Tag Archives: Diamante Development Corporation

Florian condo and Four Seasons Toronto towers fast approaching podium finishes in Yorkville

Four Seasons Hotel Toronto

Exterior work on the new Four Seasons Hotel Toronto, seen here July 29 2012, is currently focussing on the base of the soaring 55-storey condo and hotel tower, as well as on the streetscape at the northwest corner of Bay Street and Yorkville Avenue.

 

Four Seasons Hotel Toronto

August 6 2012: In the courtyard on the east side of the Four Seasons tower, a driveway of elaborately patterned paving stones is being installed in front of the porte cochère …

 

Four Seasons Hotel Toronto

… while work is underway on the other half of the courtyard, where an urban garden will grace the street level in front of the 26-storey Four Seasons condo tower

 

The Florian condos in Yorkville Toronto

Meanwhile, just one block to the north, work is nearly finished on the podium of The Florian condo tower on Davenport Road at the top of Bay Street, seen July 29 2012

 

The Florian condos in Yorkville Toronto

Marble, glass and masonry accent provide strong angular accents to the long facade of The Florian’s podium, which gently follows the curve of Davenport Road

 

The Florian condos in Yorkville Toronto

Exterior finishing touches, including glass panel installation on podium-level balconies, were underway during the August holiday weekend …

 

The Florian condos in Yorkville Toronto

… while the revolving lobby entrance door and sheltered front driveway beneath the sharply pointed prow of the podium were in full view to passersby

 

Finishing touches: During the past three years, public attention on The Florian and the new Four Seasons Toronto condo towers in Yorkville has generally been focussed upward, as construction of the three highrise buildings climbed steadily higher. Now that wooden construction hoarding has been removed from the sidewalks outside both buildings, passersby are finally able to take a good look at architectural details closer to earth, including the exterior of the podiums and the streetscaping and landscaping elements of each project.

 

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Florian’s classy curves go with the Davenport flow

The Florian condos

The Florian’s long sweeping podium hugs the curve on Davenport Road


Ship shape: When I view The Florian from certain angles, I sometimes feel like I’m looking up at the prow of a tall, grand Cunard ocean liner, like the Queen Mary 2.

That’s the visual impact, on me, of the long, curved podium that draws to a sharp point at the east and west ends of the 25-storey luxury condominium complex currently under construction on Davenport Road, at the northern tip of Bay Street. It won’t be crossing any oceans, but from its berth along the big bend on busy Davenport Road, The Florian will overlook a steady stream of traffic flowing past. Away from the street, The Florian’s crescent-shaped site will be a sea of tranquillity, with lush secluded gardens and landscaped rooftop terraces. 

And like a Cunard liner, The Florian will exude class and sophistication: though it’s more than 80% sold, suites are still available at prices ranging from $1 million to more than $3 million.

A project by Diamante Development Corporation, The Florian was designed in a joint venture by Toronto architects Young + Wright / IBI Group Architects and David Pontarini of Hariri Pontarini Architects.

Below is a rendering of the condo entrance, from The Florian website, along with a series of photos I shot recently. More renderings can be viewed at this link on the Hariri Pontarini website.

 

The Florian Condos

The podium’s west tip reminds me of a ship’s prow


The Florian condos

The Florian condo tower viewed from the northwest tip of Bay Street


The Florian condos

Upper floor construction at The Florian on January 29 2011


The Florian condos

Safety netting and construction forms protrude from the upper floors


The Florian condos

Billboard outside The Florian condo presentation centre


The Florian condos

The Florian condo presentation centre on Davenport Road


The Florian condos

Looking up at The Florian tower from south side of Davenport Road


The Florian condos

South side of The Florian condo tower faces Bay Street


The Florian condos

The Florian’s lower levels along Davenport Road


The Florian condos

Graceful sweeping curve of the podium on Davenport Road


The Florian condos

Looking up the southwest corner of The Florian tower


The Florian

Brickwork on The Florian facade above Davenport Road


The Florian condos

Another view of the west point of The Florian podium


The Florian condos

Balconies on The Florian’s southeast corner


The Florian condos

Columns at street level on The Florian’s long curved podium


The Florian and Four Seasons Toronto

The Florian and the new Four Seasons towers viewed from Davenport Road


The Florian and Four Seasons Toronto

Another view of The Florian and Four Seasons Toronto towers


The Florian condos

Gracefully curved balconies on The Florian condo south side


The Florian condos

The Florian condo podium bends with the curve of Davenport Road


The Florian condos

Main entrance to The Florian will be under this point on the east side


The Florian condos

Website artistic rendering of The Florian condo entrance


The Florian condos

The Florian condo tower viewed from the east on Davenport Road