New Vancouver Art Gallery | Proposed

[LeftCoaster]

Hmm no I doubt the architects have already been picked.

You are right in that if they want a 2015 completion date for what is likely to be a large and complex building they should have a full consultant team in place if not now very soon, I just doubt the art gallery is that organized.

that said they can still get this thing done in 4.5 years feasibly, as I would imagine preliminary design would take roughly a year, plus permitting and precon at another year and construction at roughly 2.

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

Seems kinda inappropriate to house a Native Canadian art museum in a very european looking building.

I would personally like to see the Vanouver museum move in.

That would be my choice. A Museum of Indian Art in a neo-classical style building would be a conundrum.

Anyway, a gallery of Native Indian Art merits its own building, where the light and building style will better reflect the mood and feeling of that style of art.

[Spork]

How can they be moving ahead so quickly? I thought they were nowhere near achieving their $300 million needed to build the thing, hence the past discussions about the less expensive expansion-under-the-lawns "option".

[hollywoodnorth]

http://www.straight.com/article-320506/v...t-gallery-replacement-pegged-350-million

Cost for Vancouver Art Gallery replacement pegged at $350 million
By Stephen Thomson

Vancouver Art Gallery officials estimate it will cost $350 million to realize their plan for a new downtown location on a prime piece of city-owned property.

“At this point we don’t have an architect or a site yet, but when you look at institutions from around the world that is the rate that we’re looking at,” gallery director Kathleen Bartels told reporters today (April 28).

During a Vancouver Board of Trade luncheon this afternoon, gallery officials presented their case for building a new home on an open lot across the street from the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.

They argue a replacement is needed because the courthouse building on Robson Street no longer meets the gallery’s needs. The gallery board wants a larger space for exhibits, public and educational programs, as well as a growing art collection.

But the City of Vancouver has not yet made a decision on allowing construction of a new gallery on the site, which was formerly a bus depot.

City of Vancouver Coun. Heather Deal told the Straight by phone that the gallery has not yet presented a detailed proposal for use of the site.

“I do think they make a compelling case for needing a new facility. There’s a wide range of public opinion on that, but they’ve certainly made the case very well that they do need a new building,” she said.

During the board of trade presentation, gallery board chair Michael Audain noted the province has offered $50 million toward a replacement building and unnamed donors have promised another $40 million.

“It’s very difficult to say exactly how much the new building is going to cost because we don’t have a design for it yet,” he said, although he estimated the price tag could reach $350 million.

Fundraising efforts would target public and private donors and the federal government, he said.

Some critics argue the Robson Street gallery could simply be expanded underground. But Audain responded that the costs are too high and the gallery would have to close for two years.

While the presentation did not reveal many details on what the new gallery could look like, Bartels said the idea is to create a “landmark building” in the spirit of the great art institutions found in London, Paris and Barcelona.

David Aisenstat, gallery board chair, added that public support for the new gallery should persuade the city to support construction on the Dunsmuir Street site.

“Once that happens then we’ve got a hell of a lot of work to do,” he said.

[Stingray2004]

The price tag could reach $350 million. The province has offered $50 million toward a replacement building and unnamed donors have promised another $40 million.

There's the proverbial elephant in the room. In any event, I hope we still get our mini-Louvre.

[Hed Kandi]

http://www.trailergasm.com/aboutus/



Like the great coin-operated profit Zoltar, I will predict the future. The following events will happen more or less in the following order:



1) The new art gallery design will be unveiled in the coming months.

2) There will be no international competition held. The City of Vancouver however will announce that a paltry local firm has 'won' the contract to design the new art gallery. The city will then boast that this building will be the 'Greenest Art Gallery in the World' and will be certified Lead Platinum. It will incorporate more 'pine beetle wood'.

3) The design will be insipid and safe. The architects who believe themselves to be progressive will throw in a last minute splash of red or yellow paneling to the building, believing it to be both 'bold and ingenious' and 'exactly what Vancouver needs to break up the monotonous green/blue glass'. Little do they remember that they were responsible for designing those buildings.

4)After seeing the design for the first time, I will stumble on here feeling very nauseous. I will then compose a diatribe on this utterly worthless piece of so-called architecture. I do anticipate that DLeung and other cynics will join along in the rant.

5)Jlo and Leftcoaster will then seek to reprimand me and enforce the notion that this architecture is sensible and reasonable for Vancouver. They will also make their monthly recommendation that I book a one way flight to Dubai - and perhaps I just may.

6)Our pinhead premier will give one of his usual speeches about the legacy that this building will create, though I'm not sure it will be one that we will want to remember. The media will approach the project with caution, criticism, and slight praise. And of course they will raise the ever controversial 'Vancouver Issue' about how funds would be far better spent on social programs, housing, and the all the children in Africa, etc

7) It will continue to piss rain for months and years on end.

8) The design will come of fruition and it will win zero international design awards. When tourists visit Vancouver they will continue to praise its remarkable beauty. The mountains, the sea, Stanley Park. But never will they mention its architecture.

9) Finally, I will gaze upon this monstrosity with my own eyes - and I will continue to await with anxious hope that one day great design may be bestowed upon this city.

EDIT:

10) The forecast will call for more rain.

[jsbertram]

Originally Posted by djh

Interesting. A $300m building will be pretty sizeable (think the cost of the Woodwards project), not necessarily in height, but in complexity. Meaning, expect a 2-3 year construction.
Bearing that in mind and working backwards, we can extrapolate that an architect is already picked, preliminary designs are probably well on their way already, and development permits will be applied for before the end of the summer, I'd say.

Anybody in the construction industry who can give a more accurate estimate? I was assuming "Completed in 2015" to mean, say 1st Jan 2015 for simplicity.

When I read "Completed in 2015" , I think they are aiming for mid-year and hope that if the schedule slips it can still be open before Christmas. With just over 5 years to hit a mid-2015 target, and with only 1/4 or 1/3 of the funding in place, this is quite and ambitious time-line (but still doable).

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by Hed Kandi

Like the great coin-operated profit Zoltar, I will predict the future. The following events will happen more or less in the following order:

1) The new art gallery design will be unveiled in the coming months.

2) There will be no international competition held. The City of Vancouver however will announce that a paltry local firm has 'won' the contract to design the new art gallery. The city will then boast that this building will be the 'Greenest Art Gallery in the World' and will be certified Lead Platinum. It will incorporate more pine beetle tree wood, as to where I do not know.

3) The design will be insipid and safe. The architects who believe themselves to be progressive will throw in a last minute splash red or yellow paneling to the building, believing it to be both 'bold and ingenious' and 'exactly what Vancouver needs to break up the monotonous green/blue glass'. Little do they remember that they were responsible for designing those buildings.

4)After seeing the design for the first time, I will stumble on here, feeling very nauseous and I will then compose a diatribe on this utterly worthless piece of so-called architecture. I do hope that DLeung and other cynics join along in the fun.

5)Jlo and Leftcoaster will then seek to reprimand me and enforce the notion that this architecture is sensible and reasonable for Vancouver. They will also make their monthly recommendation that I book a one way flight to Dubai - and perhaps I just may.

6)Our pinhead premier will give one of his usual speeches about the legacy that this building will create, though I'm not sure it's one we will want to remember. The media will approach the project with caution, criticism, and slight praise. And of course they will raise the ever controversial 'Vancouver Issue' about how funds would be far better spent on social programs, housing, and the all the children in Africa, etc

7) It will continue to piss rain for months and years on end.

8) The design will come of fruition and it will win zero international design awards. When tourists visit Vancouver, they will continue to comment on its remarkable beauty. The mountains, the sea, Stanley Park. But never will they mention the architecture.

9) Finally, I will gaze upon this monstrosity with my own eyes, await with anxious hope that one day great design may be bestowed upon this city.

... Ain't it the truth!! Quintessential "Vancouverism"!!

[Coral Builder]

Hed, are u OK dude? Maybe you should pop a happy pill and spin some more crazy tunes! (That post had me weak in the knees brother!)

[jsbertram]

Originally Posted by Hed Kandi

http://www.trailergasm.com/aboutus/



Like the great coin-operated profit Zoltar, I will predict the future. The following events will happen more or less in the following order:



1) The new art gallery design will be unveiled in the coming months.

2) There will be no international competition held. The City of Vancouver however will announce that a paltry local firm has 'won' the contract to design the new art gallery. The city will then boast that this building will be the 'Greenest Art Gallery in the World' and will be certified Lead Platinum. It will incorporate more 'pine beetle wood'.

3) The design will be insipid and safe. The architects who believe themselves to be progressive will throw in a last minute splash of red or yellow paneling to the building, believing it to be both 'bold and ingenious' and 'exactly what Vancouver needs to break up the monotonous green/blue glass'. Little do they remember that they were responsible for designing those buildings.

4)After seeing the design for the first time, I will stumble on here feeling very nauseous. I will then compose a diatribe on this utterly worthless piece of so-called architecture. I do anticipate that DLeung and other cynics will join along in the rant.

5)Jlo and Leftcoaster will then seek to reprimand me and enforce the notion that this architecture is sensible and reasonable for Vancouver. They will also make their monthly recommendation that I book a one way flight to Dubai - and perhaps I just may.

6)Our pinhead premier will give one of his usual speeches about the legacy that this building will create, though I'm not sure it will be one that we will want to remember. The media will approach the project with caution, criticism, and slight praise. And of course they will raise the ever controversial 'Vancouver Issue' about how funds would be far better spent on social programs, housing, and the all the children in Africa, etc

7) It will continue to piss rain for months and years on end.

8) The design will come of fruition and it will win zero international design awards. When tourists visit Vancouver they will continue to praise its remarkable beauty. The mountains, the sea, Stanley Park. But never will they mention its architecture.

9) Finally, I will gaze upon this monstrosity with my own eyes - and I will continue to await with anxious hope that one day great design may be bestowed upon this city.

10) The forecast will call for more rain.

3b: It will be compared to the nearby Queen E Theatre, Post Office, CBC bunker, Beatty Armoury, GM Place, BC Place, and VPL coliseum with complaints about how it clashes with the rest of the neighbourhood.

[Spork]

"Some critics argue the Robson Street gallery could simply be expanded underground. But Audain responded that the costs are too high and the gallery would have to close for two years."

Costs too high? If it costs less than $350 mill, I'd call it a bargain. Closed for two years! Oh no! What will we do with no central, non-profit art gallery! Arrogant twats.

[PROSTSHOCKER]

Don't forget that it'll incorporate a glass box protrusion on the side.

[mr.x]

Minimalistic, unimaginative...Vancouver. Disappointed once again.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by Stingray2004

There's the proverbial elephant in the room. In any event, I hope we still get our mini-Louvre.

So in other words the taxpayer is on the hook for $310 out of $350 million for Bartels' and Audian's ego project? At a time when we're closing schools and laying off teachers.

If those two want a vanity project with no office building component to "spoil" their dream, let them go and fundraise all the money privately, as they would have to do in the USA.

[wrenegade]

Originally Posted by trofirhen

That would be my choice. A Museum of Indian Art in a neo-classical style building would be a conundrum.

Anyway, a gallery of Native Indian Art merits its own building, where the light and building style will better reflect the mood and feeling of that style of art.

Ya, maybe a would renowned architect could design it like a traditional native structure, like a haidi longhouse or something, but adapt it for today's world by using a modern material, like concrete or something. Oh wait, that already happened.

Turning this building into a native museum is the dumbest idea ever. There is already a great museum in a fantastic building out at UBC. I believe it's been said before, but I'll say it again, National Portrait Gallery.

[invisibleairwaves]

Originally Posted by whatnext

So in other words the taxpayer is on the hook for $310 out of $350 million for Bartels' and Audian's ego project? At a time when we're closing schools and laying off teachers.

If those two want a vanity project with no office building component to "spoil" their dream, let them go and fundraise all the money privately, as they would have to do in the USA.

THIS.

I'd love to see this happen, but I don't want to see this much taxpayer money going towards it. We have bigger fish to fry. I understand the importance of art in society, but there's also the importance of education, healthcare, and infrastructure. We really have to get our priorities straight here.

[Yume-sama]

It's OK. Just call it an Olympic expense. They do it for everything else...

[jlousa]

Originally Posted by Hed Kandi

Like the great coin-operated profit Zoltar, I will predict the future. The following events will happen more or less in the following order:

1) The new art gallery design will be unveiled in the coming months.

2) There will be no international competition held. The City of Vancouver however will announce that a paltry local firm has 'won' the contract to design the new art gallery. The city will then boast that this building will be the 'Greenest Art Gallery in the World' and will be certified Lead Platinum. It will incorporate more 'pine beetle wood'.

3) The design will be insipid and safe. The architects who believe themselves to be progressive will throw in a last minute splash of red or yellow paneling to the building, believing it to be both 'bold and ingenious' and 'exactly what Vancouver needs to break up the monotonous green/blue glass'. Little do they remember that they were responsible for designing those buildings.

4)After seeing the design for the first time, I will stumble on here feeling very nauseous. I will then compose a diatribe on this utterly worthless piece of so-called architecture. I do anticipate that DLeung and other cynics will join along in the rant.

5)Jlo and Leftcoaster will then seek to reprimand me and enforce the notion that this architecture is sensible and reasonable for Vancouver. They will also make their monthly recommendation that I book a one way flight to Dubai - and perhaps I just may.

6)Our pinhead premier will give one of his usual speeches about the legacy that this building will create, though I'm not sure it will be one that we will want to remember. The media will approach the project with caution, criticism, and slight praise. And of course they will raise the ever controversial 'Vancouver Issue' about how funds would be far better spent on social programs, housing, and the all the children in Africa, etc

7) It will continue to piss rain for months and years on end.

8) The design will come of fruition and it will win zero international design awards. When tourists visit Vancouver they will continue to praise its remarkable beauty. The mountains, the sea, Stanley Park. But never will they mention its architecture.

9) Finally, I will gaze upon this monstrosity with my own eyes - and I will continue to await with anxious hope that one day great design may be bestowed upon this city.

1) Probably not till early next year at the earliest.
2) The COV won't announce anything as it's not their project and they don't run the VAG. There will be an international contest held, but I wouldn't be surprised if a local or Canadian firm wins anyways as they are among the best in the world.
3)The design will be functionalist, elegant, appropriate and not ketchy.
4) Tums will take care of the nausea.
5) I will offer to pay for your beers on the flight to Dubai.
6) The Premiers speech will be toped by that of the mayors.
7) I have an extra umbrella if you need one.
8) Yes we know no building in Vancouver has ever won international acclaim and that our architecture isn't studied and copied by cities across the planet.
9) You will probably be consistently disappointed by anything built in this city but Vegas is only a short flight away.

[EastVanMark]

Originally Posted by trofirhen

... Ain't it the truth!! Quintessential "Vancouverism"!!

X3

just waiting for the pine beetle wood/ protruding box/"living" roof ode to boring that is sure to come.

sensible and reasonable architecture aka Boring architecture.

Maybe they can use the same architects who drew up the "stunning" new casino (if you can even call that a casino).

[dleung]

Originally Posted by jlousa

3)The design will be functionalist, elegant, appropriate and not ketchy.

How do you know that? I'll reserve judgement until something is proposed, but more often than not it goes exactly according to Hed's magic 8 ball. It can happen the other way, if they decide to go big/massively-overbudget like with the badass convention centre we all love. I hope for the latter despite being a taxpayer =)