Toronto Star

Toronto's past may yet have a future. Moving into the 21st century, it seems much of what's new in Toronto is old. We're talking condo conversions, which, given the generally poor quality of contemporary condo architecture, may be what saves the city from its willingness to settle for mediocrity. Everywhere you turn these days, another warehouse from the late 1800s, an office building from the 1960s or an even early 20th-century garage has been transformed into a condo project. Some are better than others, it's true, but regardless of their quality, conversions are desirable because they help preserve the fabric of the city. Considering that one of the most consistent criticisms of modern architecture is its failure to understand context, this is especially important. After all, context lies at the heart of urbanity. The great cities, the cities North Americans visit when they go on vacation — Paris, London, Rome, Barcelona, New York — are not so appealing because every building is an architectural masterpiece, but because they possess a level of consistency that makes even the most ordinary structure part of something much larger.