Maison Riverain [2 Montreal Rd] | 76/94/106m | 22/28/32f | U/C

[SL123]

Cladding is going up on the podium

[Davis137]

That a great photo you have there....really captures the urban fabric this project is adding to the area...

[OTownandDown]

Drove by today, there's a tower cladding mock-up just to the left hand side of that wall of formwork in the above picture. Looks quite light, but not white by any means. More of an off-beige earthy clay tone.

[Harley613]

That beige and gray precast looks absolutely horrible and dated, and up close a lot of it has scratches and it looks weathered. This went from glossy white and clean to a drab and dull abomination pretty fast.

[Harley613]

New contender on the way for Ottawa's ugliest 21st century tower? The beige and gray precast with the Dollarama windows is just...putrid.

[BlueJay]

This is very disappointing. Main + Main goes from having one of the nicest designs in Ottawa with the Releve project and then comes up with this garbage.

[J.OT13]

Not a huge fan of the pre-cast panels. I appreciate that the podium and tower have different shades of grey. I like the window/balcony pattern.

We'll see how it looks in the end, but even if it's not stellar, at least it's not the same kind of bad as the rest. It's still an original.

[zzptichka]

Coming from the Cummings Bridge

[Har13]

Absolute garbage. But I think the glass walls and balconies can make this mediocre.

[Harley613]

This city is a joke. A really bad joke. RLA is a joke, the developers are jokes, council are jokes. Yeah, we are getting a few diamonds in the rough now, but the overall urban fabric is truly depressing, the worst I have seen in any Western city perhaps. Wake me up when the nightmare is over.

[McDonald's Racoon]

I don't necessarily get the hate on the grey precast panels. To me this is leagues ahead of precast brick.

For the overall scale of the project I think it'll give a clean consistent look to the entire project leaving space for the amazing window and balcony pattern to shine.

I know its no SOHO Italia metal cladding but it sure beats the Story of Sadness on Rideau.

[ogbenp]

I understand that most of the activity on this forum is based around architecture and urban design, but my god the constant negativity is starting to get at me.

Yes these projects are not as nice, architecturally, as what can be found in other cities. Some are indeed quite ugly. But there's more to these developments than just the look of them, which can be quite subjective and is something the vast majority of people probably don't care that much about.

Think about the benefit that densification projects like these have on the neighbourhood and the city as a whole. The way it will help shape how people move around and interact within the city. That's where I see the positivity.

At this rate I'll end up drowning in the negativity and have to remove myself from this forum, which is unfortunate because I like keeping up with new developments.

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by ogbenp

I understand that most of the activity on this forum is based around architecture and urban design, but my god the constant negativity is starting to get at me.

Yes these projects are not as nice, architecturally, as what can be found in other cities. Some are indeed quite ugly. But there's more to these developments than just the look of them, which can be quite subjective and is something the vast majority of people probably don't care that much about.

Think about the benefit that densification projects like these have on the neighbourhood and the city as a whole. The way it will help shape how people move around and interact within the city. That's where I see the positivity.

At this rate I'll end up drowning in the negativity and have to remove myself from this forum, which is unfortunate because I like keeping up with new developments.

Originally Posted by McDonald's Racoon

I don't necessarily get the hate on the grey precast panels. To me this is leagues ahead of precast brick.

For the overall scale of the project I think it'll give a clean consistent look to the entire project leaving space for the amazing window and balcony pattern to shine.

I know its no SOHO Italia metal cladding but it sure beats the Story of Sadness on Rideau.

I think this location deserves quite a bit more leeway than Rideau street and as you said it will likely be better than that. I think it's true that this will have a transformative impact on the area that has a few other smaller developments in various stages of completion and will be a nice pocket. The river seems to be a big attraction and Vanier Parkway forms a hard separation from Vanier and its problems.

[OTSkyline]

Originally Posted by ogbenp

Think about the benefit that densification projects like these have on the neighbourhood and the city as a whole. The way it will help shape how people move around and interact within the city. That's where I see the positivity.

I don't think anybody is complaining about the added residential units or density, but is quality materials & unique designs too much to ask?

Both are not exclusive, we should be able to strive for both.

[yotajoe]

I think it's still a little early to call this one a disgrace.

The balcony glass is what is really important for this one, high quality glass could take away the focus from the precast and make it look nicer.

Look at Parkdale collective when the cladding starting going up, people were calling it a bait and switch and I'd say now it already looks better than the dale.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by OTSkyline

I don't think anybody is complaining about the added residential units or density, but is quality materials & unique designs too much to ask?

Both are not exclusive, we should be able to strive for both.

We should, but the higher end the materials, the more the impact on affordability of the units. Not sure if this is it, but there is room for cheaper buildings in the housing market.

That said, hoping this turns out, as it is such a prominent location. Not giving up just yet.

[Harley613]

Originally Posted by ogbenp

I understand that most of the activity on this forum is based around architecture and urban design, but my god the constant negativity is starting to get at me.

Yes these projects are not as nice, architecturally, as what can be found in other cities. Some are indeed quite ugly. But there's more to these developments than just the look of them, which can be quite subjective and is something the vast majority of people probably don't care that much about.

Think about the benefit that densification projects like these have on the neighbourhood and the city as a whole. The way it will help shape how people move around and interact within the city. That's where I see the positivity.

At this rate I'll end up drowning in the negativity and have to remove myself from this forum, which is unfortunate because I like keeping up with new developments.

Sorry, for my part, if my negativity is rubbing off. I think I'm so critical simply because I spend so much time in Calgary, Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, and overseas. I see how much better things can be with just a tiny bit of effort and investment. I really do love this city, but I think it's disgraceful how little we demand from our architects and developers, especially considering the cost of living here. I have high expectations for our Nation's Capital, but I'm consistently disappointed by the tiny handful of people who are building this city into a drab soulless charcoal and grey tabletop blight.

I think it's important on a forum to foster debate and to share opinions of all kinds, so please don't leave. We have so many great projects coming up, and hopefully they will inspire people to demand more in this city in the future. The tide may just be turning over the next five years.

[Har13]

^I Second this.

[ogbenp]

In theory cheaper materials would mean cheaper units but I doubt that is the case. I do understand the frustration and know more can and should be done for big projects like this.

I guess developers have cashed in knowing that the people of Ottawa don't really care and aren't rallying against bad architecture.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by ogbenp

I understand that most of the activity on this forum is based around architecture and urban design, but my god the constant negativity is starting to get at me.

Yes these projects are not as nice, architecturally, as what can be found in other cities. Some are indeed quite ugly. But there's more to these developments than just the look of them, which can be quite subjective and is something the vast majority of people probably don't care that much about.

Think about the benefit that densification projects like these have on the neighbourhood and the city as a whole. The way it will help shape how people move around and interact within the city. That's where I see the positivity.

At this rate I'll end up drowning in the negativity and have to remove myself from this forum, which is unfortunate because I like keeping up with new developments.

No doubt you've seen these, but if you want some positivity, check out 400 Albert:

https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=218147&page=32

And the refreshingly good Claridge East Flats tower:

https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=226521&page=24