National real estate company Canderel was planning a major Toronto project and wanted to record the process. They asked Sara Morley of Design Postimage, writer Jane Pavanel and photographer Christian Fleury – all based in Montreal – to produce an architectural book to trace the development of AURA. At 80 storeys, it is the tallest residential condo building in Canada and its tower has changed Toronto’s skyline and revitalized an important inner-city neighbourhood.
AURA, Canada’s Tallest Residential Condominium follows the creation of this landmark building. The 300-page book features more than 400 photos taken over five years that document the project at every stage, from planning through construction to occupancy. The complexity of erecting such a colossal building at the intersection of Yonge and Gerrard streets, so close to the subway and amid one of the busiest pedestrian areas in the country, is vividly presented on every page.
The mandate was to capture the spirit of innovation that infused the project and to convey in words, drawings and photos the unfolding of a development of this scale. Morley and Pavanel collaborated from the beginning, integrating the design logic and narrative with the goal of evoking interest and discovery. They worked closely with Fleury, whose photo storyline expresses the dynamism and sheer hard work of the men and women involved, both in their offices and on site.
The book will be used as a promotional tool for the company and will be distributed to educational institutions, libraries, archives and centres for architecture.
CLIENT: Canderel
2015