100 Spadina Road, Toronto, 2020. Image by Vik Pahwa.
100 Spadina Road, Toronto, 2017. Image courtesy of Vik Pahwa.
Uno Prii with a model of 20 Prince Arthur, Toronto, circa 1965. Image Courtesy of Alfred Holden.
Spadina Road Apartments
An ageing tower
Completed in 1969, Uno Prii’s Spadina Road Apartments is known for its sweeping curves, decorative surfaces, and articulated balconies. The facade’s enormous, parabola-shaped swoops make it instantly recognizable among its neighbours.
In 2002, the building was purchased by new owners. Since then, its has become an excellent example of the care given to preserving heritage sites. The building was given full heritage protection in 2007, a move which saved many of its distinctive elements.
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Spadina Road Apartments
Modern technology, classic design
When it was built, the building’s balcony guards were made using mass-produced decorative concrete blocks. These were difficult to maintain and deteriorated over time. At first, the new owners, Park Property Management, in consultation with ERA Architects, Brook Restoration and Ontech Building Consultants, planned to etch the design of the original blocks onto glass fronts. In the end, the designers chose to install a new fritted glass guard, which replicated the original design of the decorative blocks.
To create fritted glass, a special kind of ceramic material called “frit” is bound to the glass, creating textures and patterns. This method also reduces glare, cuts building cooling costs, and minimises potential danger to birds. Although the original concrete blocks were not preserved, the new glass design maintained a portion of Uno Prii’s original vision.
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Spadina Road Apartments
Uno Prii’s legacy
Uno Prii died on November 27, 2000, leaving behind a repertoire of architecture in Toronto. Like many great artists, he wasn’t often recognized during his own lifetime. He is credited with changing the face of both the Annex and Toronto, reshaping the skyline with space-age, rocket-like designs, pointing skyward towards a hopeful future.
In 2004, 13 of his buildings, mostly located in the Annex, were listed on the Inventory of Heritage Properties. The interest in Prii’s buildings also stems from young architects. Although many architects of the 1990s didn’t take his work seriously, architects of the 2000s see them with fresh eyes and fewer prejudices. Uno Prii’s work shows us that creativity comes from how the tools and materials at hand can be used in new and fantastic ways.
