Frank Gehry is bringing design home to Toronto
By Adam Freill
Commercial Construction Institutional ResidentialForma will include the tallest Gehry-designed building in the world.
(Image: CNW Group/Great Gulf Group; Dream Unlimited; Westdale Properties)
Developers Great Gulf Group, Dream and Westdale Properties have unveiled the name of their newest mixed-use, two-tower development designed by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry. The development, Forma, will be the first Gehry-designed new development in Canada and marks Frank Gehry’s homecoming to Toronto. What’s more, the development will feature the tallest Gehry-designed building in the world.
Gehry’s work has been considered among the most influential in contemporary architecture. Throughout his illustrious career he has been recognized with numerous awards including the Pritzker Prize, the world’s most prestigious architecture award. A few of Gehry’s notable projects include the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles and Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris.
“As we continued to meet with Frank, his team and our partners, we couldn’t help but be drawn to the name, Forma,” stated Amanda Wilson Watkins, senior vice-president of sales and marketing at Great Gulf Group. “The form, in true Gehry fashion, reflects, both literally and figuratively, the City of Toronto, and pays homage to where Mr. Gehry grew up.”
Gehry’s unique art forms are the hallmark of his international recognition, and the design of Forma’s towers aims to create a sense of movement that the developer say will transcend the building. Forma’s iridescent façade and twisting shape will reflect the colours of the sun and the form of the surrounding buildings to change Toronto’s skyline.
“Forma will be an exceptional addition to the city’s downtown Entertainment and Financial District,” said Krystal Koo, head of marketing and sales at Dream Unlimited Corp. “By collaborating with a full team of local and internationally recognized design talent, Forma brings inspiration from around the world and will become a new landmark for the city’s skyline, elevating Toronto on the global stage.”
(Image: CNW Group/Great Gulf Group; Dream Unlimited; Westdale Properties)
The mixed-use development on King Street West will feature two residential towers housing 2,034 condominiums, as well as commercial and retail spaces and a new space for OCAD University.
“Working with a global team to see the Forma brand come to life has been inspiring,” added Mitchell Cohen, chief operating officer of Westdale Properties. “We are confident that Forma will put Toronto on the map as a world-class architectural destination and look forward to the next phase of this development as we reveal more details and launch sales later this year.”
