[Bogtrotter]

Yes and soon to have a supertall with Australia 108- to be the tallest in the country. Actually among Commonwealth cities I would say both Singapore and Kuala Lumpur also have skylines that rival or surpass Toronto. Bring on the Gehry towers

 

[innsertnamehere]

.. Hong Kong anyone?

 

[Bogtrotter]

That would be news to me... and the People's Republic of China.

 

[innsertnamehere]

it's ex british.

 

[Bogtrotter]

Yes but not part of the Commonwealth.

 

[RyanD]

 

[Logan]

Toronto Islands by Garnett Plum, on Flickr

 

[Blip Noir]

Wow, FCP is barely noticeable and Scotia Plaza has all but completely disappeared from that view from the islands. The classic postcard view of the skyline has really changed.

 

[steveve]

Wow, FCP is barely noticeable and Scotia Plaza has all but completely disappeared from that view from the islands. The classic postcard view of the skyline has really changed.

Definitely. And as much as I appreciate the added density that the new wave of high rises in Southcore have contributed over the past decade, it has almost completely obstructed some of our better architectural features that were once visible from that view. Save for the CN Tower and 1 York, almost everything you see there is residential, the majority of which is rather uninspiring.
Even the Ritz Carlton, designed by an amazing international architectural firm, feels like it turns its backside to an unobstructed lake view.
Anyway. have high hopes for offices Bay Park Union Centre, 160 Front, Union Centre, and the future MTCC development to do wonders.

 

[stjames2queenwest]

You can still see FCP and Scotia plaza pretty well from other places on the island.

 

[Adjei]

Problem in Toronto is the local firms are too mediocre and since they are doing most of the work, we end up with crap. There needs to be more outside firms to bring some needed diversity.

 

[Consilium]

Problem in Toronto is the local firms are too mediocre and since they are doing most of the work, we end up with crap. There needs to be more outside firms to bring some needed diversity.

Most developers are hasty and cheap-out on the developments in Toronto given the real estate market being hot for most of the condo boom.

 

[kris]

 

[junctionist]

Problem in Toronto is the local firms are too mediocre and since they are doing most of the work, we end up with crap. There needs to be more outside firms to bring some needed diversity.

Keep in mind that local firms have designed exceptional buildings like Royal Bank Plaza, Scotia Plaza, One Bloor East, the Ice towers, QRC West, Picasso, Ontario Place, the CN Tower, and most of the city's heritage landmarks like Old City Hall or University College.

The problem in Toronto is that architectural achievement is seldom a high priority. Even international leaders like I.M. Pei and Philip Johnson were given no more leeway than to design tastefully skinned boxes here. Great architecture shouldn't be about someone's ego. It should be about cultural achievement and producing buildings that enhance the experience of living here both in practical and aesthetic terms.

 

[someMidTowner]

Today: