Libeskind and the Royal Ontario Museum

[helloinsane]

http://www.rom.on.ca/renaissance/

Ground has been broken, but not much to see yet. Worth keeping an eye on...

[MG]

Looking at this image
http://www.rom.on.ca/renaissance/architecture.php

This could be one of Libeskind more successful designs - the contrast between the old building and the new extension is quite exciting.

[helloinsane]

Success in that regard will hinge on the resolution of that connection.

I'm a little dubious that it will be well resolved, due to the realities of budget and the capabilities of Canadian contractors, as compared to those he may have worked with in Germany or elsewhere.

The ROM have a display for the design - I should swing by and see if there's anything at a scale above 1:500.

[MG]

Are Canadian contractors unreliable?

Are you near the site?

[Paul Clerkin]

helloinsane, check the private messages here..... I've a proposal for ya....

[helloinsane]

Originally posted by MG
Are Canadian contractors unreliable?

Are you near the site?

Not unreliable in any way. It's more to do with the particular requirements of that type of architecture, both in terms of availability of products and materials and the skillset required for its fabrication and construction.

The site is right across the road from the museum I'm working on right now. Faceoff!

[Judgeetox]

Hello. I am an Ironworker currently residing in Toronto. I was involved in the steel erection of the ROM expansion. Our boys were more than cabable of performing this task and did so dilligently. Sometimes however, it would have been nice to drag an architect up on the steel and ask them to show us how a certain connection was to be bolted up, but otherwise it was a fun and challenging erection......I always said to the boys working "If you thing OUR job is difficult, try being the one doing the cladding and fitting the glass on this monstrosity"

As far as appearance goes, I am all for the contrast between old and new styles. However, I don't think anyone realized completly the beautiful brickwork that this building was covering (It cannot be replaced with todays tradesmen) and the contrast of the antique wrought Iron fencing and archways in the park beside it leaves alot to be desired.


M
Ironworkers Local 721, Toronto

http://www.ironworker.com

[tboake]

Hey

I watched and photographed the ironworkers building this project. You were all fantastic. I have lots of images online of the construction...
http://www.architecture.uwaterloo.ca:16080/faculty_projects/terri/steel/rom.html

Great work.

And yes. I would not want to be cooridinating the cladding. Too much potential for movement - from July 12 to anytime now...

Terri

[Paul Clerkin]

Very interesting collection of images - am really llooking forward to experiencing the completed structure.

[Paul Clerkin]

So what does people think about the finished product?
http://canada.archiseek.com/news/2007/000149.html

I have to say that I'm disappointed - doesn't live up to all the hype coming out of Toronto - all the galvanised steel just makes it look cumbersome.

[Rhabanus]

So what does people think about the finished product?
http://canada.archiseek.com/news/2007/000149.html

I have to say that I'm disappointed - doesn't live up to all the hype coming out of Toronto - all the galvanised steel just makes it look cumbersome.

Cumbersome and intrusive. It blocks the finer points of the ROM and occludes the view of other fine buildings on Bloor St and Avenue Rd.
The gala opening was so much tosh.
The emperor is now to his skivvies.
I shouldn't be surprised to learn that "the crystal" leaks like a sieve.

[L1]

I just visited. One could go on for a long time about Libeskind,the black cladding/ strong lines
in particular, are a problem, pretty jarring, but Toronto needs this, desperately. Anything that will get people
to engage with and fully inhabit this city is a plus.

[helloinsane]

Did you take a look at the Gardiner while you were there? I still haven't been inside the finished article.

[L1]

Sorry, I missed that. I was just at the Gardiner for Nuit Blanche. Tend to think its one of the better
KPMB buildings, finer, contrast to 180 Queen St. West.

[helloinsane]

180 Queen is way more P than KMB. Finally got to the Gardiner myself last fall, it came together pretty well in the end.