Canada's 10 Tallest U/C

[Luk_o]

I like the look of the balconies as is. L-Tower is turning out fantastic.

[DrNest]

As much as I love L-Tower, I am now wondering what it would look like without any balconies. Don't get me wrong, I do like it as is, but am thinking...

[caltrane74]

It would have looked hella' betta'...

No doubt.

[WhipperSnapper]

It may have looked better if the balconies weren't part of the stripes and matched the window wall.

[DrNest]

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper

It may have looked better if the balconies weren't part of the stripes and matched the window wall.

I think my opinion is leaning towards this view. The contrast of the balconies exaggerates their feature and makes them more noticeable. I'm not against having them, but think it may have been improved if they weren't so "stand outish".

[MTLskyline]

At least they are of the loggia type rather than the kind that protrudes from the facade.

[Martin Mtl]

Originally Posted by MTLskyline

At least they are of the loggia type rather than the kind that protrudes from the facade.

Exactly. That makes all the difference. Toronto has too many condo towers with wrap-around balconies as it is.

[Beedok]

Monolithic and soulless like most office buildings?

[Gresto]

I like the balconies. They disrupt the all-glass monotony.

[caltrane74]

BACE Webcam shot

[KnoxfordGuy]

I've been wondering this for quite some time. What is it with the obsession that Toronto has with balconies? I feel they make a building seem temporary looking. not sure why. Just makes them seem almost cheap.

I don't see this going in in Chicago or New York...but maybe I'm just not looking hard enough. Just seems Toronto has more than its fair share.

[Ramako]

Originally Posted by KnoxfordGuy

I've been wondering this for quite some time. What is it with the obsession that Toronto has with balconies? I feel they make a building seem temporary looking. not sure why. Just makes them seem almost cheap.

I don't see this going in in Chicago or New York...but maybe I'm just not looking hard enough. Just seems Toronto has more than its fair share.

I totally agree. Except in rare circumstances, balconies just look tacked on and ruin the aesthetic of a tower. That's why I prefer wraparound balconies or inset balconies (or ideally none at all).

I don't think you see balconies in New York or Chicago so much because most of their skyscrapers are office towers, whereas Toronto's boom is happening in a time when residential skyscrapers are becoming more common.

[uzi]

Originally Posted by KnoxfordGuy

I've been wondering this for quite some time. What is it with the obsession that Toronto has with balconies? I feel they make a building seem temporary looking. not sure why. Just makes them seem almost cheap.

I don't see this going in in Chicago or New York...but maybe I'm just not looking hard enough. Just seems Toronto has more than its fair share.

you know what gives them a cheap look. most of them are same-cheap boxes with cheap green glass. that's why they look cheap and temporary.

[P Unit]

Despite whatever aesthetic issues they present to an exterior of a building, highrise balconies are awesome. I would never live in a building without one.

[DrNest]

Got to disagree with the comments re balconies in Chicago. I'm there right now and a lot of the condos have balconies. Not as many as Toronto, granted, but still a significant number.

[WhipperSnapper]

Units are small, narrow and, deep in Toronto. Balconies count towards amenity space.

[dleung]

I have no problems with balconies, projected, recessed, or other, as long as they are large enough to be useful, and are part of the expression of the tower.


by Yellowfever

Anything other than a monolithic, corporate-looking tower aesthetic may not appeal to many fanboys, but I think it would be great if every condo household had an outdoor "room" in the sky to dine in and enjoy the sunset, in the company and in view of other balcony/terrace dwellers. It's the only way you can convince suburbanites to give up their lawns and backyard patios


https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7396/...3dee35580a.jpg

[Gresto]

I am also puzzled by the aesthetic distaste for balconies. I concede that they don't look good on any and all buildings, but a blanket aversion to them is curious. To each his own, I guess. Buildings like the Casa trio would be just more plain, sterile glass edifices without the horizontal protrusions that give them a bit of visual character and gusto. Casa III:

[dtgeek]

Originally Posted by Gresto

I am also puzzled by the aesthetic distaste for balconies. I concede that they don't look good on any and all buildings, but a blanket aversion to them is curious. To each his own, I guess. Buildings like the Casa trio would be just more plain, sterile glass edifices without the horizontal protrusions that give them a bit of visual character and gusto. Casa III:

The fact that you had to post an artist's rendering, rather than an actual photo (preferably not gussied up with HDR and other effects) of a good-looking building with balconies kind of makes your argument fall flat on its face.

There are certainly a few buildings that I think look good despite their balconies, like 1 St Thomas (especially) and Shangri La Toronto, but even those would look better without IMHO.

[WhipperSnapper]

Balcony glass is above the usual window wall. Also adds depth to the design. I don't get the dislike of them either