Edmonton Construction 5

[tony0911]

Thanks Canterra......here is the website

www.arcusdev.com

Originally Posted by Albertaboy

Alright, alright. I didn't say it would be a great fit for Edmonton, I just said I liked the concept is all.

I think it is a good fit for Edmonton, goes well with the Mac, and the Leg...what's not Edmonton about this rendering?

[Greco Roman]

Originally Posted by brento79

I think it is a good fit for Edmonton, goes well with the Mac, and the Leg...what's not Edmonton about this rendering?

First of all, i just wanted to get that other guy off my back.

It MAY work here, but this city loves it modern flavor, and may be hard to convince city planners to go ahead with such a project.

If you want a real PASSIONATE response, ask CDE; he let me know exactly what he though of it.

[tony0911]

If it turns out to have similar facade style and glass usage as the Astoria in Calgary.....I don't mind it.

[RicoLance21]

^Is that a swimming pool just to the right of the towers?

[CMD UW]

Originally Posted by CDE

The Venetian and the Quarters. F**k Edmonton. You can pretend you live in Paris and then take a trip to Italy. How nice.

Well, I happen to disagree with you here. This type of architecture can look very nice in this city.

[Hardhatdan]

If this fronts 105th ave, what a great start to north side.

[on the grid]

Originally Posted by CMD UW

Well, I happen to disagree with you here. This type of architecture can look very nice in this city.

Although this a wondeful place for residential development, I have to agree with CDE. I would not call this architecture. This looks nice like too much bad purfume smells nice. This type of faux-historicism should be left in the 80s or Las Vegas. Also, the rendering shows it in a very vague context (it could Paris!), whereas if this is behind MacEwan, then it would be in front of a parking garage (even more Vegas-y!). More than just not liking the design, I think this would look absolutely ridiculous in this location.

[on the grid]

I jumped to the conclusion that this was the Kal-Tire site on 109st, which may be an incorrect assumption. Regardless, even if it is tucked away from visibilty, I remain very critical.

[RicoLance21]

Originally Posted by on the grid

Although this a wondeful place for residential development, I have to agree with CDE. I would not call this architecture. This looks nice like too much bad purfume smells nice. This type of faux-historicism should be left in the 80s or Las Vegas. Also, the rendering shows it in a very vague context (it could Paris!), whereas if this is behind MacEwan, then it would be in front of a parking garage (even more Vegas-y!). More than just not liking the design, I think this would look absolutely ridiculous in this location.

This is pure architecture. It is designed to be pedestrian friendly and appealing to residents nearby. Frankly, people are shallow enough not to tell the difference between faux-historicism and real historicism. The towers are perfect. I agree with Brento79. I wish we have more of these around Edmonton. Mayor Mandel would love to see this.

[Kevin_foster]

Originally Posted by goodlookin'

IF this thing is built with the BEST materials in the BEST location (Strathcona would be nice), then I'm behind it 250%. Maybe also by the Marchand Mansion along 100th avenue.

@ CDE - what, you want another Power Center? Is THAT your Edmonton?

I don't know anything about this building, but give it a chance before you make Judgments..

The Venetian is Disney. Look at the materials. Materials in Risky projects like this are everything. The Mac is a good example. So is the Leg. So are a few other buildings in this city. The Venetian isn't one of them

Materials are going to key with this style of project. If the right materials are not used, I would say don't build it...it would be crap. However, if the builder is going to make it look and feel authentic...go for it...especially in Old Strathcona. Projects like this help build a good character.

[mick]

I agree with most here that if the right materials are used and there is enough glass to give it a modern twist on historical design then this type of building can work in certain locations around edmonton. However, I also agree with CDE and OTG, the Kal-tire location is not one of them. First of all this site is in an 1970/80s industrial area. It will retain at least the vestiges of this aesthetic regardless of the re-zoning along 105ave as some of the orginal buildings will no doubt be converted (as is happening to a building on 117st and 105ave) rather than knocked down and some will remain in there original form. I think this building, like the Venetian before it (although nowhere near as bad), fails to respect the context of where its been built. This site is crying out for something with an industrial, raw feeling to it (107st lofts but on a bigger scale). Second, putting up a faux-historic buildings kitty corner to one of Edmonton's better and larger examples of contemporary architecture, GMCC, seems disjointed. To me, this would work well around 124st area or Oliver. I am glad, however, to see a decent sized tower with a street level integrated podium proposed for this area - all we've seen so far are the classic 5 story proposals. Different aesthetic and this works brilliantly here.

[SHOFEAR]

I'm still not sure about this "quarters" project.

Please NOT Old Strathcona. It would be the worst possible area.

The only location where this could possibly fit in without looking really silly would be on 109 street where those two gas stations are now, or somewhere on Jasper close to 124.

but like everybody has said, the materials have to be right.

[CDE]

Plain and simple. If you think that POS belongs in Edmonton you live in a different city than I do.

Heres how to do architecture. And anyone who went to design school will know what i mean.

CONTEXT.CONTEXT.CONTEXT.

NOT I like Paris lets build a Paris building on the Northern Praries. This is the land of big sky, wheat fields, aurora borealis, winter, poplar trees etc. Get your reference from something local...hmmm, maybe reference GMCC, city hall, cn tower or even the friggin parkade.

[itom 987]

The Quarters wouldn't look bad in the High Street area.

[Jasper and one o nin]

Ive seen this done in other cities, and if done right it can look fantastic. If not, it could look terrible.
I dont know if I missed something or if we are all jumping to conclutions. But how do we know what this is a drawing/sketch of?

[Atlguy33]

There are many, many examples of cities around North America, and I'm sure around the world where new buildings have borrowed architectural styles from other places and other time periods. Should Edmonton be the exception?

[HomeInMyShoes]

^I don't think Edmonton should be the exception. Perhaps we've all been having a bit of a knee-jerk reaction especially with the developer comments on the rationalization of the Venetian. Liking Venice when you were there and thinking you'd like to bring it here and then building something that's an eyesore with cheap materials and almost no sense of what Venice is just annoying. There are certainly areas in Edmonton where this could be a really exciting project. With the pedestrian frontage and style of some other condos in the area, I think Jasper/124th would be a decent location.

That said, Edmonton's history doesn't really lend itself to the era this is borrowing from in my opinion. I have complained previously that few developers and architects in Edmonton are working towards a style that Edmonton could call it's own, or that relates very well to Edmonton's context and history.

[Kevin_foster]

^ Also, it should be noted these types of buildings are not exclusive to Paris. You will find them in cities like London, Montreal, Amsterdam, Brussels... everywhere around Europe and into Canada.

Some of Canada's older buildings look(ed) like this.

Don't try to say it's exclusive to Paris, because it's not. It's a type of Architecture.... not exclusive to one place in the world. That's like saying the SKYSCRAPER belongs to Chicago or New York.

I fail to see how the CN tower represents the Aurora Borealis, or the Big Skies... or how GMCC does the same. That's not context, that's an arbitrary comparison!

"That said, Edmonton's history doesn't really lend itself to the era this is borrowing from in my opinion.

I beg to differ. Edmonton has been around since the 1790's - too bad we ripped away all the historical buildings that compliment this era.. the only thing we have to show for it is the McLeod Building and Fort Edmonton . All the other older buildings got @#$# on by Urban renewal and replaced with concrete cladded disco-towers.

I ask then - if we were to go ahead and build, oh, let's say, a 34 storey glass office tower - would we be taking on the architectural style of the larger American Cities, or cities like Hong Kong and Tokyo?

And it's not like this building would stick out like a sore thumb. We do have areas to compliment it. I would shrug my shoulders and piss on it if it were to be placed in suburbia. Another good location that was mentioned above would be around high street along 124th. Perhaps behind the MEC or in one of those stagnant rotting parking lots.

Let's hold our breath until some real details on it come out....

EDIT: Once again, the Venetian is not a representation of Italy in any way. Italy inherently has it's own style of architecture not seen anywhere else in the world (some would argue spain, but I'll disagree..). It's made of concrete, and the fascade is colored yellow and pink. Last time I was in Italy, I didn't see any buildings of this nature.

This, however, is not that unusual of a building. It's a nice looking building with some class. (tongue in cheek while awaiting the materials and location).