After getting a close look at the heritage preservation program at The Capitol, a new condominium development from Madison Group and Westdale Properties, we’re learning more about what is planned behind the heritage walls of the 1918-built theatre on Yonge Street in Midtown Toronto. The 14-storey, Turner Fleischer Architects and Hariri Pontarini Architects-designed building at Yonge and Castlefield will be known for its restored masonry exterior and marquee, with modern massing above, while a first peek at the interior design aesthetic hints at the luxe theatrical look within.
The Capitol is to feature interior spaces appointed by Studio Munge. While no interior renderings have yet been released, a new rendering of the building’s porte-cochère highlights the celebrity experience being pitched to prospective purchasers. Cheekily, the rendering offers a new vantage point for Toronto condo marketing; this is the first time we can remember seeing a building from through the window of a car navigating the porte-cochère.
"Historical entertainment buildings that have seen thousands of people laugh, hold their breath and shed tears retain extraordinary energy. That inherent vibrancy was incredibly inspiring in creating The Capitol's narrative"
- Alessandro Munge
While largely showing the building exterior, a red carpet draws the eyes to a grand entrance framed by red marble with brass inlays, topped by a trompe-l’oeil transom extending to the lobby’s 18-foot-tall ceiling that makes the entrance appear even taller. A burgundy tinted glass window that the design team is referring to as an ‘oculus’ makes for another alluring focal point that faces out onto the porte-cochère.
“Historical entertainment buildings that have seen thousands of people laugh, hold their breath and shed tears retain extraordinary energy. That inherent vibrancy was incredibly inspiring in creating The Capitol’s narrative,” reads a statement issued by Alessandro Munge, Principal at Studio Munge. “When programming the spaces and building our design language, I dreamed of a multilayered experience that was bold and exciting, infused with a sense of artistry and unexpected drama.”
Read the article in Urban Toronto