New City Hall, Nathan Phillips Square

Viljo Revell
1959-65

 


The Finnish architect Viljo Revell was awarded this commission after winning a competition with more than 500 entries from all over the world. The design consists of two towers, one of 20 stories, the other of 27, curving around a circular council chamber.

 
 
This view from above was taken by my friend and colleague Dr. Michael D. Edmiston, Ph.D., Professor of Physics and Chemistry at Bluffton College. This is a scan from a Kodachrome II slide taken in 1970. Dr. Edmiston has generously contributed it for viewing at this site. He owns the copyright and should be contacted directly if you are interested in the use of his photograph: Dr. Michael D. Edmiston.

Dr. Edmiston took a picture of the smaller tower from the observation deck of the taller tower. He used a wide angle lens that doesn't distort perpective very much. He says, "Many people who view the picture assume the picture is distorted. When I tell them the building is actually curved, some people think I am pulling their legs and assume the curvature is caused by my camera's lens."
 
The square, twelve acres of public space, has a reflecting pool which is converted to an ice-skating rink in the winter. The Archer by Henry Moore (1965) is in front of the City Hall. The image of the Moore sculpture is not to be reproduced without the permission of the Henry Moore Foundation.





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