Frank Gehry-
talented artist and world-renowned architect is a born and raised Torontonian
who now has big plans for Toronto’s own King St. W.
For those who are wondering what all the fuss was about when
the redevelopment plans for King W. were released last fall, here it is. Joining
forces with city-builder David Mirvish,
Gehry and Mirvish plan on redeveloping a block and a half on the north side
of King St. where several century-old warehouses and the Princess of Wales Theatre currently
reside.
Creating a trio of
towers rising from a glass podium he calls “the cloud” Gehry wants to create an
organic complex that isn’t just going to be another dark glass tower in
Toronto.
Although Gehry has completed incredible buildings all over
the world, we’re not sure if this project will really go through, according to
the plans anyhow. There’s been huge controversy so far due to the fact that the
development site is a heritage location. And that’s not all. Heavy height and
density restrictions in the area don’t comply with the proposal. This would be
a seismic shift from the current neighborhood vibe in the entertainment
district (not to say that Toronto wouldn’t benefit from some such a shift).
Yet there is still the possibility of this major
architectural landmark that would mean big changes for the entertainment
district in our city. The ambitious plans have done a lot to continue to raise
awareness surrounding the demand for interesting architecture in the city of
Toronto. We are hoping to see Gehry’s vision
realized which would mean adding another great architects unique vision to our
city’s skyline.
Gehry received
his Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Southern California in
1954, and he studied City Planning at the Harvard University Graduate School of
Design and has completed many major architectural masterpieces
throughout the world. His latest addition to Toronto was the renovation of the AGO – Art Gallery of Ontario.
Find out more about the recent release of the changed
development plan below.
Source: BlogTO
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