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Ugliest Building

Category: Humor & Offbeat

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Photo of John F.
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11/17/2009 John "underpaid civil servant" F. says:

Andrew asked about the most beautiful.  I was wondering what people thought was the ugliest, an why?  In Toronto and in the World.  Don't suggest an ugly small house somewhere - I'm wondering about something both ugly and substantial - a major blot on the planet.

PS:  I have no personal opinion on this though I've seen lots of ugly buildings.

  1. Photo of Kat F.
    11/17/2009 Kat "don't get me started!" F. says:

    Hands down t's the OCAD building. Incredibly garish and mismatched:
    http://upload.wikimedi...

  2. Photo of Katrina L.
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    11/17/2009 Katrina "foot" L. says:

    Are there actually rooms in that thing? I would be paranoid of falling through or something. Plus Kat, it's "ARTSY" and "Creative".

    How is this attractive? They spent sooo much money on it, they couldn't even match the old architecture?
    http://z.about.com/d/g...

  3. Photo of Michelle V.
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    11/17/2009 Michelle V. says:

    Both those buildings [expansions] can be seen as modern art destroying classic art. Not that I'm one to snub modern art, quite the contrary but these expansions are really hammering the message home. The Michael Lee-Chin Crystal literally looks like it's infecting the ROM.

    I'm personally not a fan of the Westside Lofts building (yup, staying with Toronto) and it is probably far from the worst. The speckling of windows on the side are too cartoony considering the suite showroom inside is gorgeous. Designed by none other than Will Alsop, the man who brought you the OCAD pencil case building...
    http://www.e-architect...

  4. Photo of Shari M.
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    11/17/2009 Shari "is blowing in the wind" M. says:

    I like the OCAD building - but not the ROM expansion.

  5. Photo of Vivek S.
    11/17/2009 Vivek "When I wake up imma be yelping" S. says:

    I wake up every morning to that pencil-stilt building -- technically the Sharp Centre for Design at OCAD -- and damnit, I like it.  It's an innovative solution to a space problem that doesn't destroy sightlines, and creates a lot of space without making a huge footprint.  Plus, who can fault a design design like that for an art school?  Come over and we'll bask in it; I will convert the haters.

    But as for ugly buildings, you can't beat Gehry: http://www.greatbuildi...

  6. Photo of Dale M.
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    11/17/2009 Dale "Go Epic or Go Home" M. says:

    222 Jarvis St.

    http://maps.google.com...

  7. Photo of Katrina L.
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    11/18/2009 Katrina "foot" L. says:

    Vivek - I was going to say any and everything by Frank Gehry but I like the AGO building: http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/...

    But yes his stuff is really...interesting.

    http://www.hohpe.com/G...

  8. Photo of Michelle V.
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    11/20/2009 Michelle V. says:

    Hmmm... maybe National Post saw this thread:
    http://network.nationa...

    The ROM made the list...

  9. Photo of Michelle V.
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    11/20/2009 Michelle V. says:

    Pardon me... it's Virtual Tourist's list, not NP

  10. Photo of John F.
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    11/20/2009 John "underpaid civil servant" F. says:

    I'd have to agree with their comment.  If the ROM addition had been a free standing building, it would have been kind of neat.  But protruding out of a heritage building with a totally different facade, it looks really yucky.  A friend of mine refers to it as "The Tumor."

  11. Photo of John F.
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    11/20/2009 John "underpaid civil servant" F. says:

    I'd have to agree with their comment.  If the ROM addition had been a free standing building, it would have been kind of neat.  But protruding out of a heritage building with a totally different facade, it looks really yucky.  A friend of mine refers to it as "The Tumor."

  12. Photo of John F.
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    11/20/2009 John "underpaid civil servant" F. says:

    Sorry again for the double post - unintentional

  13. Photo of Randy G.
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    11/20/2009 Randy "200 by Dec. 31" G. says:

    I don't know if OCAD is the ugliest, but it's most certainly the most laughable. For some reason, every time I look at it, I see whoever schedules classes there carefully going over the weight distribution at any given time, and an alarm going off signaling the occupants to move to the center whenever the building becomes unbalanced.

    (U of T engineers seem to share my overall opinion - check out http://www.mariosbaker..., click on Events, 2006-2007, OCAD Present)

  14. Photo of Chris E.
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    11/21/2009 Chris "5 secs. cranking = 20 mins. talk time" E. says:

    Kat, I couldn't disagree more heartily!  I think the OCAD building is marvelous.  It's whimsical, bold, and the kind of unique structure that any great city needs in abundance.  Katrina...why must the architects match anything at all?  Any building can just blend in and not be noticed.  How boring!

    Dale, I just KNEW someone was going to say 222 Jarvis (was Sears Canada's HQ...not sure if it still is).  I used to hate it, and I never fail to drink it in when I go past it.  But I have to say I've almost come to appreciate it over the years.  I have a feeling it's one of those modern buildings that activists will one day try to save, as being a pure representation of the era.

    I'm not sure I agree that the ROM addition is ugly, but it certainly over the top.  I think Libeskind was trying too hard to be "fabulous".

    My vote for ugliest?  I've always thought the U of T's Robarts Library is up there.
    http://www.raisetheham...
    I'm not a fan of Brutalism.  But I realize it's an important aspect of historical architecture, so I'd never advocate tearing the Robarts down or anything like that.  But it certainly catches the eye, you might say.

    The Toronto Star building is soooo bland.  That said, I don't think it's "ugly".  Just fuckin' boring and awful.  I think, to be ugly, a building has to stand out.
    http://upload.wikimedi...

    Manulife Centre is also, pretty fuckin' awful.

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