Toronto, Ontario, Canada, One Bloor Street, mixed-use, tower, high-rise, retail, curved balconies, Hariri Pontarini Architects

Located on the corner of Yonge and Bloor Street in Toronto,Ontario, One Bloor Street will be a truly mixed-use development, re-defining the typical ratio between residential, commercial and retail space within a single tower. Designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects, the new high-rise acts like a tool for restoring the urban experience of the street, by providing new corner landmark location. The new and exciting high-rise houses various uses – street level podium facilitates six-story retail and commercial space, while the 75 stories of the tower are residential. Carving into the existing zoning envelope, the six-story podium terraces away from the street as it stretches northward; dissolving the corner mass and preserving the existing street scale.

The corner site of the building is a gate to Canada’s premier shopping district therefore the goal was to further increase density while contributing to the public realm with new transit connections, active street level and improved pedestrian routes. The Northerly corners of this area were redeveloped in the early 1970’s, but failed to celebrate the importance of this destination by locating the retail below grade; effectively turning their back to the street.

The dynamic form of this high-rise is additionally achieved by undulating curved balconies of the residential levels, which creates a playful yet controlled façade and dramatically contrasts the modernist surrounding. While the outer line of the tower is free and dynamic, the interior core is more regular and serves as the backdrop from which the curving façade emerges. The frit glass balconies pinwheel around the building so the preferential corner units are increased in size, while capitalizing on view and light.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada, One Bloor Street, mixed-use, tower, high-rise, retail, curved balconies, Hariri Pontarini Architects

Toronto, Ontario, Canada, One Bloor Street, mixed-use, tower, high-rise, retail, curved balconies, Hariri Pontarini Architects

Toronto, Ontario, Canada, One Bloor Street, mixed-use, tower, high-rise, retail, curved balconies, Hariri Pontarini Architects

Toronto, Ontario, Canada, One Bloor Street, mixed-use, tower, high-rise, retail, curved balconies, Hariri Pontarini Architects

Toronto, Ontario, Canada, One Bloor Street, mixed-use, tower, high-rise, retail, curved balconies, Hariri Pontarini Architects

 

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