Architecture

When I walk, I gawk - at flowers, at public art, at architecture. Today it was the latter. This neighbourhood has houses of every vintage. The original homes had large lots and, in this case, a second house was built onto the first (its entrance is at the side). It just doesn't work for me - the architecture is obviously of different eras; the bricks don't really match. In some cases, parts of lots were sold off and homes of a totally different vintage and style were squeezed into the smaller space between the original homes.



But it is not just homes from different eras that feel mismatched. This, too is not one but two homes. The one on the right also has its entrance on the side, not totally unusual for this street. From the front it looks so insignificant compared to the home on the left with the massive front porch and overhang. It feels off balanced to me.

I think of the architecture of the Renaissance where emphasis was on symmetry and balance. While I don't necessarily want to go back to other aspects of the Renaissance style - I would like to see a little more balance. Am I being too critical?

Westmount Square

Westmount Square, a  four building complex (2 apartment towers, an office tower and a lower rise building) was designed by the architect, Mies van der Rohe. In some ways I like the clean lines and the way the buildings seem to float on the ground floor lobbies (see below).



There is a shopping concourse underneath. Some years ago, skylights were added, breaking up the marble walkways outside. Although it is nice to have some natural light inside, I am not a fan of changing the architectural integrity.

My parents lived in this building in the 1970s for about 5 years. My father was a building developer and he loved feeling he was living in a building designed by an architectural icon. They moved out, not because they didn't like the building, but because the gentleman upstairs had insomnia and would play his piano above my parents' bedroom at all hours of the night, pounding his feet on the floor. Unfortunately he was a friend of the owner of the building so complaints did not get very far.

Looking Around

Photos: June 14, 2015

I went to see the murals, but there was so much more to see! I always like to look at architecture, to see the details, the way buildings have character. This one also had  interesting angles, reflections and shadows - so much to catch my eye. I converted it to black and white - below is the colour version - which do you prefer?

It was a colourful day with a perfect blue sky and brightly coloured wares trying to catch your attention.



Chairs, clothing, and the aromas of street food cooking! A feast for the senses.




And people watching...This woman walked purposefully down the street, her arms behind her back. I couldn't resist the juxtaposition of this man, arms behind his back, but in much more modern attire.



Doors, gardens and more invite a stop and stare through the camera lens. I must take time to explore other areas of my city.

Spirals

Spirals, a photo by susanvg on Flickr.

We went walking, dropping into antique stores, trying to find a door knocker. No luck there, but I always find interesting architecture.



This is one of the shops we stopped in. What a clutter of items! In another store the proprietor was fast asleep on a chair with a book in her lap. We tiptoed out so as not to wake her.



Nice to see old places come to life again. It is now used as a concert venue - though not for the kind of concerts I go to, so I guess I won't get to see the inside!

Changing architecture

Changing architecture, a photo by susanvg on Flickr.

This building sits at the corner of Greene Avenue and St. Catherine. Once a bank as the writing and large crest attests to, when the branch closed it had to find a new use. The last incarnation was as an antique shop and the building owner saw fit to erect the (not quite) portico. It detracts from the original architecture. The antique shop closed a couple of years ago and the building was sold. It still has not really found a new use. I hope the new owner does not have ideas of adding to the architecture yet again - unless it is to remove the addition thus adding to the building's beauty.

Old Grand Trunk Railway Building

Old Grand Trunk Railway Building, a photo by susanvg on Flickr.

This building (dating from 1900) recently underwent a face lift - copper was replaced and the exterior was cleaned. It was once the headquarters of the Grand Trunk Railway, but is now a government building



Since the railway disaster in Lac Mégantic, people have become much more aware of the dangers of moving certain substances through populated areas. Though the Grand Trunk Railway does not exist anymore, its tracks do (now used by CN). Just today in the newspaper there was a letter to the editor talking about the use of their tracks in Point St. Charles as shunting yards - with who knows what is in the cars in a populated area. Too often safety is overlooked in the name of economics.



It is such false economy - just ask the people of Lac Mégantic. How much will it cost to rebuild the buildings and decontaminate the region? And how much will it cost to put peoples' lives back together after such enormous human losses?

What Next

This building started as an imposing bank - architecture of the late 1800s. Some years back when the bank sold it, it was bought by an antiques dealer. She added the portico - creating this odd mix of styles. The building was recently sold. I wonder what the new owner will decide to add.

Another Walk

It's fun to walk in areas of the city where I have not walked before. Even though I have driven through this part of Montreal, it is not the same as viewing on foot. While I am not a huge fan of graffiti, I did like the images here.


We walked into a park with houses facing it on each side. This three story (though more elegant than some) is typical of houses in parts of Montreal. The second and third floor dwellings are reached by an outdoor staircase, which can be treacherous on icy mornings. The wrought iron balconies at the left are more typical than the stone and concrete of the building in the centre.

This neighbourhood is near the Lachine Canal, once an important waterway, through which boats could bypass the Lachine Rapids. Industries sprang up along the canal. Since the advent of the St. Lawrence Seaway, it lost its usefulness. Now a bicycle path runs along it (not open this time of year). The waterway is used by pleasure boats, not working boats. Where once factories stood, now housing is replacing them. This footbridge crosses over the canal.

You can learn more about the history of the canal here.

Toronto

Toronto is not that far from Montreal (about 500 km or 350 mi) but the architecture is quite different. Houses in the older parts of Toronto tend to be very close together, often to the point that it is a tight squeeze between them. Another common characteristic is the front porch. In Montreal, row housing is more common in certain areas with outdoor staircases. I featured some samples here.

As we walked in this neighbourhood we came across one house which was not typical of Toronto. A simple home had been decorated like a frosted wedding cake. They were trying to transplant their Greek heritage. But frankly it was over the top! It was topped with statuary like fancy frosting. There is no accounting for taste.

Rooftops

Rooftops, a photo by susanvg on Flickr.

A side benefit of going to the baroque festival is that I get to stroll around Old Montreal. The variety of architecture is amazing with buildings dating from 1700 to the present. This is the top of the Hôtel de Ville.




This is the Ernest-Cormier building - now the Court of Appeals, once the Conservatory. One of the concerts took place in the lobby.

Sun Drenched Building

Sun Drenched Building, a photo by susanvg on Flickr.

Sometimes it's nice to walk in one's own city with the eyes of a tourist. One notices things that normally are just passed by. I have often walked up the street near this building as it leads from the metro to the church where I often attend concerts. This time I decided to deviate slightly and was treated to the gold of the sun accentuating the architectural details on this building. It houses offices of our municipal government (hence the flag of Montreal flying on top).




Later, walking form the concert, we passed our city hall, lit not by the sun, but by strategically placed lighting. It too, accentuated architectural details. If only, the politics inside, were as enlightened as the outside!

Side View of Customs Building

Side View of Customs Building, a photo by susanvg on Flickr.

Always nice to see a building lit at night to highlight its architectural features. This is the former Customs House in Montreal. It was built between 1912 and 1916.

Night Lighting

Night Lighting, a photo by susanvg on Flickr.

I love it when care is taken to light up the architectural details on a building. This used to be a fire station. It was converted into a library / community centre. The recorder orchestra I play in rehearses there.

Recently it was in the news as the borough was looking at cutting the adult division of the library to save money. It got a last minute reprieve, but citizens of the area are working to ensure it stays open.

Converging

Converging, a photo by susanvg on Flickr.

Photo: September 22, 2011
I've photographed in this building before. There is something about the space that intrigues me. This time I was fascinated by the combination of reflections and the real. To me, there is a sense of movement.

Centaur Theatre

Centaur Theatre, a photo by susanvg on Flickr.

I love when old buildings take on new lives. This was once (as you can see from the lettering) the Montreal Stock Exchange, when the financial centre of the city was centred on St-Jacques (then sometimes known as St. James. As the downtown core moved to Ste-Catherine, the head offices of companies also moved. A new building was built for the stock exchange. In the late sixties the first of a series of renovations took place, transforming the building into Centaur Theatre which now has two performance spaces.

I went to see "Schwartz's: the Musical" - a fun-filled romp about a local restaurant, Schwartz's (aka Montreal Hebrew Delicatessen). It was filled with colourful characters, many based on real people as well as providing a slice of Montreal life. Great fun!

Snow in Quebec City

Snow in Quebec City, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Mon pays c'est l'hiver - Gilles Vigneault (my country is winter)

A snowy, rainy, slushy, freezing rain day in Quebec City - but the weather did not dampen my enthusiasm for the architecture. Much of old Quebec has been preserved and their are strict rules as to what can be done to buildings. Some date as far back as the 1600s (Quebec was founded by Samuel de Champlain in 1608).


The Catholic Church wielded a lot of power over the people of Quebec for many years. Churches are prominent in all parts of the city.



Quebec is one of the snowiest cities on the planet. Many homes have steeply sloping roofs, but snow still accumulates. It is not unusual to see ladders set up for the roof cleaners. In milder weather, walk far from the houses as snow and ice can drop unexpectedly.


Gabled windows are a common architectural feature in Old Quebec.



The houses are often made of stone. Everything looks so solid.

Fire Station Tower

Fire Station Tower, originally uploaded by susanvg.

I often find myself driving past buildings and thinking I should stop and take a picture. Architectural details interest me - old doors, stained glass windows, decorative details. This time I stopped by the fire station on Gatineau in Montreal. The tower once must have been used to watch for fires. The building was constructed in 1908. At the time the tower probably was higher than all other buildings around. Though most of the buildings nearby are still two stories, there are newer apartments and office buildings that surpass this tower.

Here is what the main part of the building looks like.


This fire station adds character to its surroundings, unlike many of the utilitarian buildings of more recent times.

Museum of Nature

Museum of Nature, originally uploaded by susanvg.

A trip to the Canadian Museum of Nature which was recently renovated. This new glass addition shines in the light, quite a contrast to the stone exterior. It appears, almost as an illusion - there but not quite there. You can learn more about it here. I discovered that there was originally a tower built but it had to be dismantled in the early 1900s as the soil underneath could not support the weight. I'm not sure how I feel about this addition. It certainly makes moving between sections of the museum easier.

Jan 30/10: Windows

Jan 30/10: Windows, originally uploaded by susanvg.

My father was a self-made man. His father was a carpenter and my father had to quit high school to work with him to help support the family. Working weekends and summers he later finished high school at night and put himself through university. My father always saw windows not doors - possibilities not road blocks. He had an incredibly optimistic outlook.

He ultimately became a building developer and this is one of his projects. I know from stories people have told me, he was always honest and fair. He died 9 years ago this month, just shy of his 92nd (February) birthday. He has left brick and mortar legacies, but more importantly he has passed on his vision and values to his family and friends. I try to live up to his principles.

Day 240: Wood Trim

Day 240: Wood Trim, originally uploaded by susanvg.

I was driving in Ottawa to meet up with family for dinner when I spotted this house. Stopped at a light, I snatched my camera and took a picture. I like to live with clean lines and little in the way of frills and scallops. But I do enjoy looking at the architecture of another time.

It's interesting to me that for each of the arts, I pick and choose the eras that speak to me the most. I love to listen to and play baroque music, but find the architecture of that time too ornate. Baroque art, when based on religious themes, does not speak to me. I may appreciate the technique, but I am not moved. Yet Bach's cantatas reach into my core. I love art from the late 1800s and early 1900s - that period when artists went outdoors to try to capture the essence of nature, not just try to reproduce it exactly. I like some of the music from that time, but have little interest in more modern composers.

So as I photograph, I am often drawn to the architectural details of structures built in another era. Yet this is as an observer, I prefer to live in a building where my Danish furniture doesn't feel out of place.