Which of Toronto’s opulent new hotels is the most over-the-top?
Which of Toronto’s opulent new hotels is the most over-the-top?
According to a nifty chart over at the National Post that compares the city’s new crop of super-luxe hotel-slash-condo-towers—the Trump tower, the Ritz-Carlton, the Four Seasons and the Shangri-La—it’s a tight race. While the Shangri-La earns points for scoring two Momofuku restaurants by New York chef David Chang, the Ritz-Carlton has high-definition televisions in the bathroom mirrors. Then again, a penthouse at the Four Seasons went for $28 million, more than twice the price of any suite in the other buildings. For our part, though, we give the prize to the Trump tower: as the tallest of the lot, it’ll have the largest impact on our city’s skyline. Trust the Donald to recognize that size matters. Read the entire story [National Post] »
While Trump is the tallest, it actually has the least impact on the skyline, due to its close proximity to Scotia Plaza and Bay Adelaide Centre (and soon to be coming Bay Adelaide East). From the typical post card shots of TO (from the lake) the tower will actually be non-existent.
The Four Seasons looks massive given its scale compared to its surroundings (though this will even out once 1 Bloor rises, as well as other towers proposed flr the area). Again, from the traditional post card view it won’t be appreciated, but from midtown/uptown, the thing is a monster. As it stands right now The Ritz and S-L offer more to the TO skyline over Trump as well.
Eventually the towers that will actually dominate the skyline will be none of the luxury products, rather some more resonable price condos in the city’s newest district, called ‘Southcore’ (the area bounded by Bay and Lower Simcoe Streets, from Harbour St to Bremner Blvd). Among them willbe Tridel’s Ten York (75 storeys) and proposals at 30, 60 and 90 Harbour St, which at the moment already have two 70 storey condos planned by Menkes, as well as at least 1-3 200 meter buildings as well. This collection of skyscrapers will dramatically change the way the skyline is scene, forever.
But you don’t have to take my word for it, the skyscraper geeks at UrbanToronto.ca can verify all of my claims.
The Ritz by far has the most boring lobby. If they covered the signs and you walked in you couldn’t tell you’re at a luxury hotel.
Thanks for the great comments Bob. I really learned a lot from your detailed response to the above-mentioned article.
Does being the tallest make you the most over the top… wow…madness… Trump is all hype and short on substance.. wait until Shangrila open… awesome hotel brand in Asia.. stayed at most of them.. then you will see over the top!!
The trump tower is only tallest due to the stupid great antenna which allows them to cheat on height. The main tower part is actually pretty short – a lot shorter than both Scotia and BMO. Therefore this tower is pretty much completely hidden from the skyline. Other failures in this project include the lack of a path connection, even though it is basically right next to the path tunnel.