junctionist
Senior Member
This renovation is interesting in that it brought renewed attention to a simple background building. After looking at City Hall, this tower always looked like a forgettable exercise in corporate banality--an uninspired Modernist pile. It played it safe with a combination of brown glass and warm-grey concrete.
Of course, this tower should be seen in its development context. Simpsons's actually preserved its heritage store when this tower was built as opposed to demolishing it. In those times, demolishing 19th century and early 20th century buildings was the norm in North America, regardless of architectural merit. The tower was in some ways like the minimalist glass additions to heritage buildings of our time--the idea being to build something attractive and contemporary but understated to not overwhelm the old.
The new glass is regrettably banal, and the renovation scheme might erode whatever character this building actually had, for instance in the "lantern" atop the building. The lantern has rarely been lighted in recent decades, but it was a great feature that ought to have been restored with efficient modern lighting. There's quite little to write home about overall with this renovation project.
Of course, this tower should be seen in its development context. Simpsons's actually preserved its heritage store when this tower was built as opposed to demolishing it. In those times, demolishing 19th century and early 20th century buildings was the norm in North America, regardless of architectural merit. The tower was in some ways like the minimalist glass additions to heritage buildings of our time--the idea being to build something attractive and contemporary but understated to not overwhelm the old.
The new glass is regrettably banal, and the renovation scheme might erode whatever character this building actually had, for instance in the "lantern" atop the building. The lantern has rarely been lighted in recent decades, but it was a great feature that ought to have been restored with efficient modern lighting. There's quite little to write home about overall with this renovation project.
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