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Tag Archives: Victorian architecture

The Homes of Wellesley Cottages

A large portion of the properties on Amelia Street are either influenced by or are strict forms of the worker’s cottage (some times referred to as the working man’s cottage). We’ve reviewed many of these homes before — so it is now time to turn our attention on the comely blue-trimmed, white-walled rowhouses of Wellesley Cottages laneway, located north-east of the Sackville St. and Wellesley St. East crossing. Dating back to 1887, the homes on Wellsey Cottages emit vibes of a small Victorian village, hidden off the main path, both beautiful and undisturbed. Each property is an idealistic example of …

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Surviving History: The Winchester Hotel of Parliament Street

The Winchester Hotel is a three-and-a-half storey red brick structure, adjoined to the equally renowned Winchester Hall, located at the south-east corner of Parliament and Winchester. Sometimes referred to as the Lake View Hotel, architects Kennedy and Holland completed the building’s construction in 1888, contributing a much needed low-rise lodge to the neighbourhood. In 1941, architect Benjamin Swartz altered the hotel’s interior, changing the design to fit the tropes of the Art Moderne style. Today, the Winchester Hotel is still opened for business and stands as a fundamental Second Empire example in Cabbagetown, despite alterations to the interior. Key Characteristics …

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John Douglas House: Classical Revival in Cabbagetown

The John Douglas House stands placidly in the heart of the Cabbagetown Metacalfe Heritage Conservation District as a 2 storey residential rowhouse of unique Classical Revival features. Unlike many other prominent styles in Cabbagetown, the Classical Revival trend can only be found at this location and one other — the Canadian Bank of Commerce on Carlton Street. Interestingly enough, the John Douglas House was first modelled after the Italianate style in 1875. It wasn’t until 1891, when architect John Wilson Gray took the initiative to remodel, that the home transformed into an example of Classical Revival, which by that point had become outdated. By …

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The Toronto Necropolis Chapel

Built in 1872, the Toronto Necropolis Chapel remains a stellar example of Gothic Revival architecture in Cabbagetown,  attracting many visitors from around the world each year. Known literally as the “City of the Dead”, the Necropolis Church’s 7 hectare grounds became Toronto’s second non-sectarian cemetery, after replacing Potter’s Field of Old York. During the transition, 984 bodies were transported from Potter’s Field to the Necropolis Chapel, where they were buried in a special section known as “The Resting Place of Pioneers”. Of the bodies currently buried at 200 Winchester Street, William Lyon Mackenzie, Toronto’s first mayor, and George Brown, a confederate …

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A Second Empire in Cabbagetown

Second Empire architecture is among the most popular styles that can be found throughout Cabbagetown and in many other districts of Toronto. Originally introduced at the end of the 19th century, many luxury homes were built in accordance to this style. Of course, this was not always the case, and there are many modest homes in the city that resemble the characteristics of Second Empire architecture. 130 Amelia Street One example of a Second Empire heritage home in Cabbagetown is 130 Amelia Street, another property a part of the Metacalfe Heritage Conservation District. As can be seen with the predominant black …

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Gothic Revival Architecture on Amelia Street

Earlier in the year, we posted a profile on Gothic Revival architecture in Cabbagetown, outlining the style’s various characteristics with examples from the community. As it so happens, Amelia Street, a division of the Cabbagetown Metacalfe Heritage Conservation District, showcases two homes of the Gothic Revival style worth discussing: George Caden  / Albert Long House (20-22 Amelia Street) As a semi-detached residential home, complete with three floors, this property is a notable example of Gothic Revival architecture in the neighbourhood. Completed in 1901, the home displays many prominent characteristics of the late Victorian Era, as can be seen in its steeply pitched gabble roof …

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The Tudors of Cabbagetown

The early 1900s instilled a renewed interest in the past. As more families could afford to buy homes, people began to notice an absence of modern architecture in the cities. To fix this problem, architects looked to the past – they began to borrow styles from history and revive them to fit modern times. One particular historical period many architects felt inspired by was the reign of the Tudors (1485-1603). Because this era led directly into the Early Renaissance, the Tudor Revival style is often also referred to as Elizabethan or half-timbered. Since the Tudor Revival was largely popular for …

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Italianate Invasion – The Architecture of Cabbagetown

The Italianate style, also known as the Tuscan or Bracketed style, revisited the architecture of the Italian Renaissance in America during the 1840s. Historians consider this style to be a form of the Neo-Renaissance as well as a member of the picturesque movement.   For Canada, this movement gained momentum around the same time as confederation.  All across the country homes were being built in reflection of this Italianesque form.  Toronto, specifically, has many preserved locations of Italianate architecture.  One example of this can be found at 397 Carlton Street, Toronto (James Reeves House). The Italian villa became a popular model …

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Arts and Crafts in Cabbagetown

The Arts and Crafts movement is characterized by its lack of style.  Often referred to as the Craftsman movement, this style was used as an expression of distaste for the industrial revolution.  The simple design of the Arts and Craft was intended to provide a better living environment for the working class. The most prevalent form of Arts and Crafts found in Cabbagetown is a “Tuscan” variation, one that is proudly plain.  These homes are usually semi-detached and can be identified by their front porch and Tuscan columns.  The non-gabled version, one slightly less popular, includes a bay just above …

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Beaux Arts in the City: An Architectural Influence for Cabbagetown

The English Translation for the word “Beaux” is “Fine,” which is a suitable description for the lavish style embraced during the American Renaissance (1890-1920).  The Beaux Arts architecture began in Paris as an expression of the non-classical academics, but by the time the style reached North America, architects began to stray from these ideals. In Canada, Beaux Arts is a common style for public and legislative buildings.  For instance, the following locations in Toronto display a traditional Beaux Arts form: The Hockey Hall of Fame The Royal Alexandra Theatre The Dominion Public Building The Canada Life Building Residential examples are …

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