Best tower design in Toronto

Moshe Safdie, from 1964 to 2021

Israeli-American architect Moshe Safdie was born in Israel in 1938. During his 50 years of professional life, Safadi has always considered himself responsible for social issues. In 1964, he founded Safdie Architects in Montreal, Canada to begin work on Habitat 67, which was an adaptation of his thesis at McGill University.As a pioneering project, Habitat 67, located in Montreal, Canada, is a collection of 3D prefabricated cubes with green terraces, open spaces, and various amenities.15 different types of houses have been designed for families with different populations. This project was put into operation in 1967.

The main axis of ideation and design in Safdie Studio is based on the belief that architecture should be inherently timeless, connected to nature, and make interaction among people. The design philosophy at this studio is to create "a garden for everyone". A seemingly simple concept that ultimately leads to the connection between nature and architecture and the creation of meaningful social spaces.Among the projects designed by Safdie Architects, skyscrapers and their approach are significant issues. These skyscrapers, wherever they are built, show the developed thinking of Habitat 67 as the first project of this group. Between 2016 and 2021, three projects related to skyscraper design with the mentioned approach have been designed by Safdie Architects in Toronto, among which, one project has been implemented and one is in the public review stage. This article discusses the analysis of these three projects and the similar approach that has uniquely appeared in each of them. As mentioned, each of these projects has a new sight of Habitat 67 and can be on the list of best tower designs in Toronto. Therefore, studying them in the order of the time they were designed can indicate the views of Safdie Architects over time.

Sky Habitat Toronto, 2016

Among the list of unbuilt Safdie works, Sky Habitat consists of two urban blocks in downtown Toronto that combine 2,370 apartment units, a 44-story office tower, and a five-story retail store, in a way that promotes vertical and human development, and if built could be considered as one of the best tower design in Toronto Canada.

The presence of numerous amenities in Sky Habitat has moderated the density of this dense project. One of the most important features of this tower, which can turn a project into the best tower design in Toronto, is the design of green spaces and gardens for it. Among the most important of these facilities, we can mention Sky Forest Park with an area of ​​18,000 square meters, which is located above the volume dedicated to the store. The park is open to the public at any time of the year and consists of a collection of distinctive gardens with multiple features.

The residential and office towers rising above the park are connected by suspension bridges. These matrix towers contain a wide range of private and public gardens, solariums, and swimming pools to improve the quality of life of the residents and provide a unique environment, due to the density of the complex, their presence seemed vital.

Monde Residential Development, 2019

The second Monde Residential project, located downtown, is the second skyscraper designed by Safdie Architects among the best tower design in Toronto projects, consists of a 44-story residential tower that steps down to the south to reinterpret downtown Toronto living by creating penthouse-like units with sky-facing gardens.

We consider Monde Residential in the list of the best tower design in Toronto because of the combination of international architecture, and multi-function spaces inspired by nature in

Safdie's plan, paves the way for residential development on Toronto's eastern waterfront. If we see all the projects implemented in this wharf side by side, we will understand how important it was not to block the view towards the lake. Thus, the closer we get to this lake, the height of the buildings decreases, and the skyscrapers are four blocks away from the lake, a rule that Monde Residential also follows.

The volume of this skyscraper consists of two parts. The lower part consists of 9 floors and is, is elongated in the form of a rectangle, dedicated to various stores and the lobby. On the 10th floor, the volume of the skyscraper moves back and 16,000 square meters of open and closed space is dedicated to recreational facilities and public spaces, including an outdoor pool, garden, sauna, and gym. All these spaces have a good view of the lake and that’s why we put Monde Residential on the list of best tower design in Toronto Canada.

Another important feature that put Monde Residential on the list of best tower design in Toronto Canada is its volume design. from the 10th floor to the last floor of this skyscraper, the design of the building is in the form of a glass rectangle, and the terraces protrude from it to destroy the uniformity of the surface. The combination of the volume of these terraces with the main body of the building, in addition to evoking the combination of volume in Habitat 67, presents a modern effect of that design. Also, the southern facade at its highest height has moved backward in the form of steps and has caused the formation of green terraces.

Best tower designs in Toronto

ORCA Toronto, 2021

"ORCA Toronto" skyscraper can be considered the largest project of Safadi Architects in Toronto and of course, if built, will be on the list of best tower design in Toronto Canada. The project covers 6.5 hectares west of the CN Tower, of which 4.5 hectares are dedicated to a public urban park and 2 hectares to residential, commercial, and retail areas. This project intends to connect the city center to the waterfront and be a driving force for the less-used parts of the city as a plan with different functions.

The "ORCA Toronto" complex has narrow towers connected by suspended bridges. The defined program for this project includes nine towers in total: one office tower and eight residential towers with approximately 3000 units and finally gardens and recreational facilities that are intended for each of the skyscrapers. Also, the alignment of the towers creates a sense of opening, and porosity and maximizes sunlight and panoramic views for the residents. As the best tower design in Toronto Canada, the project introduces a new generation of retail, one where nature and the market merge to create a unique and sophisticated experience. Shops, restaurants, and cafes connect to the exterior spaces at different levels, allowing the landscape to merge with the interior of the project by creating a buffer zone between the exterior and interior.

The most remarkable feature of ORCA is the concept of design to create parks and pedestrian paths on different levels and maybe that’s why we consider this project a candidate for the best tower design in Toronto Canada. The architectural team's design idea is based on a "bridge between towers" to create a flow of public and social facilities in different parts of the city. Unlike separate apartment buildings, connecting these towers by sharing internal and external facilities on different floors will increase interaction and social responsibility among residents. The final design of this project will activate 65% of the site area through a multi-level park by using suspended lines and paths. On the other hand, Safdie Architects believe that an isolated park will not be able to provide the variety of activities needed to enliven the neighborhood, so their plan integrates a large part of urban life facilities such as shops, restaurants, and offices in the park. and attracts residents and visitors to it. Park has playgrounds, pedestrian, and bike paths that are accessible by ramps, escalators, and elevators so that all people with all kinds of needs can use them. In terms of form, the volume of the skyscrapers is made up of square modules that form terraces in some parts of the facade with their slight protrusion. In this way, the combination of these cubes can once again be considered a modern embodiment of Habitat 67.

best tower design in toronto canada

One of the most attractive points in the collection of skyscrapers designed by Safdie Architects in Toronto is their tangible inspiration from Habitat 67 as the first and most iconic design of this studio. Habitat 67 is a collection of prefabricated cubes whose composition, has created a series of large green roofs and terraces. The important thing about the Habitat 67 complex is that each of its cubes can be seen in a completely independent modular form while combining with the overall volume. 

The design concept of Habitat 67 has been reinterpreted in three ways in Toronto by Safdie Architects. All three skyscrapers of Toronto, as members of both a family and list of best tower design in Toronto Canada, are a combination of cubic modules that have changed according to the requirements of the modern era compared to Habitat 67. In Sky Habitat, these cubes have been raised in steps and created terraces. Monde Residential, another best tower design in Toronto Canada with a similar concept but in a smaller area, is a composition of cubes that have retreated in half the height of the skyscraper and created open spaces. Finally, and in the most developed member of this family, ORCA is a complex of skyscrapers consisting of cubic modules that are connected by suspended paths, and these paths create public and green spaces. 

Another notable issue in comparing Habitat 67 with the other three Safdie skyscrapers is that contrary to the exaggerated emphasis on the independence of each module in Habitat 67, in the new designs of Safdie Architects, we see the integration of these cubes with the main body of the skyscrapers. Nevertheless, these cubes have created the green terraces desired by the architects by coming forward from the surface and facade of the building. The third point is the change of the horizontal form of Habitat 67 to the vertical form of the new Safdie skyscrapers. This means that population growth and construction density have eliminated the possibility of expanding a project horizontally, and instead, buildings accommodate the population vertically.

Finally, it should be noted that during the 51 years between Moshe Safadi's first and most recent design, there has been no change in this group's sustainable approach to creating green terraces throughout the project. Also, the allocation of large public spaces in all these projects has a double emphasis on the need for social communication, not only among the residents but also among the people who do not live in these skyscrapers. For example, in the ORCA complex, the parks are designed on different levels so those who do not live in these towers can also use them.

t during the 51 years between Moshe Safadi's first and most recent design, there has been no change in this group's sustainable approach to creating green terraces throughout the project. Also, the allocation of large public spaces in all these projects has a double emphasis on the need for social communication, not only among the residents but also among the people who do not live in these skyscrapers. For example, in the ORCA complex, the parks are designed on different levels so those who do not live in these towers can also use them.