Wilson tiles

 

Location: Wilson subway

Date photo taken: 19 August 2023

When the Spadina line was built in the 1970s, the TTC engaged three different architectural firms to design the various stations. Due to the challenges inherent in the site however, the TTC kept Wilson station for itself. Which means that the tile patterns on the platform walls are likely the work of someone in the TTC design department. Kudos to them. They are strongly reminiscent of their time and still striking. 

Petro Canada full service booth

 

Location: Bayview & Moore

Date photo taken: 6 November 2022

I love finding retro elements across the city, remnants of history and earlier design aesthetics. Which is what I thought I'd found at this gas station on Bayview. It turns out that what I took to be a 50s or 60s era service booth was one actually installed in 2013 when the gas pumps were upgraded. Perhaps the styling is deliberately retro, a nod to the heyday of the full service gas station, which is itself a bit of an anachronism.

Tulpi chairs

Location: Centre Island
Date photo taken: 3 August 2021

On the Toronto Islands, a number of tulips bloom year round on a small grassy area adjacent to the Centre Island ferry terminal. Oversized and bright orange, they are the creation of Dutch designer Marco Manders and they won top prize in the Street Furniture Design Category at the 2014 - 2015 A'Design Award and Competition. That's right, these blooms are actually chairs. The tulip shape and self-folding design ensures that the seat is protected from pooling water and bird droppings, and they can be rotated 360 degrees. The material is also highly durable and 100% recyclable. These particular chairs were gifted to Toronto by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands when they visited in 2015 so it makes sense that they are all orange, but if you wanted a little variety in your own personal Tulpi garden, they do come in a variety of colours, and even illuminated versions.