Timing is Everything

The roaring 20’s was an era of upbeat optimism from the post-war economic boom, combined with the emerging exuberant opulence of Art Deco design for the interior and Romanesque Revival architecture with Venetian Gothic influences on the exterior.

While the stock market quadrupled in merely a decade, apartment living in Toronto was still in its infancy.

To attract wealthy potential detached house buyers, developers poured their heart and soul into these apartments, thus giving birth to Toronto’s earliest but grandest apartments.

The driveway fountain would have soothed the ears of early residents by filtering out traffic noise from Avenue Road. The wrought iron lamps guide them to this Art Nouveau style entrance.

The arched doorway is flanked by Corinthian pilasters with stone carved vine scrolls. At the top of the door is a wrought iron vase with blooming flowers in curled iron. The floral theme continues below with interlace of smaller four petals iron pattern.

Look up, and there are carved angels supporting the overhanging bay windows.

The lobby features Art Deco chandeliers and wall sconces. The creamy white plaster wall, the exposed ceiling beams and the curly wrought iron window bar gives it a slight moorish Spanish Colonial vibe.

The Foyer Ceiling

The architect, Martin Baldwin (later became director of Toronto Art Gallery) cleverly used art to connect his building to its residents.

Designed by Canadian “Group of Seven” artist, J.E.H. MacDonald and his son, the 12 zodiac signs were hand painted on the foyer ceiling. As guests are waiting in the lobby, they can look up and admire what otherwise would be at a museum.

The process took 2 months. The paint consists of an acid proof silicate base with 24 karat gold leaf with a coat of varnish for a permanent finish.

Claridge Apartments is a great architectural mixtape. It is gems like these that make Toronto beautiful.

A few months after its completion, the stock market would grind to a halt, so would the construction of these grand apartments, as their developers went into financial turmoil.

1 Clarendon Avenue, Toronto