Iconic Buildings Important in Creating Great Cities
By Lucas on Jan 31, 2014
Updated massing models of Mirvish+Gehry Toronto - Mirvish+Gehry Toronto. Images source is credited as Mirvish Enterprises, Gehry Partners and Projectcore Inc.
When you think about the world’s greatest cities and what defines them, there’s no question that iconic buildings are a key factor.
Many iconic structures worldwide are tall buildings, both representative of their time yet timeless upon reflection. Buildings such as New York’s 1930 Art Deco Chrysler Building at 381 metres, Kuala Lumpur’s modern twin Petronas Towers at 452 metres, and Dubai’s 829-metre Burj Khalifa, are just a few examples.
With Toronto’s ever developing emergence as a world-class city, architecturally distinct tall buildings will play an important role in further establishing Toronto’s global identity. These tall buildings will also support the planning principles of greater intensification within the city, as there is a push for buildings to grow “up” rather than “out.”
David Mirvish recently hired world-class architect Frank Gehry to design a landmark project for the King Street Entertainment District. The bold vision is a marriage of art and architecture, which will combine cultural, residential, retail and public spaces and redefine the area that the Mirvish family was instrumental in creating originally.
Clearly nobody hires Frank Gehry to create a nondescript building that will disappear among others on the street, and neither did Mirvish!
Mirvish+Gehry Toronto. Images source is credited as Mirvish Enterprises, Gehry Partners and Projectcore Inc.
For David Mirvish, Gehry has designed a trio of stunning sculptural towers, 82, 84 and 86 storeys tall, each with stunning architectural podiums, which will represent the city and be seen from afar. Gehry has likened his design to a “candelabra with three candlesticks”, and while the buildings will definitely be iconic and bold in vision, the economics of the real estate market have been taken into consideration so the condos meet the timing and constraints of market demand.
Four recently designated, warehouse type heritage buildings will have to come down to make way for this visionary project. Their removal will allow the Gehry buildings to come to street level so people can engage with a stunning retail and public experience in a meaningful way and create a valuable asset for the city. Above street level, the three towers will soar into the sky, creating an iconic tall building of spectacular design that will put Toronto on the map internationally.
The tough question for the city is whether keeping the warehouse buildings is more important than new buildings that celebrate culture, public engagement and a potential new identity for King Street.
Peter Kofman
President, Projectcore Inc.
