Quote:
Originally Posted by J.OT13
It's a common occurrence that an Ottawa proposal that we consider high quality or amazing is seen as basic, bland or even ugly on the Canadian City Proposals page. We're just so used to local developers and architects spitting out the same drab designs over and over, that anything out of the ordinary like this is considered a masterpiece by most over here.
I personally prefer the straight, clean lines of the Dream proposal to the tapering of the Red Apple. I find Varyap Meridian would be too far out of the box for Ottawa (though it's somewhat similar in form to 400 Albert, which I like). I can still understand why some would prefer those. |
I hear this - and I do like the building, as well as the design of 400 Albert (except that it’s short stature will keep it hidden).
But as the city grows, ambition, quality of materials, risk-taking and relative costs should not be barriers to development. Buildings and their appeal should aim to endure and charcoal brick and aluminum cladding aren’t going to age gracefully.
The city could ask for more. “Masterpiece” status needs to hit a very high bar. Decision-makers should understand that that bar is not relative to personal taste or expectation, but actual merit measured among other world cities, as Ottawa is poised to become.