York Guardian

The William Greer Architectural Conservation and Craftsmanship category, one of five, honours property owners who have undertaken projects to restore or adapt structures that have been in existence for 40 years or more or are included in the City of Toronto’s Inventory of Heritage Properties.

Projects are judged on the quality of craftsmanship, appropriateness of materials and the use of sound conservation principles.

The jury also considers how well the project meets current needs while maintaining the integrity of the original design vision, according to criteria released by Heritage Toronto.

The awards will be presented at Koerner Hall on Oct. 13.

Sanctuary, Trinity-St. Paul’s United Church

Architectural/Design Firm: ERA Architects Inc.

Craftsperson/Contractor: Clifford Restoration Ltd.; S.W.S. Engineering Inc.; Anne Minor Performance Consultants; Sound Space Design.

Trinity-St. Paul’s building was erected in 1889. Project included upgrades to accessibility, stage size and acoustics in the Sanctuary, part of a multi-phase project to better support multiple uses of the building.

St. Augustine’s Seminary of Toronto

Architectural/Design Firms: Bogdan Newman Caranci Inc.; Philip Goldsmith Architect

Craftspersons/Contractors: Roof Tile Management Inc.; Read Jones Christoffersen Ltd.

Seminary built around 1913 in the Beaux-Arts style. Project involved replacing some original materials, such as cast stone decorative pieces, work on the Seminary’s main entrance and installing new metalwork on the dome.

Toronto Bell Cote, Sukyo Mahikari Centre for Spiritual Development

Architectural/Design Firms: Takashi Tsuji Architect, William N. Greer

Craftspersons/Contractors: Heritage Mills Historic Building Conservation Inc.; Sonterlan Corp.; EGD Glass Studio.

Thought to be the only wood-framed church in Toronto, this 1895 building was restored and repurposed for the Sukyo Mahikari Centre for Spiritual Development with a new foundation and basement, steel framing, wood restoration.

Jean Tweed Centre, Cumberland House

Architectural/Design Firm: Thomas Brown Architects Inc.

Craftsperson/Contractor: Clifford Restoration.

Rehabilitation of masonry, chimney and other exterior features of Cumberland House, a Queen Anne-style residence built in the late 19th century.

Bronze Entranceway, 21 Dundas Square.

Architectural/Design Firm: ERA Architects Inc.

Craftspersons/Contractors: Clifford Restoration Ltd.; Heather and Little Ltd.; Stanley Doors.

Part of the rehabilitation of the Hermant Building, project recreated the bronze doors and entranceway that had been installed around 1935 but later lost.

Apartment Building,

100 Spadina Road.

Architectural/Design Firm: ERA Architects Inc.

Craftspersons/Contractors: Ontech Building Consultants Inc.; Brook Restoration.

Restoration of exterior appearance of 1969 heritage-designated building designed by Modernist architect Uno Prii included repairing structural integrity of the balconies and replacing balcony railings.

Munk School of Global Affairs

Architectural/Design Firms: KPMB Architects; ERA Architects Inc.

Craftspersons/Contractors: Crossey Engineering; Blackwell Bowick Partnership Ltd.

Adaptive reuse of 1909 Dominion Meteorological Building and adjacent Transit House to create expanded facilities for Munk School. Included restoration of interior and exterior masonry, repair of original windows and restoration of staircase.

CNR Office Building

Architectural/Design Firms: architectsAlliance; ERA Architects Inc.

Craftspersons/Contractors: EllisDon Ledcor PAAV Inc.; Trow Associates.

Former CNR office, built in 1923, is one of two original buildings that will serve as a gateway to new Canary District being developed in the West Don Lands. Exterior restored and interior transformed into two-storey gallery, restaurant/event space.

Artscape Youngplace

Architectural/Design Firms: Teeple Architects Inc.; Goldsmith Borgal & Company Ltd.

Craftsperson/Contractor: Clifford Restoration Ltd.; CPE Structural Consultants Ltd.

Givins-Shaw Street Public School (1914) was transformed into a community arts and culture facility, with studios and exhibition space. Restoration and stabilization of sandstone cornices and window sills, installation of replica windows, stabilization of structural steel columns;  preservation of grand central staircase.

60 Atlantic Avenue

Architectural/Design Firms: Quadrangle Architects Ltd.; Philip Goldsmith Architect

Craftspersons/Contractors: Read Jones Christoffersen Ltd.; First Gulf.

1890s industrial warehouse rehabilitated, maintaining heritage features such as brick walls, beams and original entrance.  Interior was retrofitted, corten steel and glass addition.

Little Trinity Church Annex

Architectural/Design Firms: DTAH Architects Ltd.; ERA Architects Inc.

Craftsperson/Contractor: Historic Restoration Inc.

Redevelopment of a row of derelict Georgian-style townhouses into a new administrative and meeting space for church community. Mid-19th-century façades on King Street were restored, back of property replaced with new two-storey volume that maintained original roof-line and east gable.

The Aperture Room, Thornton-Smith Building

Architectural/Design Firms: George Robb Architects, Straticom Planning Associates

Craftspersons/Contractors: Blackwell Engineering; Artistic Skylight Domes Ltd.; Roof Tile Management Inc.; Townley Masonry

Three-storey commercial building designed by John Lyle in 1922;  project created Aperture Room, an event venue on the third floor that retains many of the heritage elements of the building, including interior brick and original skylight.

Landing Stage, Ward’s Island.

Architectural/Design Firm: Steven Burgess Architects

Craftsperson/Contractor: Clifford Restoration Ltd.

Landing Stage, erected in early 1900s, was a shelter for passengers awaiting cruise boats. When Ward’s Island community decided to create a public square in partnership with Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation, Landing Stage was recreated using restored surviving wrought iron and replica pieces.

49 Weybourne Crescent, Private Residence.

Architectural/Design Firm: Murakami Design

Craftsperson: The Arceo Group Inc.

Arts and Crafts residence circa 1922, considerable renovations to restore the fabric of this house. Addition of front porch and single-storey rear extension.

10 McKenzie Avenue,

Private Residence.

Architectural/Design Firm: gh3

Craftsperson: Wilson Contract Management; Pierre Morin Fenêtres MQ

Project aimed to modernize interior of 1908 Rosedale residence while preserving character of exterior and streetscape. Restoration of leaded glass windows, wooden window sills and architraves, refurbishment of window hardware.

17 Berryman Street,

Private Residence.

Architectural/Design Firms: Climan Green Liang Architects Inc.; Joan Burt Architect.

Detached two-storey Victorian house located in Yorkville-Hazelton Heritage Conservation District;  front façade of house restored, interior modernized.

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The former St. Matthias Church served as a rescue centre when Hurricane Hazel struck Toronto on Oct. 15, 1954. Photo: Toronto Bell Cote

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Restoration work has begun in Toronto’s only wood-framed church, the former St. Matthias Anglican Church at 691 Scarlett Road.

Toronto Bell Cote Heritage Preservation, which is spearheading the restoration of this Etobicoke landmark, is seeking the help of Anglicans and others in the undertaking.

Designated as a heritage building in 2003, the 118-year-old church has both historical and architectural significance, according to Lynda Davey-Longstreet of Toronto Belle Cote.

Originally built in 1895 as Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Malton, Peel county, and relocated to Scarlett Road in 1923, the church showcases the Victorian Gothic Revival style of architecture, with its L-shaped plan, three-sided apse and cross-gable roof with a bell cote and chimney.

“The property is associated with the historical development of the Westmount community, which was founded in World War I era as a residential neighbourhood for workers at the munitions plants across the Humber River in Weston,” says Toronto Bell Cote Heritage Preservation on its website. “Following its move to Westmount…St. Matthias Anglican Church became an important institutional building in the hamlet.”

When Hurricane Hazel struck Toronto on Oct. 15, 1954, the church served as a rescue centre and became a focal point for the community.

Since then, the historic church has served other purposes.

When the growing St. Matthias congregation moved in 1957 to its present-day location on Royal York Road, the property was transferred to the diocese of Toronto. In 1959 the Christadelphian Church purchased the building and in 2009 sold it to a spiritual development centre, Sukyo Mahikari.

But the ravages of time caught up with church, described by many as “quaint, small, lovely and charming.” The building had fallen into such disrepair and decay that, in 2010, Sukyo Mahikari filed for an application to demolish it, “unaware of the stringent regulations that govern heritage structures,” said Davey-Longstreet.

A strong lobby from the local historical society and members of the community saved the church, however, and in 2011 the Etobicoke York Community Council voted to preserve its heritage value.

Sukyo Mahikari decided to create Toronto Belle Cote, a non-profit charitable organization, whose focus would be to preserve the building as a heritage centre and promote activities related to its heritage, explaned Davey-Longstreet.

“Our goals is to bring it back to life—literally, because it’s falling apart, and also, back to life in the sense of restoring its role as a centre within the Etobicoke community,” said Davey-Longstreet.

Aside from strengthening the church’s structure, the renovation plan involves preserving as much of its original elements as possible—including the arched stained glass window and the bell cote. But newer, more eco-friendly and energy-efficient features will be added.

The vision is to have a place where people can gather and have different types of activities, “establishing the connectedness that once existed in this community,” Davey-Longstreet said.

Like other churches in most of urban Canada, the church will combine “spiritual and non-spiritual uses,” said Davey-Longstreet. There are plans to use it as a centre for education that will focus on history, including quite possibly a museum honouring those who survived and did not survive Hurricane Hazel. There are also plans to organize training for disaster preparedness, the use of renewable energy, tree planting and organic farming.

The estimated cost of renovations has been pegged at $860,000.

For information about the project, including how to donate, visit the Toronto Bell Cote website at torontobellecote.org

 

 

 

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About the Author

This category honours owners who have undertaken projects to restore or adapt buildings or structures that have been in existence for 40 years or more or are included on the City of Toronto’s Inventory of Heritage Properties. In addition to the quality of craftsmanship, appropriateness of materials, and the use of sound conservation principles, the jury considers how well the project meets current needs while maintaining the integrity of the original design vision.

The Heritage Toronto Awards celebrate outstanding contributions to the promotion and conservation of the city’s heritage in five categories: Book, Short Publication, Media, William Greer Architectural Conservation and Craftsmanship, and Community Heritage.

The Heritage Toronto Awards and Kilbourn Lecture will be held at Koerner Hall on the evening of October 13, 2015. Tickets can be purchased online at performance.rcmusic.ca, by phone at (416) 408-0208, or in person at the Royal Conservatory box office.

The 2015 Heritage Toronto Awards nominees in the William Greer Architectural Conservation and Craftsmanship category are:

Jean Tweed Centre, Cumberland House by Thomas Brown Architects Inc.

Bronze Entranceway at 21 Dundas Square by ERA Architects Inc.

Apartment Building at 100 Spadina Road by ERA Architects Inc.

Sanctuary at Trinity-St. Paul’s United Church at 427 Bloor Street West by ERA Architects Inc.

St. Augustine’s Seminary of Toronto at 2661 Kingston Road by Bogdan Newman Caranci Inc. and Philip Goldsmith Architect

The Munk School of Global Affairs at 315 Bloor Street West by KPMB Architects and ERA Architects Inc.

CNR Office Building at 398 Front Street East by architectsAlliance and ERA Architects Inc.

Artscape Youngplace at 180 Shaw Street by Teeple Architects Inc. and Goldsmith Borgal & Company Ltd.

60 Atlantic Avenue bt Quadrangle Architects Ltd. and Philip Goldsmith Architect

Little Trinity Church Annex at 403 King Street East by DTAH Architects Ltd. and ERA Architects Inc.

The Aperture Room at the Thornton-Smith Building at 340 Yonge Street by George Robb Architects and Straticom Planning Associates

Toronto Bell Cote at the Sukyo Mahikari Centre for Spiritual Development at 691 Scarlett Road by Takashi Tsuji Architect and William N. Greer

Landing Stage at Ward’s Island by Steven Burgess Architects

Private Residence at 49 Weybourne Crescent by Murakami Design

Private Residence at 10 McKenzie Avenue by gh3

Private Residence at 17 Berryman Street by Climan Green Liang Architects Inc. and Joan Burt ArchitectFor more information, please visithttp://heritagetoronto.org/programs/heritage-toronto-awards/

Source: Canadian Architect. September 9, 2015.
For original article, click here.

Kingyo

Address: 51B Winchester St. (at Parliament St.), 647-748-2121, kingyotoronto.ca

Chef: Tsuyoshi Yoshinaga

Hours: Dinner seven days, 5:30 to 11:30 p.m.

Reservations: Yes

Wheelchair access: No

Price: Dinner for two with cocktails, tax and tip: $60

Remember when Japanese management principles took the corporate world by storm? North American executives donned the same uniforms as their assembly-line workers and banned private offices. That was 20 years ago.

Today, a new Japanese wave is cresting, and it’s reinvigorating Toronto’s restaurant scene.

The recent influx of cheap-and-cheerful Japanese restaurants brings more than just boisterous fun. The young Japanese staff at these restaurants interact with customers at a deeper level, solicitously and with obvious sincerity. Their thoughtfulness is both a shot in the arm and a rebuke to our often complacent service standards.

I notice it at Zakkushi (a full review is planned for later this month) and again at Kingyo, a transplanted Vancouver pub in Cabbagetown that opened last December.

At Kingyo, customer care is evident in the women’s washroom, where a selection of amenities rivals a five-star hotel: nail files, Q-tips, bobby pins, eau de toilette, cleansing towelettes, mouthwash, dental floss and feminine hygiene products. (Spies report mouthwash and dental floss in the men’s.)

It’s there in the bill presentation, which comes with a bud vase of cheery daisies interspersed with skewered frozen grapes. We eat the grapes and admire the flowers, a novel blend of ikebana and mignardaises.

Such civility is Kingyo’s most obvious charm. The drinks — many based on homemade ginger ale ($3.80) — are ho-hum and the food, overseen by Koji Zenimaru, is uneven.

Architect Takashi Tsuji transformed the historic Winchester Hotel into a brick-lined cave of samurai swords and flashing pachinko games. Goldfish (“kingyo” in Japanese) swim in bowls on the tables or decorate the custom plates.

The large menu covers sashimi, sushi, salad, udon, ramen and hot-stone cooking, a bit of fun left over from previous occupant Stonegrill, in which we drape thin slices of beef tongue ($10.20) over smoking hot rocks until the meat curls and turns colour.

Yet for every high — springy ramen ($10.80), delicate chawanmushi ($7.80), crisp homemade pickles ($6.80) and buttered udon amped up with spicy cod roe ($8.20) — there is a low.

Inedibly stiff beef tataki ($10.80) erases all the joy from a cheeky appetizer ($7.80) the menu calls “natural ocean Viagra”: a cocktail glass of wasabi, cooked rice, grated mountain potato and sea urchin served with a raw quail’s egg. Mix it up and knock it back.

I recommend skipping the aburi mackerel ($14), especially if you’ve had this style of blowtorched, pressed sushi at Ja Bistro; if so, you’ll be disappointed by Kingyo’s version, in which the lightly cured fish competes with too many elements, including whole-grain mustard sauce and fermented black beans.

I’d also stay away from the deep-fried chicken ($8.60) and it’s so-called “magic powder,” a dipping dish of what appears to be MSG.

For a pub, Kingyo’s bold but limited flavours of soy, sesame and the aromatic Japanese citrus yuzu make sense. Finding restrained Buddhist monk cuisine here does not. Yet the kitchen turns out nine tiny vegan dishes ($15) that are the gastronomic equivalent of a Zen garden. Japanese sponge cake ($8.80) and wobbly green-tea crème brûlée ($6.50) also surprise.

Not that Kingyo’s service is perfect. The first time I’m there, every dish arrives at once. The second time, I ask the server to slow it down. It works.

They certainly don’t ignore you when you leave.

As you rise from the table, you set off a complex choreography. Staff shout “thank you” in Japanese, while someone runs ahead to hold open the door and bow you out.

Compare this to the countless times I have walked out of a Toronto restaurant unnoticed because servers are deep in conversation with each other, and it’s obvious: Toronto is ripe for an infusion of Japanese hospitality.

apataki@thestar.ca