Quote:
Originally Posted by Beedok
I’d say it’s not the height that’s the issue, it’s just poor street level design.
There’s some pretty canyon parts of downtown Ottawa that are nice to walk down and then others that are hostile. Hopefully more of Hamilton’s high rises get a nicer street level in future.
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I think the issue is most designers just focus on what the height looks like at a distance - and since half the time the podium is partially made up of car storage they don't really care what the street level looks like - so most of the people who are advocating for height and canyons only really care about how things look from a distance whereas the rest want street and pedestrian friendly designs - heritage, stuff that's interesting to look at as you're walking.
You never truly get an appreciation for the taller stuff craning your neck up at street level - we really need balance. William thomas building imo was done perfectly - heritage street view - 3-6 stories average - and a pushed back tall thin building that isn't noticeable much from street view, allowing the podium to take most of the visual, and the actual big building can still be admired from far away.
It's one reason I hate cobalt towers - they had such a GOOD opportunity for heritage at street level on a street side of unbroken heritage design and they, imo, screwed it up with a bland podium design. Core urban right next door really sets the contrast of what it COULD have been.
That stretch on king past james/the bus station was HORRIBLY designed - esp the south side. If it had had more business fronts it would have been a lot better but now it's like a dividing line so anything past this part doesn't even feel like part of the core - it feels.. scattered, with no reason to ever go there from the core.