Toronto City Hall / Hôtel de ville de Toronto
1958
Toronto, Ontario, Canada- Public building
- Building
- Town hall
Since its incorporation as a city in 1833, Toronto has had 2 city halls, both of which have played an important part in the life of the city. Even today, in spite of skyscrapers of considerably greater height in the central area, the City Hall, or the "Hall" as it is known to many, is clearly distinguishable as the seat of civic government.
In the eighteenth century city, the cathedral and the town hall frequently dominated the urban scene both physically and spiritually. The City Hall in Toronto is largely overshadowed physically, but it still dominates by its presence.
The City Hall in Toronto differs, in that respect, from those centres of civic administration in North America where the "Hall" is just another office building hardly differentiated from the commercial structures which surround it.
One of the reasons for this competition is to find a building that will proudly express its function as the centre of civic government. How to achieve an atmosphere about a building that suggests government, continuity of certain democral traditions and service to the community are problems for the designer of tl modern city hall. These were qualities that the architects of other ages endeavour) to embody in the town halls of their times.
These, however, are spiritual attributes. Of equal importance are the physical qualities that the Corporation is seeking. Because of the solidity of their construction, most old city halls are obsolete and inconvenient, and cannot altered except at great expense. Modern planning and modern techniques ensure flexibility and change at minimum cost, and competitors are reminded that these are essential qualities in the planning of the building. Unlike office building city halls last a long time, and departmental changes can be expected over hall century or more. When they occur, it should be possible to make them bo expeditiously and inexpensively.
The competitor's ability as a designer will be amply demonstrated by his plane of the Public Access Areas, and the Government Areas. While the public has ace in varying degrees to all departments, these are the two areas of greatest public and interest. Each has dramatic possibilities for the designer -- each can be expression of those qualities implicit in the building itself.
(From competition program)
***All the visual documentation is taken from the book "A synopsis of The City Hall & Square competition for Toronto, Canada"
In the eighteenth century city, the cathedral and the town hall frequently dominated the urban scene both physically and spiritually. The City Hall in Toronto is largely overshadowed physically, but it still dominates by its presence.
The City Hall in Toronto differs, in that respect, from those centres of civic administration in North America where the "Hall" is just another office building hardly differentiated from the commercial structures which surround it.
One of the reasons for this competition is to find a building that will proudly express its function as the centre of civic government. How to achieve an atmosphere about a building that suggests government, continuity of certain democral traditions and service to the community are problems for the designer of tl modern city hall. These were qualities that the architects of other ages endeavour) to embody in the town halls of their times.
These, however, are spiritual attributes. Of equal importance are the physical qualities that the Corporation is seeking. Because of the solidity of their construction, most old city halls are obsolete and inconvenient, and cannot altered except at great expense. Modern planning and modern techniques ensure flexibility and change at minimum cost, and competitors are reminded that these are essential qualities in the planning of the building. Unlike office building city halls last a long time, and departmental changes can be expected over hall century or more. When they occur, it should be possible to make them bo expeditiously and inexpensively.
The competitor's ability as a designer will be amply demonstrated by his plane of the Public Access Areas, and the Government Areas. While the public has ace in varying degrees to all departments, these are the two areas of greatest public and interest. Each has dramatic possibilities for the designer -- each can be expression of those qualities implicit in the building itself.
(From competition program)
***All the visual documentation is taken from the book "A synopsis of The City Hall & Square competition for Toronto, Canada"