Canadian skylines of the past

[Kilgore Trout]

Originally Posted by _Citizen_Dane_

This is one of those rare cases of where historic architecture's been replaced that I'm actually really conflicted on — so often it's easy to argue the old was better, but here I think I like the before and after equally. I love the second picture with all that grand pre-war classical architecture surrounding a picturesque square, but man, is 500 Place d'Armes a great looking Modernist tower.

The real tragedy is the loss of the old post office, which was replaced by the fugly Bank of Montreal stub of a tower.


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[MonkeyRonin]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

So many memories.
So many deaths.

KW, did you live in the Village back then? What was that like?

[Coldrsx]

Originally Posted by Kilgore Trout

The real tragedy is the loss of the old post office, which was replaced by the fugly Bank of Montreal stub of a tower.


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FFS

[esquire]

The old post office was beautiful, but the end result of that particular block with the Bank of Montreal building and its neighbours is still amazing. I would never call the Bank of Montreal building fugly...far from it.

[Martin Mtl]

Originally Posted by esquire

The old post office was beautiful, but the end result of that particular block with the Bank of Montreal building and its neighbours is still amazing. I would never call the Bank of Montreal building fugly...far from it.

Me neither. It’s a high quality exemple of 1950´s modernism. It’s all made in stone and the back side on St-Antoine is monumental and meshes perfectly with the historic facade by McKim, Mead & White.

I still would have prefered to keep the Post Office.

[Andy6]

It's very similar to its "twin" in Winnipeg, with the modern BMO building adjacent to it being pretty nice and complementary in each case. In Winnipeg McKim Mead & White were retained on the new building as well, from what I remember.

[craner]

Great Toronto set on the previous page.
Man it really was a vast wasteland around the CN Tower back then. My how things have changed for the better.

[craner]

Originally Posted by Andy6

It's very similar to its "twin" in Winnipeg, with the modern BMO building adjacent to it being pretty nice and complementary in each case. In Winnipeg McKim Mead & White were retained on the new building as well, from what I remember.

I’ve always really liked the “new” building in Winnipeg you’re referring to - just wish it was taller.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by MonkeyRonin

KW, did you live in the Village back then? What was that like?

No, I was living in Parkdale at the time. What was it like? Vibrant. And, of course, fabulous. Great sense of community and expanding possibilities. Creative. Lots of fun. Safe. And then, suddenly, it wasn’t.

[franktko]

[MolsonExport]

Originally Posted by Martin Mtl

Me neither. It’s a high quality exemple of 1950´s modernism. It’s all made in stone and the back side on St-Antoine is monumental and meshes perfectly with the historic facade by McKim, Mead & White.

I still would have prefered to keep the Post Office.

agreed on both counts.

[MolsonExport]

I never knew Richard Pryor lived in Toronto.

[Rico Rommheim]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

agreed on both counts.

I'm going to agree as well. The 1959-1960 BMO building has grown on me a lot throughout the years. It's a cute building, built at the maximum height (84m from St-Antoine) that was allowed at the time and place and it has a noble if not subtle look. It has been well maintained throughout the years.

Of course I would prefer to have the old post office instead. But I certainly don't think the BMO HQ is an ugly building.


Also, There's something about the late 50's modernism in Montreal that I find intriguing. The BMO HQ, the yellow pages building, the CN HQ. These buildings belong in between two different time periods, between the flashy modernism of the 1960s and the bulky masonry classicism of the 20's and 30's.

[Andy6]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

I never knew Richard Pryor lived in Toronto.

Are the light-up street signs (“Bloor St W”) all gone now? They were so Toronto.

[niwell]

Originally Posted by Andy6

Are the light-up street signs (“Bloor St W”) all gone now? They were so Toronto.

Officially the last of them was removed from the Queen and Bay intersection in 2015 or so. Apparently E-W streets were yellow tinted, while N-S was blue.

It must have been maintained privately as there was one at the entrance to Mirvish Village on Markham right up until demolition. It's understandable that the originals were a maintenance nightmare and prone to shorting out during inclimate weather, but with LED tech it wouldn't be too hard to reconstruct a few in historical locations. Wouldn't be too surprised if that's planned for Mirvish again.

[Martin Mtl]

Originally Posted by Rico Rommheim

I'm going to agree as well. The 1959-1960 BMO building has grown on me a lot throughout the years. It's a cute building, built at the maximum height (84m from St-Antoine) that was allowed at the time and place and it has a noble if not subtle look. It has been well maintained throughout the years.

Of course I would prefer to have the old post office instead. But I certainly don't think the BMO HQ is an ugly building.


Also, There's something about the late 50's modernism in Montreal that I find intriguing. The BMO HQ, the yellow pages building, the CN HQ. These buildings belong in between two different time periods, between the flashy modernism of the 1960s and the bulky masonry classicism of the 20's and 30's.

We also have to consider the fact that the Post Office building was heavily damaged by a fire which destroyed the very ornate roof, which was its most spectacular part. So in the end there was only this left... In the context of Old Montreal, what was left was average.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Andy6

Are the light-up street signs (“Bloor St W”) all gone now? They were so Toronto.

I was 10 when I first visited downtown Toronto and I remember being quite impressed by those signs... I'm sorry to hear they're gone.

[MonkeyRonin]

Originally Posted by Rico Rommheim

Also, There's something about the late 50's modernism in Montreal that I find intriguing. The BMO HQ, the yellow pages building, the CN HQ. These buildings belong in between two different time periods, between the flashy modernism of the 1960s and the bulky masonry classicism of the 20's and 30's.

Yeah it's definitely an interesting and undersold era. Count me in as a big fan of that BMO tower.

We have some good examples of that era, especially along University Ave:

https://goo.gl/maps/mK3a6Z5cD6mf8qcbA
https://goo.gl/maps/a7mR7FCxvMJAMw5k9
https://goo.gl/maps/aYbFxhd81ZsHfyGX9
https://goo.gl/maps/yiCAS3QM73P59prT6

Originally Posted by Andy6

Are the light-up street signs (“Bloor St W”) all gone now? They were so Toronto.

It's a shame, 'cause the new signs are just awful.



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Likewise for the classic "acorn" ones.

[MolsonExport]

I used to dismiss the CN HQ (where my father was entombed for decades) as banal, but I now think it is quite elegant.


imtl

It has held up better than its adjacent, similar counterpart, the QE hotel (which is nicer on the inside: I've stayed there about a dozen times over the years)


travelweekly

Plus CN has one of the best logos in the land.

[Andy6]

Yes, I dislike the over-designed new signs. People with degrees in design should not be allowed to design things.