood? (I'm a nimby....)
Brandon716
Senior Member
One of the best Annex photo shoots I've seen, thanks flar!
ganjavih
Senior Member
Absolutely gorgeous homes. The architecture is not as impressive on the commercial strip on Bloor, but it's a great strip nonetheless. One of my favourite neighbourhoods in TO. I'd love to own a home there one day.
TrickyRicky
Senior Member
It's funny how the housing stock was faux-historicist construction built 100 years ago from pre-fabricated kitchy catalogue elements any yet it just kicks the crap out of modern constructions that, regardless of style, have in general only a fraction of the character and charm.
Redroom Studios
Senior Member
that's a lotta brick! fantastic tour of one of the great parts of town! I am a regular visitor to the Sonic Boom used cd shop on Bloor...
Chuck
Senior Member
Second last building from the right, sloped roof and yellow bricks. This is the most carbon copied commercial building in Toronto. The exact replica is found at the following intersections:
-Yonge and Rosehill
-Yonge and Roxborough
-Walmer and Bloor
-Brunswick and Bloor
-Av and Dav
-Yonge, south of Lawrence.
Anywhere else?
Same developer/builder?
junctionist
Senior Member
That's not completely true, because good contemporary design can top this stuff in terms of character. Granted, they're charming, but that's not a must-have quality, is it?
King of Kensington
Senior Member
Great pics!
freshcutgrass
Senior Member
Oh my...that's harsh. If we are going to write-off the victorian era as just faux-historicism, then we will have to include a lot more eras as well. A lot of them were speculative for sure, but characterizing them as pre-fabricated catalogue cases does a dis-service to the many tradesmen who built them by hand. Besides, I think there is a big difference between revival and faux-historicism, the former being a modern reinterpretation and the latter being copiest.
Can't be that much of a lost cause, if they managed to come up with their own sub-style...the Annex Style (Richardsonian Romanesque on the bottom, Queen Anne on the top).
flar
Active Member
Faux historicist > the Annex?
egotrippin
Senior Member
Quality of materials, workmanship, and attention to detail are what really separated your standard housing stock of 100 years ago from today. And pre-fab or not, a lot of true hand-work was used to craft the bricks/stones/decorative elements/etc, which makes a huge difference from today's copy+paste-assembly bricks and trims.
Urban Shocker
Doyenne
I doubt if any of the bricks in those old Annex houses were individually hand-made - more likely mass produced by the Don Valley Brickworks who made a variety of bricks. The slightly wedge-shaped bricks used for arches over windows, and as keystones, probably weren't cut to shape but made that way in the mould. Terra cotta moulded details were also available as panel insets to provide a bit of flourish to distinguish the fancier homes.
Earlscourt_Lad
Active Member
Further to Mr. Shocker, you would be amazed at the variety and quantity of woodwork available from woodwork/joinery companies. From windows, to Queen Anne details, there was no need to have a man onsite doing each thing indvidually.