Amid so much blah out there in Toronto’s condo market, a handful of buildings take chances with design. Here are five nifty new residential structures at or nearing completion downtown this summer.

1. River City

Address: King Street East & River Street

Developer: Urban Capital Property Group

Designer: Saucier + Perrotte Architects

Coolness: The first residential development in Waterfront Toronto's mammoth master plan, River City's contrasting towers are the first thing DVP motorists behold as they wind into town. A once-undevelopable post-industrial site now boasts one of the city's most unique and sharp-looking condo complexes, a centrepiece of the revitalization effort.

2. Picasso on Richmond

Address: 318 Richmond St

Developer: Monarch Mattamy Homes, Goldman Group

Designer: Teeple Architects

Coolness: It’s not finished, but already Picasso is one of the best additions to the skyline, visible from all directions in the Entertainment District and beyond. Described by its builder as a “thought-provoking dedication to modern design,” the tower features white volumes that project

from its facade, appearing to hover in mid-air.

3. One Park Place

Address: Dundas Street East & Sumach Street

Developer: The Daniels Corp

Designer: Hariri

Pontarini Architects

Coolness: These crisp twin towers—with deep mullions, spandrel glass and red brick-accented podium—stand proudly in the heart of Regent Park, signaling all that’s great about the extensive revitalization of the area. They overlook the third phase of this massive redevelopment, which will include the new Regent Park Athletic Grounds.

4. 12 Degrees

Address: Beverley Street

Developer: BSäR Group of Cos

Designer: Core Architects

Coolness: The building, a series of stacked glass

cubes, features a cantilevered middle section that’s jogged 12 degrees off centre, hence the project name. This edgy-for-Toronto design predictably

met with much community pushback when first proposed, but the condo’s unconventional appearance perfectly suits its Queen West environs.

5. Pier 27

Address: Queens Quay & Yonge Street

Developer: Cityzen Development Group, Fernbrook Homes

Designer: architectsAlliance

Coolness: Now that Captain John's has finally shipped out, there’s nothing to distract from this captivating condo complex at the foot of Yonge Street, its four towers connected by a skybridge that houses Pier 27's poshest suites. The first new waterfront condo community east of Yonge, it augurs well for what’s to come.

Watch for Part 2 in next week’s Bisnow Toronto. Meantime, what are your picks for coolest new condo? ryan.starr@bisnow.com