80s Quote by William Gibson
“What strikes me about Toronto is that Toronto's great misfortune was to have too much money in the late 70s and early 80s, and consequently, it built in the style of those periods, which is hideous.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: 1990s discussion on Toronto architecture, William Gibson, 1995
Gibson critiques Toronto’s 1970s‑80s development, saying excess wealth led to unattractive, era‑specific design.
In simple terms: Too much money produced ugly, dated buildings.
Key Takeaway
Avoid over‑spending on trendy designs.
Themes
urban planning
architecture
wealth
historical style
aesthetic criticism
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
analytical
commentary
When to use this quote
- city planning meetings
- real estate development
- heritage preservation
- public policy debates
Key Concepts
modernism
urban economics
design cycles
Questions to Reflect On
- How does wealth influence city aesthetics?
- Can dated architecture be repurposed positively?
A Different Perspective
The critique may overlook functional benefits of those structures.
![“I look at [Toronto] and think well, perhaps my grandchildren will someday look at this stuff with the sort of appreciation I once held for Art Deco. Although I've come to find Art Deco quite creepy too.” quote by William Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/16e/william-gibson-642_appreciation_i-look-at-toronto-and-think-well-perhaps_1484772.jpg)
![“Somehow I think that if Toronto had been forced to wait a decade [from 80th], it would be a better looking city.” quote by William Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/757/william-gibson-642_cities_somehow-i-think-that-if-toronto-had-been_1852698.jpg)
![“A lot of the buildings [in Toronto] around Yonge and Bloor is the architectural equivalent of Kipper Ties and 8" collar points. It's ghastly and no amount of street-level retail glitz can lift it.” quote by William Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7ae/william-gibson-642_amount_a-lot-of-the-buildings-in-toronto-around_244979.jpg)
![“It was a very economically depressed time [the 80s] and because of that, there was a lot of space. Everything was relatively dilapidated, and one could live on a pretty low income. One could live well below the poverty line and not suffer immensely.” quote by Kiki Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/6f7/kiki-smith-10643_80s_it-was-a-very-economically-depressed-tim_26978.jpg)
