Quote:
Originally Posted by Winnipegger
Hi, I am new to the Skyscraper page, but I have a great interest in cities and Skyscrapers, and I have been blessed with a nice downtown in my own City, Winnipeg. I think Winnipeg has it's fair share of Glass and Steel, but making Winnipeg, well, Winnipeg, is that it's major trade district is all historical. Now, I myself, don't really care for the preservation of the 5 storey brick and stone buildings that can make our Downtown look like a dump at first sight. Now, please don't get me wrong. I am a fan of architecture, and it's those buildings that define our strive for building up, and the ever evolving definition on what is urban and central, but I say its time to move on.
Yes, the stone is nice, but who wants a skyline filled with hundreds of tiny 5 storey stone buildings when we can replace them with more efficent, and eye pleasing buildings, like the Richardson, or CanWest, or even the Commodity Exchange Tower. I've been to downtown Minneapolis, and man, was that nice. I stayed in a fancy hotel right in the heart of all those skyscrapers, and it was one heck of a view. And do you know what? There wasn't one single old stone short building there. It was all gleaming glass and steel.
I think that Winnipeg needs to take on a new initiative to let the sky become more of a resource, rather than letting everything sprawl out. Our downtown and city needs to attaract more major coporations so we can get our sky filled with glass. Its the 21st century and the city is the place to be. Offices are where the buisness men are, and the buisness men are what keeps the economy up. Now, I'm only in my teens, and I am not sure how all this urban design and preservation of historical sites work, but those are just my thoughts.
I'd love to see our skyline grow, and glow, and more buildings climb the skys, but I am sure there is way more to it than just trying to attract buisnesses, but I just thought I'd bring up the subject to see what others though. I hope It doesn't offend anyone. Post what you think!
ps. Sorry about the double post. I don't know how to delete one of the two threads!
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Trust me, I appreciate your views on our mighty neighbor to the south; Winnipeg SHOULD be akin to Minneapolis if our leaders 50 years ago had any intelligence; rather, after blow after blow to our economy, stagnation was allowed to dominate. As a result, the growth died. Minneapolis is a great city.
All of these diminutive buildings you mention would be awesome if they were modernized (the addition of glass annexes such as Johnston Terminal at the Forks, the Adult Education Centre-former Isbister School on Vaughn, RRC Downtown) Rather simple glass additions breathe new life into these otherwise dreary relics. Example from Vancouver:
It is now, I think, ingrained in people that street-level development is paramount. If you build a beautiful 40 storey modern tower, but it does not meet the street with anything inviting/stimulating (cafes, shops, etc), and the right appearance, that is not very effective.
It is frsutrating here though because we have such a large inventory of underused small buildings that meet crumbling sidewalks, curbs, streets, no awnings, no people...well, you get the idea; basically, we have a lot of catching up to do, and it will take a lot of government aid (tax incentives, a better economy (tax relief for the business community to attract investment) to create the kind of city you are seeking.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Winnipegger
Now, I myself, don't really care for the preservation of the 5 storey brick and stone buildings that can make our Downtown look like a dump at first sight. Now, please don't get me wrong. I am a fan of architecture, and it's those buildings that define our strive for building up, and the ever evolving definition on what is urban and central, but I say its time to move on.
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I used to feel that way when I was your age...trust me, when you are older, and you see how much we have lost, and how unique these buildings are, you will regret wishing this!
Look at this example...Stephen Ave in Calgary (a city that levelled so much). These jewels are updated, and striking...a city with dozens of streetscapes like this is one I want to live in (which isn't Calgary, lol)
http://flickr.com/photos/syldavia/3256424/