View the VIBE Toronto
  • Cool Vibes
    • Cool Vibes
    • Eats+Drinks
    • Travel+Hotels
    • Health+Fitness
    • Style+Beauty
    • Life+Culture
    • Dating+Relationships
    • Events+Nightlife
    • Cannabis
  • Best in The 6ix
    • Best in The 6ix
    • Restaurants
    • Hotels
    • Things to do
    • Coffee Shops
    • Spas + Beauty
    • Barbershops
    • Retail
  • City Life
    • City Life
    • Pride
    • #TTCLife
    • #DatingLife
    • Seen+Heard
    • Quarantine Chronicles
    • Submit a Q.C. Post
  • Features
    • Cover Story
    • #BossLife
    • People
  • Events
    • Today
    • This Week
    • This Month
    • Submit an Event
Join In
6K Likes
12K Followers
22K Followers
157 Followers
  • Masthead
  • Send Us A Tip
  • Brand Toolkit
  • Advertise
Subscribe
View the VIBE Toronto
View the VIBE Toronto
  • Cool Vibes
    • Cool Vibes
    • Eats+Drinks
    • Travel+Hotels
    • Health+Fitness
    • Style+Beauty
    • Life+Culture
    • Dating+Relationships
    • Events+Nightlife
    • Cannabis
  • Best in The 6ix
    • Best in The 6ix
    • Restaurants
    • Hotels
    • Things to do
    • Coffee Shops
    • Spas + Beauty
    • Barbershops
    • Retail
  • City Life
    • City Life
    • Pride
    • #TTCLife
    • #DatingLife
    • Seen+Heard
    • Quarantine Chronicles
    • Submit a Q.C. Post
  • Features
    • Cover Story
    • #BossLife
    • People
  • Events
    • Today
    • This Week
    • This Month
    • Submit an Event
  • People

This Influencer Is Walking Us Through Toronto Architecture One Post At A Time

  • Tatiana Furtado
  • July 26, 2021
  • 5 minute read

It can be tricky to navigate the world of social media, especially when it comes to deciding which type of content to follow. Instagram can be used in so many different ways and you can follow people who showcase their work, love food, travel, and even educate. Keeping a variety of content in your feed will ensure you’re learning something new each day.

Anne Vranic, or @annevranic, is walking her followers through Toronto’s beautiful architecture one Instagram post at a time. From the Casa Loma Stables, to the Summerhill LCBO, Anne doesn’t just post the picture, in her description she also lets us know about the buildings architectural characteristics and its history. If you want to know more about Toronto’s lovely architecture, then lets get to know Anne a little bit more.

See Also: They Turned Their Combined 30 Years Of Restaurant Experience Into Toronto’s Newest Ice Cream Spot>>>

ADVERTISEMENT

Meet Anne Vranic

Anne Vranic first started her architectural venture at the start of the pandemic. Although she didn’t study art history and architecture in school, she’s always had a love for art culture. Her pervious experience in television and the entertainment industry, combined with her love of art history, is what’s given her the tools to create these amazing IG posts.

Toronto Architecture
Photo: Anne Vranic Via Instagram

Before the pandemic, she had her dream job working for the ROM. Anne said, “when the pandemic hit and the museums closed, I was so spoiled because I worked and practically lived inside of that museum. So it was a hard adjustment going from that to my 350 sq. Toronto condo and I realized it was becoming harder to find a creative spark.”

She set a goal for herself to go for a 1-hour walk each day in the city. Walking through Toronto feels different when you’re not on-the-go and for Anne, it gave her the chance to really be open and exposed to Toronto’s art culture.

“I was born and raised in Toronto and I look at my relationship with the city like a long-term one where you kind of start taking it for granted and the things other people find beautiful you no longer necessarily see. I would always point to other places like New York and Chicago for architecture and I was completely ignoring what was around me,” Anne said.

ADVERTISEMENT

Anne’s hopes that these posts will educate the people of Toronto on the beauty surrounding them. She vouches to start looking around and taking in the different types of architectural styles that the city has. Anne says, “what excites me most about this is I’m selfishly discovering the city and the architecture styles I personally love but also getting people excited about these buildings and culturally inspiring them to look at these buildings through a different and new lens.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Anne Vranic (@annevranic)

Brutalist Architecture

Brutalism is a common architectural style in Toronto and Anne describes it as cold, imposing concrete buildings. There are no embellishments and they’re often the backdrop of dystopian/futuristic style films. Buildings like the University of Toronto’s Robart Library fall under the brutalist style.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Brutalism Toronto (@brutalism.toronto)

Brutalism As A Humanistic Endeavor

“Initially when I’d walk by brutalist buildings in the city, I had that same response of, “Who would’ve designed this?” especially if you compare it to the more classical and romanesque buildings. But when I started digging into the history I found out that after the war a lot of governments were cash strapped and they needed to build spaces for people very quickly, since the populations were growing and the government didn’t have a lot of money. At the time, concrete was very efficient and inexpensive and so they built these buildings as quickly as possible for people to have a space to connect,” Anne said.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Anne Vranic (@annevranic)

Anne says its important to talk about these buildings because they’re constantly being demolished to make way for modern, flashier buildings, and we need preserve the city’s art history. Yes modern buildings are also beautiful pieces of architecture, but Anne says, “whats old is always new again, and just look at Kanye West’s Yeezy brand, that’s all centred around Brutalism.”

Favourite Toronto Architecture

When I asked Anne to list her favourite architectural buildings in the city she stumbled at the thought of having to narrow it down. She appreciates all the different styles the city has to offer but these are her top 3 favourite Toronto buildings.

ADVERTISEMENT

Old City Hall

Toronto Old City Hall
PHoto: Apple_slipper

Toronto’s old city hall falls under the romanesque style which, according to Anne, is something Toronto has done really well. This style of building can be distinguished by features like rusticated stone, wide arches, on a larger scale – a lot of government buildings – and unique carvings and intricacy.

E.J. Lennox was the architect who designed Old City Hall. Lennox was a very interesting architect, he also designed Casa Loma and created the Annex style of building. Among his talent, there’s also a long drama behind Old City Hall’s history.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Anne Vranic (@annevranic)

“Legend goes that E.J. Lennox and the city council were at odds and there were lawsuits, acrimony and the construction ended up being a bit of disaster. At the end of the production E.J Lennox requested a plaque saying that he built the building. The city council disapproved and to take revenge he decided to build into the building a series of grotesque characters and all of them represented the faces of the councilman. The one face that can be distinguished was his face and it was kind of like an f you to the councilman,” Anne says.

ADVERTISEMENT

TD Centre

TD Centre toronto architecture
Photo: Marcus Mitanis

The TD Centre was built by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe who’s known as the “grandfather” of the international style of architecture. This building falls under the modernist movement and it was extremely significant for the City of Toronto. It holds a simple architecture style with no ornamentation. When it was built during the late 1960s and it was the polar opposite of what the classical style bank buildings use to look like. The TD centre was the first skyscraper and, “it forever changed Toronto’s skyline because at that time the buildings were a lot lower and then you now had this imposing building that really put Toronto on the map for architecture,” Anne said.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Anne Vranic (@annevranic)

Summerhill LCBO

The Summerhill LCBO is really what brought Anne along this architectural journey. Growing up in the Rosedale community, she would always pass by the building as a child. When she finally became of legal drinking age, she really took in its beauty.

“During the first week of the pandemic when everyone was rushing to get toilet paper and alcohol I remember waiting in line and I looked up. Honestly I had probably been to that LCBO a hundred times and never noticed there was a 140 foot clock tower at the top of the building. That clock tower is modelled after the Campanile di San Marco in Saint Mark’s Square in Venice and looking at them side by side you can defiantly see the resemblance,” Anne said.

ADVERTISEMENT
Summerhill LCBO architecture
PHoto: Shenandoah1999

The Summerhill LCBO really brings that European architecture to Toronto. It falls under the Beaux-Art architecture style, its more ornate, extremely symmetrical and when you look at a building like this you’ll current feel in awe. It was perviously the North Toronto train station.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Anne Vranic (@annevranic)

Feature Image: Anne Vranic
Like
Tweet
Pin it
Like
Share
Share
Related Topics
  • Architecture
  • Casa Loma Stables
  • features
  • Influencers
  • Instagram
  • Old City Hall
  • People
  • Summerhill LCBO
  • TD Centre
  • Toronto Architecture
Tatiana Furtado

Tatiana's a passionate storyteller ready to explore new cultures, opportunities and interests. She spends most of her days day-dreaming of the European lifestyle.

You May Also Like
Our lady peace
View Post
  • People

Our Lady Peace frontman chats new music, tech, and family 

  • Erin Davis
  • May 16, 2022
Wallace Wong the six pack chef w2sixpackchef Spatula Tiktok Viral View the VIBE May 2022
View Post
  • #BossLife
  • Cover Story

This TikTok Star is Slicing His Way to the Top

  • Merrill Flynn
  • May 4, 2022
View Post
  • People

Spotted: Jagmeet Singh Dining in The 6ix

  • Phyllis Scully
  • April 8, 2022
alicia keys toronto
View Post
  • People

Spotted: Alicia Keys in The 6ix for the Canadian Launch of Keys Soulcare

  • Phyllis Scully
  • April 1, 2022
View Post
  • City Life
  • People

Best Athletes from Toronto that made it to the NBA

  • VIBE Team
  • March 29, 2022
American Idol Golden Ticket
View Post
  • People

Toronto Student Gets American Idol Golden Ticket To Hollywood

  • Revathy Rajan
  • March 22, 2022
The Birds Papaya Sarah Nicole Landry @thebirdspapaya Santa Christmas Holiday Toronto Cover View the VIBE
View Post
  • #BossLife
  • Cover Story

Santa Ain’t Comin’ to Town… They’re Already Here

  • Merrill Flynn
  • December 13, 2021
Simu Liu
View Post
  • People

Spotted: Simu Liu Dining at Some of his Favourite Toronto Restaurants

  • Phyllis Scully
  • December 3, 2021

Featured Events

May 19
Featured Featured May 1 - May 31

Estrella Damm Culinary Journey

Across Toronto
View Calendar
MAY FEATURE

After a much needed hiatus, our May 2022 cover story is here. Proudly featuring, Wallace Wong, the Six Pack Chef.
#VIBEfeatures

about
READ NOW
Latest Video
  • Casa Madera Toronto Restaurant Noble 33 1 Hotel Toronto
    VIDEO: Check Out the VIBE inside Casa Madera
    • April 6, 2022
LOAD MORE
ADVERTISE WITH US
Learn about our
partnership opportunities.

Inquire Now

LATEST NEWS

Happening This Week
Loading view.
  • Week of May 16
  • Previous week
  • Next week
All Day
March 10 - July 31

MOCA Toronto Opens for Spring Programming

Museum of Contemporary Art - Toronto 158 Sterling Road, Toronto, ON
Estrella Damm Culinary Journey
Featured May 1 - May 31

Estrella Damm Culinary Journey

Across Toronto Toronto
+ 3 More
All Day
March 10 - July 31

MOCA Toronto Opens for Spring Programming

Museum of Contemporary Art - Toronto 158 Sterling Road, Toronto, ON
Estrella Damm Culinary Journey
Featured May 1 - May 31

Estrella Damm Culinary Journey

Across Toronto Toronto
+ 3 More
All Day
March 10 - July 31

MOCA Toronto Opens for Spring Programming

Museum of Contemporary Art - Toronto 158 Sterling Road, Toronto, ON
Estrella Damm Culinary Journey
Featured May 1 - May 31

Estrella Damm Culinary Journey

Across Toronto Toronto
+ 3 More
All Day
March 10 - July 31

MOCA Toronto Opens for Spring Programming

Museum of Contemporary Art - Toronto 158 Sterling Road, Toronto, ON
Estrella Damm Culinary Journey
Featured May 1 - May 31

Estrella Damm Culinary Journey

Across Toronto Toronto
+ 3 More
All Day
March 10 - July 31

MOCA Toronto Opens for Spring Programming

Museum of Contemporary Art - Toronto 158 Sterling Road, Toronto, ON
Estrella Damm Culinary Journey
Featured May 1 - May 31

Estrella Damm Culinary Journey

Across Toronto Toronto
+ 3 More
All Day
March 10 - July 31

MOCA Toronto Opens for Spring Programming

Museum of Contemporary Art - Toronto 158 Sterling Road, Toronto, ON
Estrella Damm Culinary Journey
Featured May 1 - May 31

Estrella Damm Culinary Journey

Across Toronto Toronto
+ 4 More
All Day
March 10 - July 31

MOCA Toronto Opens for Spring Programming

Museum of Contemporary Art - Toronto 158 Sterling Road, Toronto, ON
Estrella Damm Culinary Journey
Featured May 1 - May 31

Estrella Damm Culinary Journey

Across Toronto Toronto
+ 4 More

Week of Events

Mon 16

Tue 17

Wed 18

Thu 19

Fri 20

Sat 21

Sun 22

March 10 - July 31

MOCA Toronto Opens for Spring Programming

MOCA Toronto Opens for Spring Programming

March 10 - July 31

MOCA Toronto Opens for Spring Programming

The Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto (MOCA) has opened for Spring programming featuring major solo exhibitions by Iranian-born, New York-based artist and filmmaker Shirin Neshat – her first major exhibition in Canada…

April 2 @ 10:00 am - July 3 @ 9:00 pm

This is Not a Rehabilitation Project: A Visual Artist’s Studio and Solo Exhibition

This is Not a Rehabilitation Project: A Visual Artist’s Studio and Solo Exhibition

April 2 @ 10:00 am - July 3 @ 9:00 pm

This is Not a Rehabilitation Project: A Visual Artist’s Studio and Solo Exhibition

This is Not a Rehabilitation Project Jenni-Juulia Wallinheimo-Heimonen’s work deals with disability politics, aesthetics of assistive devices and gender issues related to disabled women. Her presentation will be part working…

Free
April 20 @ 10:00 am - September 11 @ 9:00 pm

Not Born Yesterday, Not Going Away: Curated by Alex Bulmer

Not Born Yesterday, Not Going Away: Curated by Alex Bulmer

April 20 @ 10:00 am - September 11 @ 9:00 pm

Not Born Yesterday, Not Going Away: Curated by Alex Bulmer

Not Born Yesterday, Not Going Away , curated by Alex Bulmer as part of CoMotion Festival celebrates the long history of Deaf and disability art, connecting living artists with their chosen…

Free
May 1 - May 31 Featured

Estrella Damm Culinary Journey

Featured

Estrella Damm Culinary Journey

Estrella Damm Culinary Journey
Featured May 1 - May 31

Estrella Damm Culinary Journey

The Estrella Damm Culinary Journey, is a culinary experience (aka food tour) in which restaurants and chefs in different cities around the world, create dishes and tasting menus to pair…

March 10 - July 31

MOCA Toronto Opens for Spring Programming

April 2 @ 10:00 am - July 3 @ 9:00 pm

This is Not a Rehabilitation Project: A Visual Artist’s Studio and Solo Exhibition

April 20 @ 10:00 am - September 11 @ 9:00 pm

Not Born Yesterday, Not Going Away: Curated by Alex Bulmer

May 1 - May 31 Featured

Estrella Damm Culinary Journey

March 10 - July 31

MOCA Toronto Opens for Spring Programming

April 2 @ 10:00 am - July 3 @ 9:00 pm

This is Not a Rehabilitation Project: A Visual Artist’s Studio and Solo Exhibition

April 20 @ 10:00 am - September 11 @ 9:00 pm

Not Born Yesterday, Not Going Away: Curated by Alex Bulmer

May 1 - May 31 Featured

Estrella Damm Culinary Journey

March 10 - July 31

MOCA Toronto Opens for Spring Programming

April 2 @ 10:00 am - July 3 @ 9:00 pm

This is Not a Rehabilitation Project: A Visual Artist’s Studio and Solo Exhibition

April 20 @ 10:00 am - September 11 @ 9:00 pm

Not Born Yesterday, Not Going Away: Curated by Alex Bulmer

May 1 - May 31 Featured

Estrella Damm Culinary Journey

March 10 - July 31

MOCA Toronto Opens for Spring Programming

April 2 @ 10:00 am - July 3 @ 9:00 pm

This is Not a Rehabilitation Project: A Visual Artist’s Studio and Solo Exhibition

April 20 @ 10:00 am - September 11 @ 9:00 pm

Not Born Yesterday, Not Going Away: Curated by Alex Bulmer

May 1 - May 31 Featured

Estrella Damm Culinary Journey

March 10 - July 31

MOCA Toronto Opens for Spring Programming

April 2 @ 10:00 am - July 3 @ 9:00 pm

This is Not a Rehabilitation Project: A Visual Artist’s Studio and Solo Exhibition

April 20 @ 10:00 am - September 11 @ 9:00 pm

Not Born Yesterday, Not Going Away: Curated by Alex Bulmer

May 1 - May 31 Featured

Estrella Damm Culinary Journey

May 21 @ 8:00 am - May 22 @ 5:00 pm

FizzFest Toronto

FizzFest Toronto

May 21 @ 8:00 am - May 22 @ 5:00 pm

FizzFest Toronto

Enjoy two days of seltzers and mixed cocktails during FizzFest Toronto, which is organised by the same team behind Toronto Festival of Beer. There will also be wines and cedars…

March 10 - July 31

MOCA Toronto Opens for Spring Programming

April 2 @ 10:00 am - July 3 @ 9:00 pm

This is Not a Rehabilitation Project: A Visual Artist’s Studio and Solo Exhibition

April 20 @ 10:00 am - September 11 @ 9:00 pm

Not Born Yesterday, Not Going Away: Curated by Alex Bulmer

May 1 - May 31 Featured

Estrella Damm Culinary Journey

May 21 @ 8:00 am - May 22 @ 5:00 pm

FizzFest Toronto

+ 3 More
+ 3 More
+ 3 More
+ 3 More
+ 3 More
+ 4 More
+ 4 More
View Calendar

Subscribe to The Weekly VIBE Newsletter

Sun’s out, ☀️ guns out… 😂 💪 and Patios is the place to be! 🍽🍻 300 4
Calm before the storm… if you’ve been to @moretti_toronto for dinner or drinks, you know exactly what we mean. 😉 🥂 ✨ 812 18
Have you heard? 👀 There’s a new brunch spot in town… @nordstromcanada. Yup, all three Toronto locations (Yorkdale, Eaton Centre and Sherway) NOW SERVING brunch on weekends. 🍳 🤤 413 7
GUESS THE SPOT? 👀 Think you know #The6ix? Than let us know where this is… here’s a hint… there’s graffiti! 🤪 — 📸 @agsoven 337 4
This TikTok Star is Slicing His Way to the Top. 🔪✨ 1K 42
🚨ULTIMATE PRIZE ALERT 🚨 Now’s your chance to WIN FREE tickets for Mom (or you), to the hottest Women’s Show in the COUNTRY…right here in #The6ix, at the MTCC!! 946 767
View the VIBE
View the VIBE, partially owned, and operated by STAMINA Group Inc., launched in 2010 as a video restaurant and spa guide, later evolving into a recognized digital Toronto-lifestyle authority, producing fun, edgy and informational editorial content. Establishing itself as a voice for restaurant reviews, trending stories, and excellent vibe videos.
Learn More
Partner Network

WanderEater.com, Wandering through the World of Gastronomy.

Gent’s Post, What a Gent Wants, Craves, Rocks, Needs, Aspires + Wanders for. Redefining Masculinity for the Modern Man.

@ImagesofCanada, Showcasing the beauty that Canada has to offer.

Part of the STAMINA Group
of brands.

Learn More

Navigation
  • Cool Vibes
    • Cool Vibes
    • Eats+Drinks
    • Travel+Hotels
    • Health+Fitness
    • Style+Beauty
    • Life+Culture
    • Dating+Relationships
    • Events+Nightlife
    • Cannabis
  • Best in The 6ix
    • Best in The 6ix
    • Restaurants
    • Hotels
    • Things to do
    • Coffee Shops
    • Spas + Beauty
    • Barbershops
    • Retail
  • City Life
    • City Life
    • Pride
    • #TTCLife
    • #DatingLife
    • Seen+Heard
    • Quarantine Chronicles
    • Submit a Q.C. Post
  • Features
    • Cover Story
    • #BossLife
    • People
  • Events
    • Today
    • This Week
    • This Month
    • Submit an Event
View the VIBE Toronto
  • Contact
  • Masthead
  • Submissions
  • Send us a Tip
  • Legal
  • © 2021, STAMINA Group Inc.
The leading VIBE authority of The 6ix - Online Lifestyle Magazine

Input your search keywords and press Enter.