Many
people are familiar with Toronto’s
“New City Hall” (Simply known
as City Hall) because of its futuristic
shape and design; right next door is an
excellent old building that was the former
City Hall (known today as “Old City
Hall”). Taking ten years to build
it opened for its first day of governance
in September of 1899; it was meant to
be a complete governing complex containing
a Council Chamber, courtrooms and municipal
offices. When it was “abandoned”
in the 1960s it became the courthouse
for the Province of Ontario.
Designed by Toronto architect Edward James
Lennox, “Old City Hall” is
designed in the Romanesque Revival style.
It was designed to be one of the grandest
buildings of its day; its “castle-like”
plan includes corner pavilions, monumental
round-arch openings, an interior courtyard
and elaborate decoration inspired by the
middle ages. To the south there was to
be built a cenotaph (built in 1925) and
it made sure that the building would become
the center of community celebrations like
the gathering that occurred at the end
of WWII.
Toronto’s “Old City Hall”
has a central clock tower, which rises
103.6 metres (300 feet) and is positioned
to look down Bay Street (the cities financial
heart). Below are the main entrances,
whose arches are adorned with Romanesque
grotesques (complete with caricatures
said to represent politicians from the
late 19th century).
The
archways lead into an entrance that is
lined top and bottom with scagliola (faux
marble) columns with plaster capitals.
The mosaic floor was patterned in Buffalo
and brought to Toronto. The space is complete
with large murals, designer doorknobs,
and elaborate designs. The entrance leads
to a grand staircase that rises to the
second floor. On top of the stairs where
the landing divides to either side there
is a huge stained glass window depicts
the Union of Commerce and Industry, and
symbolizes the progress of Toronto. Beneath
this window is a marble memorial to the
sons and daughters of Canada who lost
their lives during the Second World War.
Partially open to the public, the building
still serves the people of Canada and
is a great place to visit. Toronto is
(in area, not in population) the fifth
largest city in North America and it is
one of the fastest growing in the world;
old city hall with its classic Romanesque
stone walls contrast against a background
of iron, glass, concrete, and steel. Next
door to The Eaton Center is a centerpiece
of the Toronto Landscape.
Old
City Hall Travel Links |
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