The insides of three forlorn subway stations along the University line have been pitched a new look by the Toronto Community Foundation, currently seeking approval from the TTC to implement the images. Extreme makeovers proposed for the Osgoode, St. Patrick and Museum stations (click for the virtual visuals) will be inspired by adjacent cultural landmarks like The ROM, The AGO, OCAD and the Four Seasons Centre, with interior design reflecting elements from each institution. The opening of the Sheppard stubway line three years ago was noted for its implementation of self-referential public art, and while there are installations elsewhere in the system, there isn’t much blatantly inspired by what’s currently outside – case in point, Charles Pachter’s hockey murals at College, paying homage to a rink that isn’t there anymore. So, what other stations need a look that lives up to their environs? Describe where, what and why in the comments below.
Subways refreshed
November 28, 2005 · 28 Comments
Categories: fouronesix
28 responses so far ↓
Adam Sobolak // November 28, 2005 at 7:24 pm
Don’t forget the murals at Queen, either. Basically, I’d be satisfied w/Yorkdale being restored to the look that lives up to *its* environs (Michael Hayden neon & all–presumably more robustly resurrected via modern technology)…
Dave // November 28, 2005 at 10:32 pm
I think St George should take on a neo-gothic look…with random brutalist benches made to look like peacocks unfurling the knowledge of sitting to the world. Yes, a UofT station!
matt // November 30, 2005 at 4:34 am
IT’s time!!!
Of course making them look better doesn’t change the main aim which is the efficiency of the municipal transport (subway), but this makes the difference between averege and great cities.
I’m talking about aesthetics.
Compare shabby NYC and really wonderful (at least in some stations) Stockholm subways.
Where would you prefer to live - in a beautiful place or in a hell? Which transport system you’d take - nice and inspiring or dirty and stinky?
We make choices everyday - in this case it might very well rise ridership.
And something more about visions and aesthetics. I’ve just seen a documentary about Pekin/Bejing preparing to the Olimpics. I was stunned what do they build and how it will look…. And I do not wander at all that Toronto lost this bid…
It’s all about vision and aesthetics!!!!
Thomas // November 30, 2005 at 10:47 am
What about Queen’s Park? Something to reflect the Legislature and the Discovery District would be phenomenal.
Dave T // November 30, 2005 at 12:46 pm
Very pleased to see this program underway. As an expat in New York, I can tell you that they have made tremendous strides here in renovating stations. The N/R line in particular used to be dismal and covered in 1960s tiles. They have now been faux-restored to 1905-style mosaics, with modern art insertions. Brilliant change in atmosphere. It is the appropriate time for the TTC to take similar spruce-up steps.
Wesley // November 30, 2005 at 1:54 pm
I think the renovating and revamping of subway stations is LONG OVERDUE. All the stations from Union to Bloor Street should be renovated. Union, King, Bloor and Dundas especially need upgrades…they’re falling apart. Most of designs are outdated. Tiles are falling off. It looks rundown. I can’t imagine what tourists must think.
First impressions, atmosphere and aesthetics count for a lot. If the TTC platforms look good, interesting and inspiring, more people would take it. - I would take it everyday if the platforms were improved.
I thank the Toronto Community Foundation and the TTC for taking steps to refresh 3 stations. It’s a start. I look forward to the changes. Appreciated.
Mossy Stone // November 30, 2005 at 2:12 pm
I actually love this idea. I think that the washroom comparison is apt, particularly for Bay and Museum stations. Coupling the upgrades with regular maintenance is a smart way to go. I’d prefer this sort of facelift to the gaudy and tawdry advertising wraps being run in Union Station. I also feel that it could brighten and liven up otherwise dull and dingy stations on all lines, not just those in the downtown core. (Kennedy springs to mind)
typist // November 30, 2005 at 3:09 pm
Who says the original designs are “outdated”?
Look what happened last time some stations were brought Up To Date: terra cotta and puke green tiles. Took 20 years to look terrible. I’ll take the tiles of Osgoode or even Museum any day.
I hope the TTC doesn’t get on a treadmill of makeovers every generation — which history suggests will be badly and cheaply executed each time.
Terry // November 30, 2005 at 4:41 pm
I think most of the TTC subway stations could use some renovation - but not like the proposals made by the TCF. Unfortunately I think their ideas look amatuerish and ugly. Do we really want mummy pillars which will no doubt look cheap and tacky in real life? Just what is the inspiration for that hideous running/horseracing theme proposed for St. Patrick? I’m very opposed to putting up large photomontages everywhere that look like lame adobe photoshop projects. I do however like the way the station name appears in large illuminated letters in the Museum proposal, and the ceiling changes in the Osgoode picture look rather nice. I would prefer if the stations were redesigned in a tasteful manner reflecting the original modernist design of the subway. Most importantly, I hope the TTC keeps its distinctive font, which provides unity between the stations among other things. Unity is something that these TCF proposals lack entirely. I hope the TTC says NO to tacky mummies and photographs on the walls!
conor geraghty // November 30, 2005 at 5:16 pm
hello to all,
while discussing the ttc re-branding, i would just like to say, that this was my idea, which i posted to the TTC for the TTC Pizzazz contest 2 weeks ago.
this was my idea, so i have yet to hear whether i have won a metropass or not.
conor
Adam Sobolak // November 30, 2005 at 7:13 pm
Re the original (1954) Yonge Line, why not just restore the stations to something like their original Vitrolite glory?
Carlos // November 30, 2005 at 7:34 pm
Knowing the way this city works I will only believe it when I see it. To me this is all talk and no action (as usual). Toronto is not a city that values aesthetics and I already can see how people are going to say that beautifying our subway stations is a waste of money. Could somebody please explain to me why doesn’t a city as rich as Toronto invest in its landscape? (Maybe because we can’t afford it since all our tax money ends up in Montreal…)
Mel Atkey // November 30, 2005 at 9:19 pm
I love the new plans and hope they spread further. As for the original stations, the vitrolite was removed for a good reason — it doesn’t wear well. I’d also like to see the Spadina line stations restored — perhaps Yorkdale could be switched back on with updated software.
Gloria // November 30, 2005 at 9:31 pm
I agree with Terry. While it’s a great idea to revamp these TTC eyesores, I would wish for it to be done with a sense of aesthetic taste and elegance, and not simply as some kind of gaudy effort slapped together with no cohesion or regard for artistic value. If we’re going to spend the money, it should be spent wisely.
Yes, we’ll have complaints about money being spent at all … I mentioned the news item to a friend, and the first thing she said was that it was a waste of money. Personally, I think $300,000 is a paltry sum compared to the hundreds of millions our governments squander on a regular basis.
Norski // November 30, 2005 at 10:05 pm
Yes, this is a very innovative idea. And the artist’s renderings are lovely. Something is missing in these mock-ups (likely a strategic move): the walls and walls of advertisements that are plastered on every free surface of most TTC stations. Why go to all of this trouble if advertisements will also be allowed? Will I really be impressed with a renovated TTC station if my eye is constantly drawn to a poster featuring the annoying Bell Canada cell phone elves, or the latest sitcom on the Bravo channel?
I agree with typist’s mummy comment.
jamie // December 1, 2005 at 10:58 am
If we’re going to go with the local landmarks/neighbourhoods theme…
Davisville - Mt. Pleasant Cemetery. Murals of famous inhabitants - for example, Mackenzie King having a seance.
Summerhill - life-size photos on the walls of winos, to celebrate the LCBO store.
Bloor - decked out in HBC blanket colours, with Ben Kerr tunes piped in
Bathurst - the name “Bathurst” enclosed in scaled-down, fully-lit replicas of the Honest Ed’s sign
Pape - same idea as Bathurst, except it’s a neon sign of flaming saganaki. “Opa!” is piped in every five minutes.
laurence // December 1, 2005 at 11:36 am
to Conor - this has been on the books for a few months now, spearheaded by the TCF, so sorry to say you’re probably not gonna be seeing that Metropass
–
I agree with Adam and Terry — the problem with many of the attempts at glorifying subway stations in Toronto is that we choose designs that become outdated and tacky, quickly. I can’t think of one station renovation done so far where I think it’s better than the original. I’m a huge fan of the original Vitrolite look, and I hope when the Union Station 2nd platform is built, that the whole station is reverted to its original visual beauty. Simplicity, sometimes, is the best way to go.
Despite the fact that most of the B-D line stations look like “washrooms”, I find them to be graceful and beautiful in their unified look and obvious attention to detail. There is a pattern to the colouring of the tiles along the B-D line, something most riders probably have never noticed. The same pattern existed on the Yonge line, which, again, was broken up with the station renos there.
I would prefer stations being spruced up in other ways, through new (but still unified) tiling, and installation of public art. To completely replace the existing architecture is a blow to the design intent and thought of the original architects.
TunnelXplorer // December 1, 2005 at 1:26 pm
OK, Mr.Howard Moscoe aka TTC chairman, first off, WHEN WAS YOUR LAST TIME RIDING THE SUBWAY??????? You want to spent millions of dollars doing spruce-up renovations to minor non-populated stations, meanwhile several other stations for example Islington are falling apart ( GO AND LOOK AT THE STATION’S PLATFORM CEILING ITS TOTALLY CRUMBLING!) HOW ABOUT YOU FIX THINGS THAT NEED FIXING! I THINK THE WHOLE TTC COMPANY HAS GONE INSANE AND DON”T KNOW WHERE TO SPEND MONEY CORRECTLY.
Holly // December 1, 2005 at 3:31 pm
It’s hard to believe that anyone could be entertaining the idea of gift-wrapping subway stations when there are thousands of homeless people, including children in this “world class” city. How about building some affordable housing instead?
laurence // December 1, 2005 at 4:29 pm
In response to TunnelXplorer:
if you read the Toronto Star article, these renovations will not cost millions. The money that the TTC will be spending will be equivalent to what it would have spent anyway to maintain the stations, and the costs of the “renovations” are being borne by outside investment.
Yes, many other stations are crumbling, however, with capital funds flowing somewhat slowly to the TTC and with many competing priorities within the system, the stations can’t all be fixed at the same time.
By the way:
Osgoode Station - 17,000 passengers daily
St Patrick Station - 30,000 passengers daily
Museum - 9,000 passengers daily
With the exception of Museum, these are not quiet stations. All three are not “minor” stations, as the purpose of these renovations is to promote the cultural destinations nearby.
Carlos // December 1, 2005 at 6:27 pm
You see!!!! I told you there are going to be people like Holly and TunnelXplorer that are against the idea to spend money in making our city more beautiful. To me it just shows a lack of civic pride. Why is that promoting the arts and good city landscaping seen as a waste of money in Toronto? I have been to cities like Madrid, Lisbon, Paris, and they all have amazing subway stations that look like museums.
A roof over your head and food on the plate is extremely important, but so is food for the soul and there is nothing wrong with trying to make Toronto a better looking place. The next thing these people want is to make the ROM and AGO buildings into affordable housing.
Investing in urban landscaping brings benefits in more tourism which implies more jobs and more people paying taxes for social services for the homeless. It is as simple as that…
But then again many people in Toronto don’t have much vision and lack ambition (unlike cities in Europe and the US) and that is why this city never achieves its true potential and is now falling behind…
Mel Atkey // December 2, 2005 at 5:53 pm
Another possibility would be a display at Bloor/Yonge commemorating Canada’s first streetcar line, which had its Northern terminus nearby.
sean // December 3, 2005 at 8:21 am
We could have Mel Lastman’s image plastered all over North York Centre station!
Adam Sobolak // December 3, 2005 at 12:01 pm
Or BNL at Kennedy–which’ll surely frighten the hoodlums away…
Mike // December 8, 2005 at 3:54 pm
If the station isn’t crumbling why fix it? Why waste money on changing stations like Museum - it’s in great condition. Can’t the money be better spent on new streetcars and buses? Even though I like the new Museum concept, can we afford to change it and others in the same condition? I agree that stations like Osgoode, St. Andrew and Union look like crap and are now starting to disintegrate; you can even see the old vitrolite panels showing under that horrid looking aluminum siding at St. Andrew and Osgoode. St. Patrick looks cool as is but could use mending. I’d recommend keeping one of the “round” stations with its original look. If the money was available, my wish list would include returning some of the original stations to their pre-late 70s and 80s renos - especially Union, College and Davisville.
Wogster // December 15, 2005 at 6:31 pm
One station that could really use an update is York Mills, it’s not the green on green that is the problem, it’s the station looks like the subway platform hasn’t seen a good cleaning since about 1975…. The walls are dull and caked in black brake dust, the lighting is dreary. The plain design makes it look worse then it reslly is.
King_Of_Broadview // January 12, 2006 at 1:43 am
I think that a facelift would be more appropriate. Never one to crap on the arts, I would hesitate in destroying the “family of stations” flow of the TTC. I was initially impressed with the Sheppard/Yonge station’s YONGE portion.
Displays were large and easy to read, important for transfer points etc;
I think effort to reflect the “world above” the stations could be redirected and very cheaply by renaming some of the stations:
College: “College Park”
Dundas: “Eaton’s Centre”
Bay: “Yorkville”
Museum: “Royal Ontario Museum”
I’m not overly familiar with all of Toronto’s communities, so that small list will suffice. Back to the issue of art, UNIFORM APPEARANCES ON EACH INDIVIDUAL LINE!
Bright White Tiles Everywhere! Cleaned every five seconds, (every second at Bloo/Yonge :P) With a large row (1.5′ deep) of Green, Yellow, Purple, or Blue tiles, and the distinctive “Toronto Transit Font” stating the stations name in white on the g/y/p/b. And with large (2′ deep)g/y/p/b Station Labels emblazoned at least three times within the station.
Matt Fisher // February 7, 2006 at 10:29 am
Here’s just a few of my station theme suggestions:
*Because Greektown is located at Pape Station on the Bloor-Danforth Line, it would be appropriate to redesign the station with a Greek theme, and also rename the station to “Pape/Greektown Station”.
*As the Wellesley Station on the Yonge Line is the closest to Church & Wellesley, I’d see no problem with designing “rainbow tubes” at this station, akin to those at the Beaudry Station on the Montreal Metro Green Line. The station is the closest to its Gay Village.
*Democracy-themed artwork is what I think is the most appropriate for Queen’s Park Station.
*An academic theme could work with St. George Station (because it is at the University of Toronto), though it also could make sense for the York University Station on the Spadina Subway extension.
Of course, while these do look like great ideas from my mind, I admit that they will have to compete with other priorities, like replacing the Scarborough RT (possibly with a Bloor-Danforth extension, which I think is the best option possible), and getting new streetcars and buses to improve service. New streetcars are definitely needed.
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