Construction has finally begun on Frank Gehry's highly anticipated Forma condos.
The Canadian architect's first residential towers in the country and his tallest buildings in the world, the two-tower Forma will top off well above most downtown Toronto skyscrapers.
Rising 73 and 84 storeys in the heart of the entertainment district, Forma is defined by its twisting form and a shimmering façade, which was designed to reflect the city's light and colour. A unique addition to the downtown core, renderings reveal stacked steel boxes soaring into the sky.
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An official groundbreaking for the east tower, the shorter of the two, was held on Wednesday, and came as the project reached over $1B in sales, including the $20M penthouse suite. Gehry was present for the occasion, alongside developers Great Gulf Group, Dream, and Westdale Properties.
"This project truly raises the bar for the future of urban living in Toronto," said Mitchell Cohen, Chief Operating Officer at Westdale Properties. "After almost a decade of planning, the momentum for this project has only continued to grow."
Forma Toronto
Located at 266 and 276 King Street West, Forma will offer 2,087 units across the two towers, with layouts ranging from studios to three-bedroom plus den condos. The design features offset floor plates, giving every suite a different, yet equally enviable, view. The development will also house retail space as well as new facilities for OCAD.
Designed by Paolo Ferrari, the interiors establish "a compelling balance between exuberance and serenity," the developers say. Amenities include a creator's club with multi-functional workspaces, a maker's studio with space for hands-on activities, and a health and wellness retreat with a spa, a jacuzzi, and a spin room. Located on the 73rd floor, the grand suite offers sweeping views, a theatre room, and a chef's kitchen.
Forma Toronto
In designing Forma, Gehry, whose work includes the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, and Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris, wanted to "build something new but that had a resonance with Toronto."
"This building is very close to my heart. Toronto is my hometown, and I wanted to do right by it," Gehry said.
"We wanted to make a building that paid homage to Toronto's rich past while also looking forward to its optimistic future. I hope that we have succeeded in making a sculpture on the skyline to reflect the light and essence of this city that I love."
Forma Toronto
