In 1960, Philip Johnson designed parts of this amazing penthouse in Toronto. But which parts? Today Shim-Sutcliffe are renovating the place, and there’s a complex dispute over the heritage. My piece: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/art-and-architecture/article-whose-design-is-it-anyway-dispute-over-penthouse-renovation-rumbles-on/ 1/

Johnson knew the clients, Noah and Rose Torno, who were connected to the Bronfman family. This was exactly when he was working on the Four Seasons. The central atrium of this two-level apartment has an obvious resemblance 2/

But the rest of the apartment is less clear. Johnson may have designed the arrangement of spaces, but not the finishes. 3/

The areas marked in green on the lower floor are now at issue. The rest of the apartment has been completely rebuilt since 2007 and six floors of condos built on top of it. 4/

The biggest issue is a set of doorways - one moved, two new - that would alter the library and living room, framing the central atrium as an object 5/

Needless to say this level of heritage intervention in a private residence is almost unprecedented. And to stop some of the best architects in the world from moving a couple of doorways? 6/

Modern preservation is important. I wrote 2018 that the Tornos’ *former* home, which won a national award in 1952, deserved to be protected. Since then it’s gotten a totally unsympathetic recladding and paint job. Still no listing. Priorities. 7/ http://theglobeandmail.com/canada/toronto …

Of course there is also the question - not easily answered - of what to do with Johnson’s fascism. As @marklamster says, this is a strange moment to be ardently defending PJ. 8/