| Your
search for a great Canadian destination is over. Toronto,
Ontario Canada has a wide array of natural and urban adventures. You may want
to start in Toronto's downtown area in the heart of the financial, advertising,
and entertainment districts. BCE place is right at the center of this district,
close to the Toronto waterfront and the major tourist venues.
BCE Place is a fascinating
building to visit and shop in. The galleria below is a spectacular, even awe-inspiring
interior architectural masterpiece. Pictures of the galleria are a common part
of many photographers portfolios and it is used as a special events venue and
has hosted some big celebrations. |
BCE
Place has one of the most photographed interiors in Toronto. Its lobby
or galleria is a crystal cathedral with metal spires reaching a glass ceiling
85 feet above. It's a great way to see inside and study building architecture
and be a Toronto architectural photographer.
The galleria's underground
level holds an upscale shopping mall. It is lined with shops, boutiques and quality
restaurants. The facades of former buildings on the site can also be seen inside
the walkway. They were retained as a preservation of downtown Toronto's heritage.
The galleria was designed
by Spanish architect and artist Santiago Calatrava.
Its parabolic metal
and goemetric glass canopy extends 85 feet high and is 360 feet long. BCE galleria
fuses historic and new beautifully, as seen via the pedestrian walkway. The light
cascading through does a have a pleasant psychological effect and it's one of
those places you don't want to leave.
Heritage square at
the end of the galleria houses 12 historic Toronto stone buildings. They've been
restored to their original 1850's glory. One is the commerical Bank of Midland
(1845) which is the oldest stone building still standing in Toronto. It was moved
from its original Wellington St. location and then reconstructed inside the Galleria.
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