OK, it was actually a Book Market ('World's Largest Bookstore') - the last commercial tenant in this late nineteenth century block on Dalhousie Street. The building had received a radical makeover ca. 1950 when the middle floor was refaced with jade green glass tiles.
Ta-da! ...almost a year later spent mostly under netting, the property is still for lease. What emerged from behind the scaffolding was a pale (literally) imitation of the pre-modernized facade. A sincere effort, but was this absolutely necessary, and did they actually lose more than they gained?
Relatively speaking brick commercial Italianates are still commonplace. The mid-century modernes are disappearing fast. Around the corner the last remnants of Joe Feller's jazzy menswear store on Rideau Street are about to go. Removing the large Book Market sign had damaged the glass tiles but their lurid green had been undimmed by the passing decades.
Once the tiles were off it was easy to see how the earlier reno had been done. The two central windows had been shorn of their hooded lintels and blocked up using bricks recovered from the demolition.
The two square plate glass windows were popped in and shimmed up with some fairly flimsy framing.
Despite these major interventions, and the removal of the entire storefront beneath, the old brick facade had been holding up without any visible settlement.
The scaffold and nets came down briefly after the front wall demolition, to reveal robust timber floor joists - no sagging after 120 years.
And back up again for the application of the new/old facade.
Gone is the quirky window spacing, brick corbelling, authentic two-over two wood sashes, and fifty percent of the cornice detail - although it was inserted between the original end brackets.
The most damaged elements, the storefront entrance and display windows have yet to be touched, likely awaiting the needs of a prospective tenant's fit-up.
OK, it was actually a Book Market ('World's Largest Bookstore') - the last commercial tenant in this late nineteenth century block on Dalhousie Street. The building had received a radical makeover ca. 1950 when the middle floor was refaced with jade green glass tiles.
Ta-da! ...almost a year later spent mostly under netting, the property is still for lease. What emerged from behind the scaffolding was a pale (literally) imitation of the pre-modernized facade. A sincere effort, but was this absolutely necessary, and did they actually lose more than they gained?
Relatively speaking brick commercial Italianates are still commonplace. The mid-century modernes are disappearing fast. Around the corner the last remnants of Joe Feller's jazzy menswear store on Rideau Street are about to go. Removing the large Book Market sign had damaged the glass tiles but their lurid green had been undimmed by the passing decades.
Once the tiles were off it was easy to see how the earlier reno had been done. The two central windows had been shorn of their hooded lintels and blocked up using bricks recovered from the demolition.
The two square plate glass windows were popped in and shimmed up with some fairly flimsy framing.
Despite these major interventions, and the removal of the entire storefront beneath, the old brick facade had been holding up without any visible settlement.
The scaffold and nets came down briefly after the front wall demolition, to reveal robust timber floor joists - no sagging after 120 years.
And back up again for the application of the new/old facade.
Gone is the quirky window spacing, brick corbelling, authentic two-over two wood sashes, and fifty percent of the cornice detail - although it was inserted between the original end brackets.
welcome back! :)
ReplyDeleteinteresting article. I saw this building yesterday and thought it looked amazing. Much nicer then the ugly green tile. Now if they could rip that ugly "tile" off the former Ogilvys and fix it up, Rideau would have an improvement going. I know "Rideau/Viking" has plans for it, but it should be taken away from them due to heritage neglect. Its a shame....
Glad to see you are back. I enjoy reading your blog, so I was wondering when you would start posting again!
ReplyDeleteGreat photos and details in the post! I agree with you its a shame that all the heritage elements were lost but am glad that the green facade is gone - very curious to see who the new tenants will be!
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