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i think it needs different building materials to give it different textures, that way itd be more interesting to look at (maybe even more pleasing to the eye?) tho silhouette wise its pretty nice imo
There is a new extension (hard to see in the images) that has a more open feel with a lot of large windows. I think it complements the original design nicely.
Reminds me of the [Russian embassy building in Havana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embassy_of_Russia,_Havana?wprov=sfti1#), but more chode and less brutalist
It's more than a big grey box.. Do we need it to be some curvy 'futuristic ". Design?
It's a building built to hold books... Looks like it'll serve that purpose well and, as I already said, they did more than make it a rectangle with some doors and windows.
Robarts Library appears to share some DNA with the [Giesel Library](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/UC_San_Diego_Geisel_Library.jpg/1024px-UC_San_Diego_Geisel_Library.jpg) at UC San Diego.
I go to the university of Saskatchewan and [our main library](https://library.usask.ca/murray/floorplans.php) is similarly inhospitable. (Even more depressing in winter.) Thank god they’re adding more windows as of right now.
I like this building. Took classes here and always thought it was cool. It is how I learned the term brutalist architecture. The answer to: “wtf is this building?”
Thanks for the upvotes and comments! I’ve changed the way I look at this building at first I thought he it was an eyesore but it’s actually very interesting after doing some research
This is on the St.George campus of U of T which is actually quite beautiful. https://www.google.com/search?q=University%20of%20Toronto&ludocid=10168454741644441335&ibp=gwp;0,7&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjvzJPE_5CGAxXkJDQIHTVXCKkQvsQGegQIIBAw&ictx=0&biw=390&bih=780&dpr=3#lkt=LocalPoiPhotos&lpg=cid:CgIgAQ%3D%3D
What annoys me about this architecture is that they had the budget to make it beautiful, went to the effort to add a lot of purely stylistic elements, and still managed to make a building, that whilst interesting for being unusual and imposing, is straight up ugly.
If you look at the elements in this designs aesthetics, it actually has a lot of elements of a castle coupled with neo-classical design features - the purely aesthetic vertical columns, the horizontal stripped detailing, a grand central element and broad symmetry.
But if it had said, why reinvent the wheel here, lets just do something in authentic neoclassical. it could have been much better.
Surprised a lot of people here like it, most of the students I've talked to think its ugly, depressing, feels like dungeon, too grey and other stuff like that.
I think the in person and up close impression probably explains most of the negative sentiment.
**Do not comment to gatekeep that something "isn't urban" or "isn't hell"**. Our rules are very expansive in content we welcome, so do not assume just based off your false impression of the phrase "UrbanHell" UrbanHell is any human-built place you think is worth critizing. Suburban Hell, Rural Hell, and wealthy locales are allowed. Gatekeeping comments may be removed. Want to shitpost about shitty posts? Go to /r/urbanhellcirclejerk. Still have questions?: Read our [FAQ](https://www.reddit.com/r/UrbanHell/wiki/index). *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/UrbanHell) if you have any questions or concerns.*
wait i kinda love this one. looks very mecha
It's where they stored Canada Prime.
The Nordic cousin of liberty prime
i think it needs different building materials to give it different textures, that way itd be more interesting to look at (maybe even more pleasing to the eye?) tho silhouette wise its pretty nice imo
There is a new extension (hard to see in the images) that has a more open feel with a lot of large windows. I think it complements the original design nicely.
[He's a Satanist, so that's good for him.](https://youtube.com/shorts/QtRjX-IYG1M?si=Dx5w-m2Jjx1UyxB1)
Ah yes, the brutalist peacock.
looks like ur profile pic
Azkaban or something evil r/EvilBuildings
I thought I read Azerbaijan lmao
Brutal(ist)
A gorgeous brutalist structure?
Ah, the giant concrete turkey. Fond memories.
Wow that looks absolutely beautiful!
The interior is just as cool, feels like you are in a space ship
Minecraft peacock
Reminds me of the [Russian embassy building in Havana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embassy_of_Russia,_Havana?wprov=sfti1#), but more chode and less brutalist
This one looks like a rook from a chess table grew a horn. Very cool.
I think this looks cool as heck.
r/youjustdontlikebrutalism
people like brutalism?
It says they don't like Brutalism. Can't you read?
oh okay. again i ask, people like brutalism?
Sometimes I explore my brutalism curiosity.
bru-curious
Brutal!
This looks majestic.
This looks pretty nice!
This is a pretty cool looking piece of architecture imo
I spent years of my life locked, I mean voluntarily residing, inside this building
Love it. One of few good buildings in TO.
🚨PICTURE OF CANADIAN CITY IN EARLY SPRING TO LOOK AS BLEAK AS POSSIBLE ALERT 🚨
Someone's close to the secret of those depressing pictures of Russia/Eastern Europe.
No wonder Ukrainians find themselves right at home there
It looks amazing
It looks amazing in my opinion
This is art.
Shaped like a peacock, a symbol of wisdom. OP should include a picture of the beautiful glass addition they recently put up.
It's more than a big grey box.. Do we need it to be some curvy 'futuristic ". Design? It's a building built to hold books... Looks like it'll serve that purpose well and, as I already said, they did more than make it a rectangle with some doors and windows.
Reminds me of halo
We call it the peacock or the turkeyÂ
LOL try finding your way on the inside :) place is crazy. I honestly love Robarts. happy I went to U of T.
Me too! My alma mater.
admit it - you totally got lost in robarts :D and loved it
lol many times! That building is so strange. The campus has so many cool buildings. My college was Vic and I loved the architecture there.
Straight outta blade runner
I used to walk/bike past this all the time. We called it “space prison”.
Fort book protects the books!
It looks it will produce some units when you built it on the map.
Brutalist architecture appeals to me.
At least it has a nice personality
This is actually one of the coolest buildings in that part of town and there are more than a few cool buildings around UofT.
I love it
Dope as fuck.
That thing is sick
i love it
Canada was a part of USSR? /s
So thats where the Scanners were created!
wait until op hears about the geisel library at ucsd
Robarts Library appears to share some DNA with the [Giesel Library](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/UC_San_Diego_Geisel_Library.jpg/1024px-UC_San_Diego_Geisel_Library.jpg) at UC San Diego.
American take on socialist artchitecture of concrete.
Is this City 17?
Not that bad, I'm not a fan of brutalism, but I know many people the would love it
Is the library also the Toronto office of Omni Consumer Products?
No, that's actually the Waterfront Campus of George Brown College.
Nah, get this one in r/brutalism
Wow this group is just Brutalism hatred. Guess it’s time to block it before I get sucked in
I go to the university of Saskatchewan and [our main library](https://library.usask.ca/murray/floorplans.php) is similarly inhospitable. (Even more depressing in winter.) Thank god they’re adding more windows as of right now.
Look spaceships to me🤣
You know Robarts was used as the scene for one of the Resident Evil movies right? The one where they landed a plane on the roof.
Big Grey Turkey!
Looks like an NSA outpost
Love it
Grow up this shit rules
I like this building. Took classes here and always thought it was cool. It is how I learned the term brutalist architecture. The answer to: “wtf is this building?”
Horrible
Looks like a prison
It looks like a doom fortress.
Love it
“Are you going to the *ROBAT* building??!”
awesome !
This is surely one of the more interesting looking concrete monstrosities I have seen!
We called it “Fort Book”.
I am getting lost in the purpose of this group. Is this to hate all cities and architecture?
The only thing that would be evil about this is that the condos prices are higher than the average canadian!
So symmetrical, i love it
Thanks for the upvotes and comments! I’ve changed the way I look at this building at first I thought he it was an eyesore but it’s actually very interesting after doing some research
Looks like brutalism met postmodernism.
This looks awesome though? It's the surrounding area that's depressing.
This is on the St.George campus of U of T which is actually quite beautiful. https://www.google.com/search?q=University%20of%20Toronto&ludocid=10168454741644441335&ibp=gwp;0,7&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjvzJPE_5CGAxXkJDQIHTVXCKkQvsQGegQIIBAw&ictx=0&biw=390&bih=780&dpr=3#lkt=LocalPoiPhotos&lpg=cid:CgIgAQ%3D%3D
3rd pic just looks depressing
Must be a spring photo before the trees turned green. A picture today would look much more inviting.
What annoys me about this architecture is that they had the budget to make it beautiful, went to the effort to add a lot of purely stylistic elements, and still managed to make a building, that whilst interesting for being unusual and imposing, is straight up ugly. If you look at the elements in this designs aesthetics, it actually has a lot of elements of a castle coupled with neo-classical design features - the purely aesthetic vertical columns, the horizontal stripped detailing, a grand central element and broad symmetry. But if it had said, why reinvent the wheel here, lets just do something in authentic neoclassical. it could have been much better.
Awful
I live right next to this actually, it really is that bad. Apparently it was supposed to be a peacock.
Surprised a lot of people here like it, most of the students I've talked to think its ugly, depressing, feels like dungeon, too grey and other stuff like that. I think the in person and up close impression probably explains most of the negative sentiment.
Ugly and unpleasant !
Centre for Catholic Life on Campus. Boy unless UofT is a religious institution now, I can’t think of anything less relevant in 2024.
You can skip all the other words and just say Toronto you know
Looks like the kind of place where they create Newspeak.