Canada is a country with varied architectural influences, drawing from Georgian, Greek, Gothic, Modernist and many other styles over the course of its history. This has resulted in the creation of some of the most amazing buildings that you can find across the entire world. If you want to take a break from playing online casino games and enjoy some of these architectural sights, be sure to take a look at these three famous buildings (and one honorary mention) that we’ve listed here.
Art Gallery of Ontario
This building – located in the Grange Park neighborhood of downtown Toronto – is not only famous for the art that it houses, but also for the fact that it could be considered a piece of art itself. Originally, The Grange manor house was opened as a museum in 1913. Over the course of the 20th century, numerous expansions were added.
However, these expansions left the gallery as a whole looking rather like a smorgasbord of styles, which isn’t surprising considering the number of architects involved. The likes of Darling and Pearson, John C. Parkin, Barton Myers and others have either been involved in the museum’s various facades or structural changes. Even the artist Henry Moore had a say in these developments at one stage.
These disparate approaches needed to be brought into check, and in the early 2000s architect Frank Gehry was commissioned to develop a cohesive look for these different styles. When the Art Gallery of Ontario reopened in 2008, many were pleased by its new look. The most prominent change was the Galleria Italia, which had a glass facade that reflected the city around it.
Other upgrades have been made to the gallery since Gehry worked on it, with the latest addition coming from Selldorf Architects. This firm is expected to begin work in 2024.
CN Tower
This world-renowned piece of architecture quite literally stands out against the Toronto skyline. The CN Tower is visible from almost every corner of the city, thanks to its impressive height of almost 1815.3 ft. It seemingly pierces the horizon and, in some ways, may be considered Toronto’s equivalent of the Eiffel Tower.
Construction of the tower in the Downtown area began in 1973, with the building opening its doors in 1976. This tourist attraction has numerous features that you’d want to check out. These include:
- The Skypod – For those who are brave enough to ascend over 1,400 ft in the air, you can take in the sights from the swaying (yes… swaying) Skypod at the peak of the tower. If the movement of the pod doesn’t put you off, you’ll be treated to an incredible view!
- The Edgewalk – This is for those who truly enjoy a walk on the wild side: You can leave the safety of the interior of the building behind in exchange for a harness on the Edgewalk. At 1,168 ft, this is not for the faint of heart.
- The Observation Level – The main observation level gives you a full view of the city below. Meanwhile, those who want to get a truly unique perspective on Toronto can stand on the reinforced glass floors and see what’s happening directly below their feet.
- 360 The Restaurant – When you’re done taking in all the sights from this iconic building, you can kick back, relax and enjoy a prestigious culinary experience – all while the restaurant gently rotates, giving you a panoramic view of the city.
Fogo Island Inn
This unique hotel stands on the northern shore of the barely populated Fogo Island – the largest of the offshore islands of Newfoundland and Labrador. According to the inn’s website, this unusual-looking getaway spot was designed by Newfoundland-born architect Todd Saunders. Saunders was commissioned to create a building that was both modern and connected to the island’s history. This is why its unique look draws upon the history of homes that were once built there.
In the past, settlers on the island were prohibited from building permanent dwellings. This meant that instead of digging into the island to build deep, solid foundations, homes were built upon stilts. These stilts were incorporated into the inn’s design, with part of the building raised above the ground, creating a striking yet ethereal silhouette against the sky.
Construction of this unusual holiday destination began in 2005 and was completed in 2013. Visitors to this unique destination can enjoy the island’s picturesque scenery, flora and fauna, take part in artistic endeavors such as pottery making, soak in the rooftop hot tubs and more. With such a variety of experiences on offer, Fogo Island Inn has continued to thrive despite its remote location.
Honorary mention: The Fallsview Casino
While there are undoubtedly many more famous pieces of architecture, as an online casino, we had to give a nod to what we think is one of the most picturesque casino buildings in Canada. The honor goes to The Fallsview Casino Resort. This casino is located right next to the Horseshoe Falls, one of the three waterfalls that make up Niagara Falls. This gives the venue a fantastic eye-catching backdrop, while the building itself is a mix of pastel blues and whites, helping it blend into the daytime sky.
Visitors to this casino resort can enjoy more than 3,500 slot machine games, 130 casino games tables, as well as spa services, shops and restaurants, and the 1,500-seat Avalon Theater. No doubt about it, the Fallsview Casino is worth a visit, if only to appreciate its dramatic location!
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