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The Crystal

Renovation of the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal, an extension of the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto (2007, Daniel Libeskind). It's called the Crystal because it's spiky. Here's a view of its spikiness:
1.bp.blogspot.com/-0b-qIauvHHw/VR9FGbIX1tI/AAAAAAAAMOM/l7KUswx8rec/s1600/ROM%2BCristal%2BMichael%2BLee-Chin%2BCrystal1.JPG

Widely reviled by Torontonians, it nevertheless appeals to tourists. Tourism is a big industry here, so it's got that going for it.

Despite my general admiration of Libeskind's work, I think he missed the target here. In particular, even the building's admirers admit it is impractical as part of a museum.

The Washington Post chose this building as the worst of its decade. On the other hand, it has its supporters. Christopher Hume of the Toronto Star, for example contended that it "seemed to express a desire to bring not just the museum, not just the corner of Bloor and Avenue Road, but the whole city, into the 21st century without diminishing the past". Which is as may be, but it seems to me that whether it has achieved that desire is still an open question (to be fair, Hume seems to think so, too).

I think it looks better with the scaffolding (seriously, the rectangles create tension with the less regular geometry of the building). Maybe the ROM could be persuaded to leave it up.
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20 comments

Sarah P. said:

I like the scaffolding too. Actually reminds me of a crystalline structure.
6 years ago

Sarah P. replied to Sarah P.:

At least you don't have a grotesque tower of babel sticking out of the middle of your skyline.
brokeassstuart.com/sf/2017/10/18/the-salesforce-tower-looks-like-a-giant-butt-plug
6 years ago

rdhinmn said:

Or a spider web. It certainly is intricate. I'd never find my way out of the maze.
6 years ago

John FitzGerald replied to rdhinmn:

Amazing stuff, scaffolding. Wouldn't want to be working on it in the typical Great Lakes wind, though.
6 years ago

John FitzGerald replied to Sarah P.:

The Gherkin in London has always reminded me of a suppository.
6 years ago

Ulrich John said:

Very well seen, John ! A very interesting view !
6 years ago ( translate )

John FitzGerald replied to Ulrich John:

Thanks, Ulrich.
6 years ago

Sarah P. replied to John FitzGerald:

Perhaps best not to go to far into that deep end ...
I see you used your (older?) camera for this shot. How are you liking your new one? (The SONY ILCE-6000?)
6 years ago

Keith Burton said:

I've just googled some pics of the museum...............and I have to say I think it's an eyesore! There seems to been no effort at all to make it fit with the surroundings..!!

I can see why the locals aren't keen on it and I think you're right about the scaffolding being an improvement!

A cracking image John!
6 years ago

John FitzGerald replied to Keith Burton:

Thanks, Keith. Unfortunately this is far from the biggest architectural eyesore in Toronto. I consider this one more of an eyesore, but even it is not the biggest eyesore:
Sharp Centre for Design
6 years ago

John FitzGerald replied to Sarah P.:

It's aka the α-6000 or A6000 mirrorless, Sarah. I like it -- quality pixels that you can edit aggressively in JPEG with fewer artefacts like halos; sharp, large photos that can be heavily cropped; and -- something which is very important up here -- it performs well in the cold (as does my ancient Sony RX100 Mk 2). The big drawback of the camera for me is lack of IS for raw files. I'm working on that problem, though.

I used the RX100for this one because I had things to do yesterday at which carrying around a bigger camera would have been inconvenient.
6 years ago

John FitzGerald replied to John FitzGerald:

I should have mentioned that the A6000 is slow to start.
6 years ago

Keith Burton replied to John FitzGerald:

Oooh yes, I remember that one. You ought to do a project on "Eyesores in Toronto" John.
6 years ago

William Sutherland said:

Excellent shot!

Admired in:
www.ipernity.com/group/tolerance
6 years ago ( translate )

John FitzGerald replied to Keith Burton:

That's a good idea, Keith. Lots of scope there. Thanks.
6 years ago