Inside City Hall

With another round of municipal elections completed this past week, I thought about getting more involved in the community. That's when it dawned on me that despite living in this city for almost 20 years, I've never been inside Toronto's "New" City Hall. That changed today when I popped in for a quick look.

New City Hall was designed by Finnish architect Viljo Revell and his team: Bengt Lundsten, Seppo Valjus and Heikki Castren. Working together with Toronto architects John B. Parkin & Associates, the building was completed in 1965. Although considered by some to be too futuristic at the time, the design continues to feel modern in 2010.

The staircase radiates a distinctly Finnish aesthetic

with its gleaming teak & mahogany railings:

The stunning floors were cut in Canada
from imported Italian Carrara marble:

This nail relief sculpture is one of several
public art installations at City Hall.
"Metropolis" by David Partridge, 1977:

The copper nails at the core of the piece
represent the heart of the city:

More than 100,000 nails comprise the sculptural mural:

The handles of the double front doors
cleverly form a capital letter T:

All photos by Pamela Graham for CherishToronto.

Garden Court Apartments

One of my favourite places in Toronto is the Garden Court Apartments at 1477 Bayview Avenue. The feeling I get when I step into the garden is difficult to explain...imagine a sense of history, peace and solitude, where the busy city seems very far away. The series of ten art deco buildings surround the central courtyard, which has a layout similar to that of formal french gardens. The buildings were designed by architects Forsey Page & Steele, while the landscape design was developed by Dunington-Grubb and Stensson. The apartments were completed in 1941, and have stood the test of time, as beautiful today as when they were first constructed.

All photos by Pamela Graham for Cherish Toronto.

Quiet Commerce Court North

Think you can't find a quiet, peaceful place in the heart of Toronto? Think again! Next time you're downtown, take a stroll through the financial district, and tucked in behind Commerce Court North at King and Bay, you'll find a magical place. A huge granite fountain in the courtyard creates the feeling that you're miles away from all the hustle and bustle of the city. It's a great place to enjoy an outdoor lunch, and it's completely deserted on weekends!!

Not a soul in sight...

The historic Commerce Court North building was built in 1930-31, and was designed by Canadian architectural firm Darling & Pearson. Enjoy your visit!

Architectural Period Rooms at the Met

One of the best things I did during my trip to New York City was visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The building is situated on the east side of Central Park and spans the length of four city blocks along 5th Avenue, from 80th to 84th Streets.

The elaborate Beaux-Arts facade of the Met:

Due to the museum's immense size, I knew I wouldn't be able to see everything in one day, so I opted to focus on the Greek and Roman collections, Egyptian Art, and Modern Art. However, while I was looking for the cafeteria, I was distracted by the elaborate period rooms displayed in European Decorative Arts.

These awe inspiring spaces literally made my jaw drop and took my breath away at the same time. As I wandered from one incredible room to the next, it occurred to me that interior design has been a part of culture for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Experts can estimate a room's age by identifying certain design qualities common to the period.

Though decor trends come and go, one thing always remains the same, and that is our desire to make a house our home. Some homeowners want a place to kick back and relax, some want a space to entertain, and some want a home that reflects their wealth and social stature.

Formal Reception Room circa 1768-1772
Hotel de Tesse, Paris, France

Hotel Room, circa 1775-1778
Hotel de Cabris, Grasse, France

Hotel Room, circa 1769-1771
Palais Paar, Vienna, Austria

Hotel Room, circa 1740

Hotel Varengeville, Paris, France

Lauzun Room, circa 1770
Hotel Lauzun, Paris, France

Dining Room from Landsdowne House
Berkeley Square, London, England
Circa 1765-1768

Dining Room from Kirtlington Park
Oxfordshire, England
Circa 1748

All photos by CherishToronto

Unfortunately these photos don't do justice to the elaborate beauty of these rooms (no flash allowed in the galleries). If you're interested in learning more on the subject, check out this book, Period Rooms in the Metropolitan Museum of Art:

Lego for Christmas

I can honestly say that "I Love New York", and it is absolutely my favourite city to visit. I am always blown away by the amazing architecture of the Manhattan skyline. Here are two images from my last trip:

Rotunda of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

Lobby of the Empire State Building

In a related story, with Christmas just 5 weeks away, I've been snooping around for interesting gifts online. Trust me to find something for myself!! Considering my interest in all things related to New York City architecture, I found the perfect gifts to me, from LEGO:

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

The Empire State Building

These two landmark structures are part of LEGO's Architecture Series designed in collaboration with Adam Reed Tucker of Brickstructures Inc. Both sets have been advertised by Holt Renfrew, and should soon be available at select locations. I was able to order the Guggenheim directly from the Guggenheim online gift shop.