Union Station Essay

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Union Station "was the largest and most opulent station erected in Canada" (toronto.ca, Union Station). Three types of suburban station frequently occur: first, the bridge station; second, the square station; and third, the island station. The main advantage of the first is that of maintaining urban continuity, of the second that of creating a civic realm, of the third that of making a landmark (Edwards 1997, 37). Union Station could be classsified as the third, an island station or landmark building that is very concerned with its own form and the type of face it puts forth to the city and its urban strategy represents the same. Since there has been an evolution of transportation use from the "original design" intent of a closed transfer system the station - the "new front door" of toronto - has become more "permeable" facility with people passing through which made it more transit than travel oriented. To begin with, Union Station (Fig 1) has a very axial design, it was designed and created in the most advanced international Beaux-Arts style of the day by the architecture firm Ross and MacDonald and Hugh G. Jones in association with John M. Lyle. Moreover, it was of the same generation and style as Grand Central Station in New York (Fig 2) and Union Station in Washington (Fig 3). "Its monumental scale, classical details and rational ordered planning were hallmarks of the style" (toronto.ca, Union Station). Furthermore, the station could be compared to the Ganier's Opera, both buildings show spatial richness in public space where one can note "harmonious relations of scale materials, and architectural language" (Bergdoll, 251). Union Station is roughly 60 meters by 229 meters. It's facade on Front Street is set back 13 meters from the street. There is a "moat" (Fig 4) around the building that is one level below ground with bridges across all enties. The moat is

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