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Canadian Urbanism Uncovered

Skyscrapers of the world

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Toronto is a weird place when it comes to tall buildings. We have the CN Tower, the world’s tallest free-standing structure in the world. But we’re also home to Jane Jacobs, who believes in low-rise and human-scale development. Our Official Plan, which is still not “official,” does not set out guidlines for developers when it comes to the height of structures they wish to erect — that will come once the Official Plan is ratified. In the meantime, we have silly disputes like the plans for One Bedford (right across from Varsity Stadium).

Even the Spacing editorial team is at odds when it comes to skyscrapers. But even the cynics can enjoy the wicked website Skyscraper Page. The site has an insane amount of resources for you to flip through (nearly 22,000 drawings and 43,000 photos of 36,000 structures in 2,700 cities, according to the site). You can check out: fantasy buildings never built, the top 10 tallest buildings, grand structures currently under construction, the boom of development in NYC during the early part of the 20th century, or even Toronto’s cloud ticklers.

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