Building: After giving thought to the relative advantages of horizontal and vertical communication the author has combined both methods

In this design, the Government areas and the public access areas are located in a low block, while the tall structure contains the Library, the City and the Metropolitan offices. These are grouped in a way as to achieve a satisfactory form order. Further, most of the building group is lifted on stilts to obtain a maximum garden area which allows citizens to move freely around the buildings.

REPORT

DESIGN

CITY HALL AND SQUARE

TORONTO

CITY HALL AND SQUARE — TORONTO

INTRODUCTION:

The accompanying design of the City Hall and Square is an effort to meet the objective of the “core of the city” as a meeting place. The fulfillment of this objective has been attempted throughout the historical periods till the present, and such attempts have reflected the living conditions and environments of the tie. The aesthetic considerations and ideals of monumentality have been influenced by these considerations and the actual realizations have been an affective expression of the passing civilizations. The expression of civic design, therefore, has in the past been manifested through the various styles of architecture. However the expression of the present time cannot be fulfilled by a mere introduction of one of these styles because of the technical advancement and other influences on architecture during the last century. This design, therefore, depends, for its aesthetic values and monumental expression, on an articulation of form and space, but not related to a structural concept. It attempts to bring about a fusion of visual arts, technical advancement and human values. In short, this design is a form order fulfilling the functions of the living organisms of the City Hall and Square and expressing the monumentality of the present time through form order.

2. BUILDING:

After careful consideration the author has arrived at the conclusion that the Square should be placed along Queen Street to obtain the most effective location for the proposed City Hall and also to connect both old and new buildings by means of open spaces. After giving proper thought to the relative advantages of horizontal and vertical communication the author has combined both methods. It was felt that this method would be the most effective solution to this particular scheme. In this design, the Government areas and the public access areas are located in a low block, while the tall structure contains the Library, the City and the Metropolitan offices. These are grouped in a way as to achieve a satisfactory form order. Not only does this ensure efficient circulation but confronts neighboring buildings with the smallest possible built-up area around them. Further, most of the building group is lifted on stilts to obtain a maximum garden area which allows citizens to move freely around the buildings.

3. CIRCULATION:

The building group as well as the square is accessible from the Queen Street although there are subsidiary accesses from side streets. The square leads into a court-yard from where one can either enter the public or Government area. Access is provided from both Chestnut and Bay Streets for automobiles, which move underneath the platform of the main court, and from where visitors can take the stairways or elevators. Public access to the Council Chamber, as also the Mayors access to his suite, is arranged similarly. They can also enter from the square on ceremonial occasions. The public access areas, Government access areas, Library, Metropolitan and City offices are all connected by means of covered bridges, including the block for future expansion.

4. FLEXIBILITY AND FUTURE EXPANSION:

The low and tall blocks are both designed and worked out on a modular system so as to allow easy change of internal walls. The entire area is planned around a communication and service core around which the entire work areas are planned. The future expansion bloc is planned to be connected to all blocks of buildings enabling easy communication between them.

5. ARCHITECTURAL COMPOSITION:

The building will receive its main character from the visual effect created by verticality and horizontality of the two principal elements. The author has tried to reinforce this effect by simplicity and by the use of forms which are not likely to become out of date in a short period. The author desires to assure the aesthetic impact by the following:

  1. Lines of man-made pure forms.
  2. Defined penetration of amorphous, natural spaces containing organic forms such as garden, foliage walks with the disciplined building forms.
  3. Imaginative combination of materials and texture such as stone, concrete, glass, stainless steel and other materials.
  4. Satisfaction offered by pure elements of structure and its usage.

The low block is a concrete frame structure with bent roof slab and is treated to express the plastic qualities of concrete. It has an effect of floating and rising upwards. The multi-storey block is supported on pilotis with superstructure finished partly in stainless steel to create an effect of a shining slab of concrete in space. This block is balance by the Council Chamber the form of which has sculptural qualities and is located to seem as if it is floating over water. The main paved area of the Square and the second platform within the court as well as the building blocks are articulated to produce tensions and dynamism.

6. ORIENTATION:

Although the author is aware of the advantages of North-South orientation, he found it more advantageous to place the main block of the building East-West due to the existing site conditions particularly the relationship of the roads, and the traffic problems. This also helped in achieving the required visual effect. The Eastern and Western faces of this building are covered with stainless steel movable louvers and shaded glass areas, to get necessary filtration against sun. these can be designed to be cleaned automatically.

7. STRUCTURE:

The structure is designed to emphasize the plastic qualities of concrete, which has been used throughout. In this scheme the use of steel and concrete has been made to express the characters of both the blocs. The low block is a concrete frame structure with bent roof slab, whereas the tall block is lifted on concrete supports with a steel superstructure having cantilevers of about 10’. These have been introduced to effect economy in structure. Each element of the structure is designed to express the stresses produced in it with consequent flexibility. In order to attain maximum openness on the ground floors of both the low as well as the tall blocks are lifted on pilotis. The supports of the low block are placed so as to form a grid of 40’ X 48’, which his reduced on upper floors as shown on the drawings. The supports of the tall block are placed at 36’ apart at the ground floor, branching out on upper floor to support steel column at 18’ centers. The structure of the Council Chamber is so designed that the roof is a shell supported at three points on the floor, which in turn is supported on three columns.

8. MATERIALS:

Roman travertine cut stone will be used for the blank wall surfaces; rubble stone masonry for retaining walls, and bush hammered concrete with special aggregate for the grid of the structures. Sliding windows and glass walls will be clear plate glass. Part of the external glazing will have filter glass, and sun shading devices are suggested in stainless steel. Although the use of stainless steel is more costly than Aluminum it is more advantageous from the maintenance view point. Exposed edges of floor slabs are finished with available stone in pleasing colour. Aluminum or stainless steel windows will be used. The shell of the Council Chamber will be covered with ceramic tiles. The interior of the council Chamber has acoustic plaster and the walls are finished with wood veneer. Special attention will be given to the flexible glass partitions and the acoustic fulfillment of various elements of the project. The paving in the plaza garden will be concrete with concrete flower beds raised at several places. The gardens which are in patios will have plants in concrete containers. Ceramic tile mural walls are introduced in the plaza area.

Whenever necessary natural ventilation and radiant heating will be used.

CUBIC CONTENTS: SUMMARY

  1. Government Areas =  10,72,000 c.ft.
  2. Public Access Area = 14,63,000 c.ft.
  3. Car Parking = 1,36,800 c.ft.
  4. City & Metropolitan Deptt. = 43,61,000 c.ft
  5. Council Chamber = 1,10,000 c.ft

TOTAL = 70,41,800 c.ft

***

Kanvinde Rai and Chaudhary Archive

This image is embedded in ...