Ugly Canada 2 (Only architecture, planning and design faux pas) - Page 428

O-tacular · #**8541** Posted **Mar 4, 2026, 5:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TorontoDrew

Never been, but each year to mark the end of summer and the start of the fall harvest, they hold Harvest Fest for a 4 day weekend (since 1998). The owner has erected semi-permanent structures around his property for DJ's to use for their sets. This is the Screaming Head House.

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Tickets for this September start at $335+fees.
https://harvestfestival.org/tix/

A rave in those cultish ruins would be something! For some reason I keep thinking of the cornfield rave scene in Freddy vs. Jason though...

O-tacular · #**8542** Posted **Mar 5, 2026, 5:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by O-tacular

This beast from Calgary is nicer on the materials front than the Winnipeg school/ cult compound, but forumers nicknamed it the Mazda dealer house. It has tacky astroturf on the front strip along the street with an illegal No Parking sign. Took down 2 houses and spent years in construction. Lost a nice mature tree for a sterile, lot with not a patch of vegetation on it.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Calgar..._ep=EgoyMDI2MDIxOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Calgar..._ep=EgoyMDI2MDIxOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

I just found a photoshop done by ByeByeBaby on skyrise of the Mazda House from Calgary.

https://calgary.skyrisecities.com/forum/...nt-discussion.28714/page-33#post-1733343

MolsonExport · #**8543** Posted **Mar 5, 2026, 6:28 PM**

complete with the air-stick man.

kwoldtimer · #**8544** Posted **Mar 5, 2026, 9:26 PM**

I don't find the house/building ugly, but the location is jarring.

Gresto · #**8545** Posted **Mar 5, 2026, 10:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

I don't find the house/building ugly, but the location is jarring.

I don't either, but it does resemble a business much more than a residence, the wall is off-putting, and who would want to live in such a fishbowl? The way it's designed screams "Look at me! Look at me!"

O-tacular · #**8546** Posted **Mar 5, 2026, 10:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

I don't find the house/building ugly, but the location is jarring.

It's less ugly than it is grotesque. The out of context size and style as well as the disregard for neighbours and public space add to that effect. Very sterile as well. It's like a contemporary version of the tacky gold and marble that someone like Dump favours from the 80's to show off their wealth and importance. Calgary is chock full of personality-less 'modern' McMansions.

O-tacular · #**8547** Posted **Mar 5, 2026, 10:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gresto

I don't either, but it does resemble a business much more than a residence, the wall is off-putting, and who would want to live in such a fishbowl? The way it's designed screams "Look at me! Look at me!"

They seem to believe that the world outside is the fishbowl that they are staring into.

Architype · #**8548** Posted **Mar 6, 2026, 1:36 AM**

---- Why Your Eyes Ignore Modern Buildings ----

(The topic of "ugliness" is covered towards the end (12:09).)

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megadude · #**8549** Posted **Mar 6, 2026, 3:30 AM**

Couple from York, Toronto. We talked about before the amount of "shacks" in York. Well, just in general, they have a lot of unattractive houses and apartments around.

O-tacular · #**8550** Posted **Mar 11, 2026, 3:59 PM**

This drab and borderline ugly Hare Krishna compound has remained unchanged in Calgary's Bridgeland neigbourhood in spite of massive redevelopment. I like the quirkiness but it definitely suits this thread.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Calgar..._ep=EgoyMDI2MDMwOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

O-tacular · #**8551** Posted **Mar 11, 2026, 4:03 PM**

Some place making fuglies from Calgary:

It's no Orange Julep, but Chicken on the Way has its' own cool mascot!

I actually love this building and statue even though they are objectively unaesthetic.

And of course this lovely data centre- err student dorm beside motel village:

MolsonExport · #**8552** Posted **Mar 11, 2026, 5:53 PM**

that chicken on the way reminds me of some of the external decorations/signage for Quebec casse-croutes. Ugly but sort of kitschy-charming too.

I fucking love these places:

TorontoDrew · #**8553** Posted **Mar 11, 2026, 7:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by O-tacular

Some place making fuglies from Calgary:

I absolutely hate this type of random variations in architecture. It looks like a mistake.

Loco101 · #**8554** Posted **Mar 12, 2026, 4:14 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

that chicken on the way reminds me of some of the external decorations/signage for Quebec casse-croutes. Ugly but sort of kitschy-charming too.

I totally agree. So many of them are fun to eat at and many have menus with interesting items beyond typical fast food stuff.

After crossing the border into Quebec I like stopping in Duparquet at Le P-Tit Glouton. (translates to The Lil' Glutton) It is only open from late Spring until early Fall. Back when I was younger it only had typical fast food items (burgers, fries, poutine) but has expanded into meals with club sandwiches, spaghetti, smoked meat, hot hamburger, hot chicken and more. They even have a fridge and freezer with prepared meals (non fast-food) and side dishes that they sell. While there are picnic tables outside, they have a small indoor dining area that you can use when the weather or bugs are bad.

You are jumping into 100% Québec when you go to this place.

The only sign that Ontario is nearby is this which is just across the highway from the place. The actual border is only about 15 minutes away and Matheson is the first town.

MolsonExport · #**8555** Posted **Mar 12, 2026, 12:43 PM**

Good ol' Quebec and its casse-croutes.

Ontario has some fry trucks/shacks, but nothing compares to Quebec's casse-croutes. It is truly a cultural thing.

Only in Quebec:

Quote:

MolsonExport · #**8556** Posted **Mar 12, 2026, 12:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TorontoDrew

I absolutely hate this type of random variations in architecture. It looks like a mistake.

second that. I hate it when they do that. It's not edgy; it just looks like crap. It makes you want to touch the photo just to line things up. The asymmetry is jarring.

MIPS · #**8557** Posted **Mar 12, 2026, 7:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by O-tacular

Found some contenders for ugliest SFH to challenge the Winnipeg Cultnasium.

Not sure if this one is still around, and sadly never saw it in person, but this THING existed south of Calgary:

Texas Tower vibes from this one.

O-tacular · #**8558** Posted **Mar 13, 2026, 8:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MIPS

Texas Tower vibes from this one.

I can definitely see that.

TorontoDrew · #**8559** Posted **Mar 14, 2026, 8:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

that chicken on the way reminds me of some of the external decorations/signage for Quebec casse-croutes. Ugly but sort of kitschy-charming too.

I fucking love these places:

I was going to say the same thing "I fucking love these places". These types of places almost need to look like that.

Here's a Toronto example. First off the Danforth itself isn't very attractive and it's a little overrated to begin with. The BIA calling it the Danny" is also a bit sad. It's just as easy to call it the Danforth.

I've heard the Banquet Burger is the thing to get here or souvlaki.

It's kind of tacky but in a retro kind of way. I think the sing is the same from when they opened in 1964. The owners are probably loving the fact the TTC has one of their main subway construction sites one block away.

Square Boy by Jack Landau, on Flickr

Untitled by Dominic Bugatto, on Flickr

Architype · #**8560** Posted **Mar 15, 2026, 10:50 PM**

The new St. Paul's hospital, still under construction. What do you think?

(photo by me)