[ad_1]
675 Guest Column: Frank Gehry’s Forma: A True Architectural Landmark on Multiple Levels
Today we present a guest post from Hoordad Ghandehari, OAA ICON Architects Inc.
* * *
Forma, the late Frank Gehry’s newest addition to the Toronto skyline, comfortably spans the full spectrum of what we think of as a landmark building. A landmark is more than a visually attractive structure. It is a building that imprints itself on its surroundings and stays unforgettable—whether admired, debated, or polarizing. What matters is not unanimous approval but recognition: its ability to lodge itself in the collective memory of a city, a neighbourhood, or even a single street corner. A landmark “marks” something—its territory, its presence, its identity. It becomes a reference point for orientation and a symbol of place. Generally speaking, landmarks can operate at different scales.
From the standpoint of the viewer, landmarks can be understood through three lenses.
City-scale landmarks are those that define or influence a skyline. Their silhouettes are recognizable from a distance. In Toronto, we instantly think of the CN Tower, the Sky Dome, the L Tower, the Marilyn Monroe Towers in Mississauga, or the Emerald Park towers in North York. These buildings don’t simply rise tall; they shape how the city is perceived, photographed, and remembered.
Next are neighbourhood-scale landmarks, recognizable at a closer range. These may not dramatically affect the skyline, yet they remain memorable and distinct. Examples include River City Phase 3, Picasso on Richmond, 210 Bloor Street West, and Exhibit Residences.
Finally, there are pedestrian-scale landmarks, where the defining qualities are experienced up close. Think of Casa Loma, the Flatiron Building, Old City Hall, the ROM extension, or Gehry’s own Art Gallery of Ontario renovation.
Most buildings succeed—if they succeed at all—on a single scale. A few manage two. It is exceptionally rare for a building to operate as a landmark simultaneously from afar, at mid-range, and at the pedestrian level. Frank Gehry’s Forma is one of those rare exceptions.
Forma is not merely a tall building, nor simply a striking object on the skyline. It is a project that reshapes Toronto’s identity at all three scales—citywide, neighbourhood, and pedestrian—each expressed through its own architectural language. In this way, it embodies the full definition of a landmark. It is immediately recognizable from a distance, yet as you approach, its details gather complexity and begin a more intimate conversation with the viewer.
The unmistakable silhouette of the two towers—with their carefully calibrated massing and heights—can indeed be recognized from afar and will permanently mark Toronto’s skyline. At closer range, the shifting angles between the volumes and the changing reflections of light throughout the day become apparent. Moving around the building, the perception of the towers and the negative space between them changes constantly, adding a sense of dynamism to the architecture. It is a well-considered, fluid composition that carries a quiet sense of motion, yet maintains a restrained simplicity. Even the windows, treated more as punched openings than vast expanses of curtain wall, subtly reference traditional architectural proportions.
Up close, the towers reveal a different character altogether. The gently wrinkled stainless steel panels catch and scatter light, generating shifting patterns of shadow and reflectivity. This tactile, almost hand-wrought quality grounds the building at the pedestrian level, offering a richness not immediately visible from afar.
Whether monumental or intimate, a true landmark becomes woven into the identity of a place. It shapes memory and meaning. It stands out—not because it is flawless, but because it becomes integral to how we understand and navigate our environment. And this aspiration, the ability to contribute meaningfully to a city at multiple scales, is where great architecture truly happens.
UrbanToronto will continue to follow progress on this development, but in the meantime, you can learn more about it from our Database file, linked below. If you’d like, you can join in on the conversation in the associated Project Forum thread or leave a comment in the space provided on this page.
* * *
UrbanToronto’s research and data service, UTPro, provides comprehensive data on construction projects in the Greater Golden Horseshoe—from proposal through to completion. Other services include Instant Reports, downloadable snapshots based on location, and a daily subscription newsletter, New Development Insider, that tracks projects from initial application.
