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The Great Canadian Heritage Restoration Thread
The_Architect's post in the re-clad thread (quoted below) inspired me to start this thread. Let's see your city's best restorations of heritage buildings. Post pictures of what they looked like when they were built, as they were during the "dark times" and what they look like now.
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Great idea for a thread.
Here's a recent one. This victorian building sits at the corner of Des Pins and Saint-Laurent. It was in such a bad state that I was sure it was not possible to save it. Then the city obliged the owner to do something about it and voilà ! The original http://projetmontreal.org/wp-content...29_750x500.jpg Source: projet Montreal Before the restoration http://images.lpcdn.ca/641x427/20110...nord-ouest.jpg Source: La Presse After the restoration http://montrealrealestateblog.com/wp...-stLaurent.jpg Source: Montreal RE blog |
The Dineen Building at Yonge & Temperance:
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...phy/bizcaf.jpg From thecharioteer at Urban Toronto Here it is on the left: http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...568_it0311.jpg From thecharioteer at Urban Toronto And again on the left: http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...057_it8938.jpg From thecharioteer at Urban Toronto How it looked from Google Street View just a few years ago. I was sure that it was going to either collapse or be demolished: http://urbantoronto.ca/sites/default...6839-22592.jpg From Urban Toronto And here it is today: http://urbantoronto.ca/sites/default...6839-22580.jpg By: Craig White at Urban Toronto Learn more here: A Breath of Fresh Air for the Historic Dineen Building on Yonge The Dineen Building Opens For Business Urban Toronto project thread |
I see subway construction in one of those pictures...
Must be getting ready for the Yonge line.. |
Those are some fantastic restorations in Toronto. I especially like the moldings around the roofline.
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This one was not quite as far gone, but it was a good restoration nonetheless.
3414 Stanley (2009-2012) http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8493/8...dc40b824_b.jpg Photo: Guillaume St-Jean http://www.flickr.com/photos/guil343...in/photostream |
Godin Building, corner Saint-Laurent and Sherbrooke. Built in 1914-1915 by Joseph-Arthur Godin. It is one of the few Art Nouveau buildings in Montreal. It was classified as a heritage building in 1990 by the Quebec government. Unfortunatley I don't have any pictures of when the building was new.
2003 http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5007/5...255294e6_b.jpg Montreal May 2003 by Montreal Photo Chick, on Flickr 2006 http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1002/1...7ed12c5c_b.jpg Godin Building by designwallah, on Flickr 2003-2006 http://farm1.staticflickr.com/149/39...776_z.jpg?zz=1 2003-2006 by guil3433, on Flickr |
St-James church on Ste-Catherine.
From wikipedia: When it was built in June 1889, it was the largest Methodist church in Canada, with 2,000 seats; it was nicknamed the "Cathedral Church of Methodism." In 1927, to cover upkeep costs, the church permitted a commercial building to be built in front of its Sainte Catherine Street façade. The building, adjoining the church's structure, concealed the church for over 78 years, the church itself being announced by a large neon sign. In 2005, as part of an $8-million restoration effort sponsored by the city of Montreal and the Quebec government, a portion of the commercial buildings were demolished, once again revealing the facade of the church, lovely restored to its former glory. The original http://www.mccord-museum.qc.ca/ObjView/v2532.jpg Source: McCord museum From 1927 to 2005: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BjoQ-lPQ3z.../s640/sjuc.jpg Source: Vanishing Montreal Today: http://redandr.ca/photo/city/img/Sai...(Montreal).jpg Source http://farm1.staticflickr.com/52/142...983a6f18_o.jpg By blork on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8024/7...5f30d4db_b.jpg By aljuarez on Flickr |
The Paton Factory was built in 1866. In 1871, it was Canada's second largest factory.
http://tolkien2008.files.wordpress.c...30-1868_av.jpg ETRC 115 years after its opening, it closed. http://www.icomos.org/~fleblanc/publ...ton_before.jpg François LeBlanc It has now become a mixed-use building. Unfortunately, the small tower you can see on the first picture has not been rebuilt. http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/p...m/21370544.jpg Mario Hains |
Southam building. An old printing building left to rot for many years and just recently restored and turn into condos.
Before http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5303/5...358ae2f5_b.jpg By johnbrycedavidson on Flickr http://www.southamlofts.com/DATA/NOUVELLE/7.jpg Source: Southam lofts After http://www.southamlofts.com/gx/05/so...m_building.jpg Source: Southam lofts http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7248/7...8822141e_c.jpg Southam Building 6 new by johnbrycedavidson, on Flickr http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7113/6...54cc0c13_c.jpg Southam Building 7 new by johnbrycedavidson, on Flickr http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7192/6...f878bd6f_c.jpg Southam Building 9 new by johnbrycedavidson, on Flickr[/QUOTE] |
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The Toronto building's interesting. I remember walking by that building many times. It was depressing looking and I expected it would just be torn down someday, but now it looks great. Hopefully the same thing will happen when they build condos above the old abandoned bank buildings across from the Eaton Centre. Toronto should put a lot of effort into protecting buildings like that. There aren't many left, and the amount of money required is pretty small given the scale of the modern city.
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Very few of our commercial heritage buildings have been destroyed. Those that have been changed at all have typically been completely destroyed and replaced by modern construction.
However, our residential heritage buildings have gone through many changes. The ornate woodwork of the original construction was often lost to renovations over the years as it's expensive to replicate. However, now heritage protection laws require any new renovations to return these old homes to an authentic state. Here is one such example. The rowhouse on the right has been recently renovated. The one on the left was probably renovated in the 1940s-1960s. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8200/8...ba17f643_b.jpg Authentic? by Signal Hill Hiker Photography, on Flickr One of the more famous ones is the house in Republic of Doyle. I used to have a picture of how it looked originally as well as immediately before its most recent renovation. In the 1960s they renovated it to have giant, foot-wide wooden panels for siding. It was awful. But I lost those pictures in the transition to a new computer. |
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If you mean these buildings, that's where Massey Tower is going: http://www.blogto.com/upload/2012/02...wer-Aerial.jpg From blogTO |
Man, this thread is right up my alley! I'll post some examples, some more may come to mind, but they'll all have corresponding now photos as it's just easier for me to post them that way.
Ok, let's start off with the Carnegie Centre, now a community centre for the downtown eastside but stated out as a library and for many decades was the Vancouver Library's main branch: under construction: http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4074/4...e972738a_z.jpg Carnegie Centre Construction - 1902/2010 by entheos_fog, on Flickr 1906: http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3144/2...64917e97_z.jpg Hastings and Main - 1906/2008 by entheos_fog, on Flickr The library moved out in the late '50s when a new building was built and this sat neglected until it was restored and made into a community centre in the early '80s. 1971 and vacant, fate unknown at this point: http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4082/4...79f9cb63_z.jpg Hastings and Main - 1971/2010 by entheos_fog, on Flickr It just received another facelift recently. 2010: http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4101/4...09cac1cc_z.jpg Carnegie Community Centre by entheos_fog, on Flickr |
The Yale Hotel, built in 1888.
1944: http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2638/4...d490f783_z.jpg Yale Hotel - 1944/2009 by entheos_fog, on Flickr 1975: http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2668/3...3ec721ab_z.jpg Yale Hotel - 1975/2009 by entheos_fog, on Flickr 2009: http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4057/4...56d0e3a2_z.jpg Yale Hotel by entheos_fog, on Flickr This building is currently undergoing a restoration along with a condo tower going up beside it: http://imageshack.us/a/img844/8672/img1081uj.jpg |
Salt building, built in 1931:
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3240/5...f40a283b_z.jpg Salt Building - 1933/2011 by entheos_fog, on Flickr 2006, photo courtesy of bob_2006 on Flickr: http://farm1.staticflickr.com/93/217...7c152f05_z.jpg Domtar Salt Building - 1931 by Bob_2006, on Flickr And 2010. This building is situated right in Olympic Village and played a key role in the games. It's still sitting vacant but there's talk of a brew pub or restaurant opening up in here soon: http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4119/4...e157861c_z.jpg Salt Building and Others by entheos_fog, on Flickr |
Wow, Entheosfog. Very impressive. And I LOVE that Salt Building.
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http://media.winnipegfreepress.com/i...1_16291659.jpg
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION Red River College's culinary institute open for classes Main Street is cooking again at the Paterson Global Foods Institute By: Nick Martin Posted: 01/10/2013 1:00 AM Just try to resist the seductive scent of fresh baking wafting throughout the Exchange District and the heart of downtown. Go ahead -- just try. And once that smell lures you inside the grandeur of the oldest skyscraper in Winnipeg, what are the chances you won't want to sit amid marble splendour and enjoy fine dining prepared by aspiring chefs whom you can watch and even chat up as they prepare your meal? Words such as grandeur and splendour haven't been used in the same sentence as Union Bank Tower for a very, very long time. There's nary a pigeon carcass left in the 1904 skyscraper across the corner from city hall on Main Street. Officially, it's the Paterson Global Foods Institute, housing the hospitality and culinary arts programs of Red River College and six floors of student residences. The official opening is Feb. 21. But as tradespeople finish the conversion of the enormous banking section into Jane's restaurant, 30 students have already moved into residence and 300 students are in a state-of-the-art school with opulent kitchens spread over several floors, learning everything from how to bake delicate European pastries, to cooking veal and fresh fish, to tasting wine and beer and spirits to see what goes best with a particular dish. http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/bre...186271751.html |
Bishop's Block circa 1929
http://tripatlas.com/p/76426/7642638...fae109.jpg.jpg Taken by: Bryen Dunn http://tripatlas.com/guides/Canada/2...adian_Property Taken by: TallerBetter of ssp &ssc http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...July172012.jpg http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...2ShangriLa.jpg |
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It is not done yet but Keith Hall in Halifax is being restored. It was built in 1863 and recently has been in bad shape:
http://historicplaces.ca/hpimages/Th...7494_Large.jpg Source Here is what the building looked like in 1942. The mansard roof is going to be restored: http://www.gov.ns.ca/nsarm/images/Ea.../200903444.jpg Source A lot of old details have been lost from buildings like this, but more and more of them are now being restored. Here is an "after" shot of another building across the street that was worked on by the same architectural firm: http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3636/3...3589fb2b_b.jpg Source |
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Barber house built 1865
2 story oak log house after all the fires......... and 25yrs of neglect http://www.pointdouglas.com/plugins/...mages/1532.jpg after http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6029/5...b05a54ea_b.jpg |
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A couple comments.
1. Fantastic idea for a thread, Ramako! 2. Martin Mtl, that post on St. James' Church is fantastic, what a beautiful building. The commercial buildings and neon sign surprisingly enough I don't hate, reminds me of a lot of the old churches sandwiched into the streetscape in London (UK). Obviously with a front like it actually has I prefer the after though. 3. In the pictures of the Dineen Building, is it bad that I actually like the old Yonge Street better? With all the ridiculous signs and obviously all the older buildings. I really like signs for some reason that aren't just a big plastic STORE one. The ones that stick out are awesome. |
Lister Block, downtown Hamilton
Before http://media.treehugger.com/assets/i...ter20block.jpg Lloyd Alter http://www.treehugger.com/sustainabl...ter-block.html http://media.treehugger.com/assets/i...ister-hall.jpg Lloyd Alter http://www.treehugger.com/sustainabl...ter-block.html Back in the day http://www.tourismhamilton.com/wp-co...lock-Photo.jpg Tourism Hamilton http://www.tourismhamilton.com/touri...e-lister-block After http://hamiltonvitalsigns.ca/wp-cont...8756533675.jpg Christopher Hume http://hamiltonvitalsigns.ca/learning-to-love-hamilton/ http://d3j5vwomefv46c.cloudfront.net...O3oIifUalYqsc_ Emma Reilly http://twitpic.com/5x6bm3 |
This is York House in Fredericton. It was build as a school in the 1890's an then switched hands several times before it started to fall into disrepair. But, someone felt that it could see a new life as condos, and so, the building was saved from the wrecking ball. the church beside it owned it and used it for the community, but after years of ageing they wanted to build new and wanted to pull it down. However, the city did not want to see another landmark fall, so they bought it and the church built an addition down the other side of the block, which looks great too, but I digress. Work started on the building about a year ago and is still ongoing, they had a lot of work to do! Some of the pictures are mind, others are not. The architect that constructed the building also built the legislature, which is also a beautiful building, which itself also when through an extensive restoration outside. Perhaps I will show you tat as well.
This was the school in its prime (picture thanks to Fredericton Haritage Trust): http://www.heritagefredericton.org/y...0-1-47-939.jpg Before the work was started on the school (picture from historic places.ca): http://www.historicplaces.ca/hpimage...7538_Large.jpg Just this past summer: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8025/7...458bfd2c_b.jpg The work they have been doing is nothing short of amazing: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8307/8...ddef3d9a_b.jpg The stone was just black with age, but they gave it a good cleaning (you can see at the bottom of the door frame just how bad it was: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8281/7...5fe3208b_b.jpg |
The New Brunswick Legislature when through extensive restorations as well. Built in 1880 after a fire burned the previous wooden structure built in 1799:
You can see the copper roof from long ago, was not always white (who ever though of that should be sent to jail hahaha (Picture from New Brunswick archives): http://archives.gnb.ca/Photos/Historical/P11-36.jpg Before (picture from wikipedia): http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._Brunswick.jpg During the work (picture from the New Brunswick Government website http://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/mu...4_2.jpg.html): http://www2.gnb.ca/content/dam/gnb/m...11-02-14_2.jpg After the work was done. Doesn't it looks so much more stately? (Picture from Oldmasion on flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/httpold.../5613344706/): http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5108/5...766e2334_b.jpg After the work was done. Leg from the air. (pictures from Fredericton tourism): http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7006/6...92974d57_b.jpg http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7164/6...4ab46d5a_b.jpg Lights were added to the building for the diamond jubilee of Queen Elizabeth (Photo from Colde Berston at http://coleburston.tumblr.com/post/2...n-at-a-lit-up: http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6...ehio1_1280.jpg |
Fantastic restoration! :) and of a very important building no less!
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I love New Brunswicks legislature. It doesn't get the attention it needs!
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Another one from Vancouver. This building is located on the once infamous 100 block of west Hastings. Even as late as 2007 most of these building stood abandoned, derelict and ready to be torn down. But ever since the Woodward's project was built across the street, this block is being shown some love. One by one, these buildings are getting restored. I'll post the rest of the block later, but this is the latest to be restored.
1927: http://imageshack.us/a/img191/2966/a...gat152west.jpg 2007: http://imageshack.us/a/img850/5905/dscf5343pm.jpg 2013: http://imageshack.us/a/img84/6153/img1259x.jpg |
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Wow! These are fantastic!
St. John's is slated for a pretty big restoration of a building downtown to begin this spring. I'm not sure it's old enough to be called heritage, but it's quite the extensive restoration! This is the current Avalon Telephone Building that has been vacant and left to rot for many years http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/images/news/ph...g-20100913.jpg And this is the approved restoration beginning construction soon http://www.condosmix.com/wp-content/uploads/1.jpg |
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I'm not sure what the deal is but there was artist studios on the second level, I believe they'll remain. If this building follows the others on this block, they'll be posting for lease signs for the retail level soon.
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Theatre Corona
Build in 1912 and interior redecorated in 1922. Original http://sphotos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphoto...62082874_n.jpg Source: Corona Facebook http://sphotos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphoto...92686755_n.jpg Source: Corona Facebook Before the recent restoration http://sallesdecinema.files.wordpres...na_570-790.jpg Source Now (reopen as Virgin Mobile Corona theatre): http://sphotos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphoto...24304405_n.jpg Source: Corona Facebook http://sphotos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphoto...63205071_n.jpg Source: Corona Facebook http://sphotos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphoto...10367886_n.jpg Source: Corona Facebook https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.n...56495686_n.jpg Source: Corona Facebook http://imageshack.us/a/img217/6158/corona1ra.jpg Source: sors-tu http://imageshack.us/a/img560/363/corona3.jpg Source: sors-tu |
Excellent stuff!
I was going to post some more of the 100 block of west Hastings but before I could post all the pics I pressed the wrong button and it all went away :( For another day, I suppose. Anyway, here's another building I forgot about, the Flack Block, built in 1898. Again, I'll use then and now photos, starting with the oldest. 1909: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7027/6...aa22a399_z.jpg Flack Block from Victory Square - 1909/2011 by entheos_fog, on Flickr 1939. Note the archway, soon to be removed, plus the cornice: http://imageshack.us/a/img593/4100/f...ambieandha.jpg 1947. Work is being done to 'modernize' the building: http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5291/5...eb498662_z.jpg Flack Block - 1947/2010 by entheos_fog, on Flickr 1969. Archway and cornice are gone in this photo: http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3490/3...b4d285fe_z.jpg Flack Block - 1969/2009 by entheos_fog, on Flickr It looked similar to this 1971 photo up until its restoration a few years ago: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8342/8...7bfb3e74_z.jpg Flack Block - 1971/2012 by entheos_fog, on Flickr Replicated archway (ignore the graffiti): http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3105/2...bed3a03a_z.jpg Flack Block Entrance by entheos_fog, on Flickr Detail: http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4093/4...155c58ae_z.jpg Flack Block Detail by entheos_fog, on Flickr |
Here are a few failed renovations in Montreal... These are the same buildings apparently! :yuck: I don't really think that they can be restored.
5635 Park Ave. (1936-2012) http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8457/7...b81ce40b_b.jpg 1936-2012 by guil3433, on Flickr Another butchered renovation, again same building - corner St. Catherine and Mackay (1936-2012). It was "renovated" in 1968. http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7120/7...7e106c62_b.jpg 1936-2012 by guil3433, on Flickr Another hatchet job. http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3560/3...41ba4db8_b.jpg 1930-2009 by guil3433, on Flickr |
^What? Are you kidding me? I had no idea these were butcherd renos. What a shame. These people responsible...I hope they're proud of themselves. Fucking idiots.
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Those make me wonder how many ugly buildings were renovated like that, and how many still hide interesting details. The ones with new masonry walls don't seem likely to have their old facades, but often siding can just be taken off.
There's a similar example in Halifax. Look closely at the front facade and the side wall of the fourth house on the left side; it has a plain 50's-era brick front, but the side is clearly Victorian-era brick with a mansard roof. http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/6751/barrington.png This one's got metal siding: http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/1730/sackville.png |
Here's a different approach to heritage restoration. When subdivisions are built in Markham, often any existing heritage homes are moved to Markham Heritage Estates, where they're put into a "heritage subdivision." The result sometimes looks a bit odd, but it's great that the homes are saved.
When existing homes can be incorporated into a new neighbourhood, the homes remain in their original location, so there are also a lot of examples of immaculately restored heritage homes within new cookie cutter neighbourhoods. http://www.hypercube.rannieturingan....4/img_0654.jpg Source: Rannie Turigan http://www.hypercube.rannieturingan....4/img_0654.jpg |
Those great buildings trashed by the late 20th century renos really get my blood boiling. :(
Speaking of the Flack Block and Woodwards... I really hope that red Asia Imports building (seen in the pictures between the two) is restored / renovated soon. It looks in sad shape. |
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I mean that the renderings look better than the current condition. I would prefer a theoretical restoration of all of the buildings, but that doesn't appear to be on the table.
Starfish has done lots of great restoration projects but the Roy building's pretty much been a disaster for years. Here's their site: http://www.starfishproperties.ca/index.html |
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