Quote:
Originally Posted by someone123
There are some streetscapes in Old Montreal that are immersive and feature a narrow mix of buildings but the immediate courthouse area isn't like that. Across from the courthouse there's what looks like a stripped-down early modern office block (10 Notre-Dame E), some 1920's looking buildings, and some newer and not entirely successful attempts at mimicing the overall massing of the older buildings without also reproducing the expensive materials or detailing. I like the courthouse a lot more than the timid 1980's-2000's buildings. If people don't notice those 90's knockoffs I question how much of an eye for architecture they really have.
Because the neighbourhood has narrow streets and the courthouse tower has a huge setback it's not very prominent at street level. One block away: https://www.google.ca/maps/@45.5056097,-...tEnxMVuEZUh7QBw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en (I assume this was by design)
In cases where there is an intact block, street, or district with great buildings that exemplify certain styles or periods I'm all in favour of preservation and reconstruction. In other cases, I prefer contemporary buildings to historical recreations. All else being equal, the buildings with contemporary designs are going to turn out better. |
I agree with this. I saw some very nice examples in Quebec city of modern additions to old buildings like churches that contrasted rather than blended in with the original architecture. Generally I actually prefer that. However with the Courthouse building I find it simply too overpowering to everything else around it. The scale is huge. On its' own I don't mind the building but I really don't like it in the Vieux Port. It's been a couple years since I've been by and I admit to not having looked very closely at the other modern buildings nearby but I still feel it dominates that area way too much. When you're on the street by the Cathedral thankfully you can't see it.