Sun Life Centre, West Tower, Toronto

The Sun Life Centre (WZMH Architects, 1984) consists of two buildings on the northwest and northeast corners of the intersection of King Street and University Avenue. The buildings seem at first glance to be mirror images of each other, but this one is 24 storeys tall and its companion has 28 storeys.

Many people complain about the proliferation of overhead wires in Toronto, but they make me feel as if I'm living in a sculpture. Which I enjoy.

Gisela Plewe, Marko Novosel, Alan Mays, Berny and 13 other people have particularly liked this photo

18 comments - The latest ones

Sarah P.

The bright yellow makes the rest of the shot more vivid.
As for the overhead wires, here as always you expertly show how to use them for best effect.
I'm not sure I'll ever "enjoy" the ones I encounter in our city, but I agree that at times they can add a sculptural element. But I would probably not miss them if they weren't there, preferring trees myself.

5 years ago.

John FitzGerald ^club has replied to Sarah P.

Thanks, Sarah. But trees are living things. They should be allowed to run free, not be trapped in cities for our pleasure.

Toronto has actually been doing things to free trees from servitude, mainly giving their roots more room to grow. Dying trees were humanely removed from Berczy Park -- an overcrowded concentration camp for trees, so that the remaining trees could live. On University Avenue some trees on the sidewalk have been given more room for their roots to grow under the sidewalk.

5 years ago.

Rainer Blankermann

Great composition.
Have a Happy and Healthy 2019. Stay connected!

5 years ago.

John FitzGerald ^club has replied to Rainer Blankermann

Thanks, Raainer, and the same to you.

5 years ago.

rdhinmn ^club

I won't ever share your fascination with the overhead wires, but you do use them well in your photos, where they become diagonal elements that bring interest to otherwise horizontal and vertical compositions.

5 years ago. Edited 5 years ago.

John FitzGerald ^club has replied to rdhinmn ^club

Thanks, Bob. You've helped me understand this.

5 years ago.

Ulrich John ^club

Poesie der Großen Stadt ! Toll, John !

5 years ago.

John FitzGerald ^club has replied to Ulrich John ^club

Thanks, Ulrich. An interesting way6 of looking at this.

5 years ago.

Andy Rodker ^club

I like some lines / wires - these for instance. And a very pleasing shot.
But I'm not sure I would ever want feel as if I were 'living in a sculpture'!!

5 years ago. Edited 5 years ago.

John FitzGerald ^club has replied to Andy Rodker ^club

An interesting point, Andy. You made me think that in cities we pretty much are living in a sculpture regardless of whether there are wires or not. The Sierra de la Cabrera's imposing structures are unintentional and all the more remarkable for it. Downtown Toronto is to a large extent an attempt to create the same awe you feel in the Sierra de la Cabrera, but contaminated with vanity, pride, good intentions, etc. University Avenue, one of the main streets in downtown Toronto, was explicitly conceived as a monument.

5 years ago.

William Sutherland ^club

Excellent shot!

Admired in:
www.ipernity.com/group/tolerance

5 years ago.

John FitzGerald ^club has replied to William Sutherland ^club

Thanks, William.

5 years ago.

J. Gafarot ^club

It is "The Brave New World" for real, John.
Superb picture.

5 years ago.

John FitzGerald ^club has replied to J. Gafarot ^club

A good point, José, and one I hadn't really considered. One to work on, too. Thanks.

5 years ago.

Keith Burton ^club

I'm glad I read all the comments, otherwise I'd have made a fool of myself repeating just what Jean has said.............which is quite sufficient, I think!

5 years ago.

John FitzGerald ^club has replied to Keith Burton ^club

Thanks, Keith. I hope you enjoyed your break.

5 years ago.

tiabunna ^club

As Keith said.:-) As always your image demonstrates the compositional elements available in large cities.

5 years ago.

John FitzGerald ^club has replied to tiabunna ^club

Thanks, George. You've mentioned an important issue for me. There is indeed great opportunity for composition in cities, and cities are composed environments in the first place, Well, they are in the New World, anyway. The British laid out Toronto in squares of roads, each square containing 1,000 acres, for example. Regardless of topography. But most city-dwellers ignore all that. How much fuller their lives would be if they paid attention to the city they were passing through. Well, I think they'd be fuller (or more nearly full, as some people prefer).

5 years ago.

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Sun Life Centre, West Tower, Toronto

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