Robert Venturi and the 'Vestigal Elements' of Modern Masonry Design

I’ve been contemplating for a while the best way to characterize my business and present it to the community. I’ve decided to put out a quarterly newsletter featuring one of our recent Masonry projects as it relates specifically to an In Print architectural resource.

Drawn to a career in masonry, I remember repointing heritage red and buff bricks in old Toronto neighbourhoods: Parkdale, Cabbagetown, the Distillery District. Learning to cut the arris of the brick cleanly expose the aggregate with a stiff bristled brush, the image is a close-up on the materials, my hands and the tools.

Twelve years later, it is still the art of the work that motivates me and the physicality that keeps me energized. However, to say that it is these two elements that fuels my passion for masonry work is incomplete:

When I first read “Complexity and Contradiction” by Robert Venturi, it articulated for me my working purpose in a way I had never before been able to define. Discussing the incorporation of traditional building techniques into modern design, Venturi writes,

“the vestigial element...contains a...combination of the old meaning, called up by associations, with a new meaning,...a basis for change and growth in the city...remodelling old buildings with new uses.”

Whether it is Heritage Restoration or New Build, Traditional Design or Contemporary, the incorporation of authentic interpretation of vestigial elements of architectural design into a functional contemporary purpose is the crucial element of a compelling and ultimately successful building.

At Lyons Heritage Masonry, our professional approach stems directly from this notion of authenticity in masonry design: “Traditional Craftsmanship Within a Modern Context.”

I’ve chosen to feature for our first instalment a series of facades we rebuilt in the Riverside Heritage District in Toronto’s East End. In the 1970s and 80s, many of these Victorian cottages were covered with paint and angel stone. Wherever possible, we matched the original detailing. In cases where the original designs were too badly obscured, we were able to work with clients, customizing examples from the neighbourhood to their preference.

Displayed by these houses, Lyons Heritage Masonry matches the craftsmanship and style of Toronto’s Heritage Building Stock.

Next quarter we will feature a project that highlights Lyons Heritage Masonry’s unique ability to execute work that is truly innovative, yet cognisant of the vestigial elements of Toronto’s built form.

Please peruse the suggested resources as you like and share the link with anyone who may be interested.

Thank you for taking the time to read this piece and for your continued collaboration in our future projects.