Museum Station’s New Clothes
So $5-million later, this is what we get. The first in “Station Renaissance” projects, Museum Station has been turned into a display case of various ‘artifacts’ from our history. The idea is good, but I have never been a big fan of any changes to the original TTC subway architecture, particularly the tiles of the Bloor-Danforth Subway. Museum Station was even more important, as it was the prototype of the design that would later stretch from Keele Station in the west to Woodbine Station in the east in a systematic and symmetrical fashion.
So perversion of historical architecture aside, the station is definitely unique now, from the repeating four styles of columns to the giant “MUSEUM” lettering on the wall with Egyptian hieroglyphics etched within the letters. My main beef is how horrid the roof looks, which was not the original design that called for a new panelled roof to be put in. Supposedly, the TTC pooh-pooh’ed the idea after they were worried about maintenance.. I personally believe they just ran out of money. My other beef is how horribly the platform level now interfaces with the staircase and the concourse level, which retain the original cream tiles and architecture. It literally looks like a half assed job. And that’s the root of it - these two issues seem to drown out any good that came from the redesign, and generally, I’m disappointed.
Oh, one more thing too - with this station makeover, the TTC has introduced yet another style of signage into its system (I’ve lost count of how many styles now exist in the system.. but at this station alone, there are four now). The “Next Station” signs on the wall now sport a new look with the requisite Yonge-University-Spadina Subway yellow stripe and faux-Helvetica. Go signage standards!
More photos after the jump…
LINK: Facebook Album - Museum Station’s New Clothes
Yet Another New Style of Signage
Psst… I think she’s been waiting a helluva long time for this train, no?
