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2. Ep. 2 A Brutalist Masterpiece?
27:09||Season 1, Ep. 2This episode of 'The Unquiet Library' podcast delves into the historical context and architectural significance of the John P. Robarts Research Library at the University of Toronto. Hosted by Jesse Carliner, it features insights from architectural historian Mary Louise Lobsinger, preservation architect Michael McClelland, urbanist Sean Micallef, librarian and photographer Thomas Guignard, and Diamond Schmidt principal architect Gary McCluskie.The interviews explore the brutalist style of the building, its evolution in public perception, and its place in the cultural and educational landscape of Toronto. The episode also touches on personal anecdotes, the broader impact of brutalism in Canada, and the growing appreciation for modernist architecture. To learn more about the history of Robarts Library and see archival images, visit uoft.me/robarts50. Follow us @unquietlibrary on Instagram, Blue Sky or TikTok for additional content and updates. 00:00 A student’s opinion of Robarts Library 00:23 Introduction 01:24 Interview with Mary Louise Lobsinger 07:37 Is the architecture of Robarts Library Canadian? 08:50 Is Robarts Library a canonical building? 09:51 Interview with Michael McClelland 12:32 Interview with Shawn Micallef 15:22 Brutalism and higher education in Canada 17:28 Brutalism becomes fashionable again 20:01 Interview with Thomas Guignard 22:07 The beauty of brutalism 23:27 Interview with Gary McCluskie 25:57 Conclusion Learn more about concrete architecture in Toronto: McClelland, Michael, and Graeme Stewart. 2004. Concrete Toronto: A Guide to Concrete Architecture from the Fifties to the Seventies. 1st ed. Coach House Books: https://chbooks.com/Books/C/Concrete-Toronto3 Sound credits Theme music: Felipe Sarro, Bach-Siloti - Prelude BWV 855a Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication Sound effects 120120_walking_through_building.wav by reinsamba -- https://freesound.org/s/142929/ -- License: Attribution 4.0 littleitaly.mp3 by salgoodsam -- https://freesound.org/s/54282/ -- License: Attribution 4.0 escalator-close.wav by sarana -- https://freesound.org/s/81831/ -- License: Attribution 4.0
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1. Ep. 1 Toronto's Ugliest Building?
29:00||Season 1, Ep. 1This episode of 'The Unquiet Library' podcast explores the criticisms and emotional reactions surrounding the John P. Robarts Research Library—an iconic and controversial brutalist structure in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Host Jesse Carliner introduces its massive scale and unique design, which has drawn both admiration and ire since its opening in 1973. Featuring experts urbanist Shawn Micallef, architectural historian Mary Louise Lobsinger, preservation architect Michael McClelland, and Diamond Schmidt principal architect Gary McCluskie, the episode delves into themes of architectural brutalism, historical context, and the library's profound impact on Toronto’s cultural and architectural landscape. The episode also addresses the visceral reactions people have towards the building, debates on whether it is ugly or sublime, and the architectural significance of its design. 00:00 One student’s opinion 00:23 Introduction 00:44 About Robarts Library 01:58 Today’s episode 02:21 Interview with Shawn Micallef 11:01 Interview with Mary Louise Lobsinger 17:00 Interview with Gary McCLuskie 20:51 Interview with Michael McClelland 26:50 Is Robarts Library ugly? 26:52 Conclusion To learn more about the history of Robarts Library, visit uoft.me/robarts50. Follow us @unquietlibrarypodcast on Instagram, Blue Sky or TikTok for additional content and updates. Learn more about concrete architecture in Toronto: McClelland, Michael, and Graeme Stewart. 2004. Concrete Toronto: A Guide to Concrete Architecture from the Fifties to the Seventies. 1st ed. Coach House Books: https://chbooks.com/Books/C/Concrete-Toronto3 Learn about the architect Ron Thom here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_ThomLearn about Massey College, designed by Rom Thom here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massey_College,_Toronto Theme music: Felipe Sarro, Bach-Siloti - Prelude BWV 855a Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication Sound credits: yonge_street_02.flac by tim.kahn -- https://freesound.org/s/35556/ -- License: Attribution 4.0 escaleras_mecanicas_interior_-_metro.mp3 by sonsdebarcelona -- https://freesound.org/s/70146/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 3.0 2 08 Br Lib amb 5.wav by ERH -- https://freesound.org/s/51632/ -- License: Attribution 4.0
The Unquiet Library Trailer
02:17|Welcome to The Unquiet Library: Fifty years of Robarts Library, a podcast exploring the John P. Robarts Research Library at the University of Toronto—an iconic, debated, and often misunderstood building that has stood at the heart of Canada’s largest university for 50 years. Through interviews with architects, librarians, staff, administrators, alumni, and faculty, the series goes behind the scenes of “Fort Book” to uncover the social, political, and architectural forces behind its history. For more on Robarts history and to see archival images visit uoft.me/robarts50, and follow @unquietlibrary on Instagram, Blue Sky, or TikTok for additional content and updates.