Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre | Completed

[SpongeG]

i think there was complaints by the area condo dwellers and thats prompted the move? i don't know if there will be any less noise its not moving that far

[Waders]

I also think the new seaplane terminal location is a bad decision.
Don't know why it has to move as the current location is fine.
It just doesn't fit with a convention centre. Noise pollution may become a bigger issue for people attending conferences inside the centre. The seaplane engine is very noisy when it takes off and lands.
IMO the best terminal location would be at the east side of Canada Place. That is the transport hub for skytrain, seabus, cruise ship terminal and helicopter landing site. Passangers would have a much shorter walking distance to get to the terminal.

[Windex]

Although I do question the logic of not placing it nearer/attached to the transportation hub that is Waterfront Station, the hate that this is getting based on aesthetics alone is kind of surprising.

[SpongeG]

i love that expanse of glass at the end of the plaza - don't you?

even my parents were amazed by it

now put a structure behind it and you lose the effect of it

[Pinion]

I have no strong feelings about the asthetics but as someone who lives directly across the inlet from this I am concerned about seaplane noise. It already seems to be increasing exponentially - I never remember hearing 3+ planes flying right over my condo every day, now it's always that way.

Definitely would never buy anything close to it on that side of the inlet.

[jlousa]

I'd prefer to see the seaplane terminal on the east of Canada Place as well. But it isn't in the cards. The current proposal isn't bad though it will not bevisible from inside the conference rooms nor audible and it will bring a lot of foot traffic towhat is currently a pretty dead area for most of the year. Which will ensure the retail is viable.

[SFUVancouver]

I think that people are forgetting that the seaplane terminal was always part of the site planning for the Convention Centre and the access tower from the plaza and seawall levels will not be in front of the ballroom's windows. Plus the access tower is using the same materials and design as the rest of the convention centre and it will look no more out of place than the elevator and stair tower that connects the top of the restaurant green roof to the plaza level.

Furthermore, the buildings for the seaplane terminal are gorgeous with very modern marine-aviation aesthetics. The terminal's buildings share a common pallet of architectural-grade galvanized steel, high-end glazing, and lighting schemes reminiscent of marine lanterns. The main terminal is understandably the standout and it features angular features that are in conversation with the Convention Centre without resorting to mimicry and its main architectural move is a series of angled strips of mullion-free glazing that cross the roof as a skylight and then turn down the side of the building that faces the Convention Centre as windows. The planned floating restaurant at the end of the pier will be on the Lift Bistro end of the architectural spectrum, as opposed to the McBarge floating trailer park, and to the best of my knowledge Harbour Navigation is planning to move the embarkation point for their harbour cruises to the westernmost seaplane terminal pier.

Others have already touched on the visual interest offered by the seaplane terminal and I want to reiterate this in my own words; the seaplanes are a unique part of the Burrard Inlet waterfront, they were here first, and I believe they add a welcome additional dimension of interest for the harbour and the city's waterfront. To me the seaplanes are every bit as integral and iconic to our city's waterfronts as the Aquabuses in False Creek and the cargo ships at anchor in English Bay.

[Prometheus]

Originally Posted by SFUVancouver

[T]he seaplanes are a unique part of the Burrard Inlet waterfront, they were here first, and I believe they add a welcome additional dimension of interest for the harbour and the city's waterfront. To me the seaplanes are every bit as integral and iconic to our city's waterfronts as the Aquabuses in False Creek and the cargo ships at anchor in English Bay.

The issue, for me, is not the seaplanes, which are an essential part of the energy, dynamism and beauty of Coal Harbour. Nor is the issue really the new seaplane terminal, which looks fairly elegant, uniform, and will be placed to the side of the VCC's grand windows. The issue is the planned marina. Plunking down a hodge-podge of private boats right in front of the VCC's architectural centrepiece--a sea of glass overlooking a glass sea, that magical point of fusion between the natural and the man-made--will fundamentally tarnish the beauty and coherence of a serious work of architecture and our experience of it, from within and without.

The effect of the planned marina on the integrity of the VCC will be similar to that of parking cars in Jack Poole Plaza.

[vanman]

Originally Posted by mr.x

First of all, I'm quite sure the additional boat marina right next to this proposed float plane terminal and slapped right in front of the convention centre furthers the "resort" mentality even more.

There's nothing wrong with having a seaplane terminal in the area, I'm not opposed to that (if you read my post properly you would've known this), just don't build it in front of the convention centre - build the permanent plane terminal where it is now. The float plane terminal and future boat marina completely ruin the concept of the convention centre at its dramatic waterfront location, it takes away from the architectural statement the centre makes around its surroundings. And would you put a marine in front and around the Sydney Opera House? What about the Hong Kong Convention Centre?

http://www.mytravelimages.com/austra...ia_sydney.html

http://www.allaboutsourcing.de/de/tag/hongkong/


Excruciatingly poor taste in this city and from its people. Bloody hell.


Secondly, NBC never suggested to have the sulphur piles moved. It was a one liner question by NBC, "does that [pile] have to be there?" in which local officials said "yes" and that was the end of it. You're making a big deal out of nothing. And so what if they asked? It's up to us to say "no".

I think you are the one making a big deal out of nothing here. I agree the floatplane terminal would be better suited for the east side of Canada Place, but since that is not going to happen, it should be as close to Waterfront station as possible, even if that means in front of the convention center. Coal Harbour is not just something pretty to look at, it is a working harbour and should remain as such.

The Sydney Opera house and Hong Kong Convention Centers are more like isolated sculptures rather than functional buildings. Although they are iconic from afar, they turn their back on the public realm and ignore the pedestrian. The Vancouver Convention Center actually interacts and integrates into its surroundings, and the new float plane terminal will only add to this.

And is Canada Place any less iconic because of the cruise ships that regularly dock beside it? I'm sure if you asked the average tourist they would say the exact opposite.

[ozonemania]

Originally Posted by vanman

I think you are the one making a big deal out of nothing here. I agree the floatplane terminal would be better suited for the east side of Canada Place, but since that is not going to happen, it should be as close to Waterfront station as possible, even if that means in front of the convention center. Coal Harbour is not just something pretty to look at, it is a working harbour and should remain as such.

The Sydney Opera house and Hong Kong Convention Centers are more like isolated sculptures rather than functional buildings. Although they are iconic from afar, they turn their back on the public realm and ignore the pedestrian. The Vancouver Convention Center actually interacts and integrates into its surroundings, and the new float plane terminal will only add to this.

And is Canada Place any less iconic because of the cruise ships that regularly dock beside it? I'm sure if you asked the average tourist they would say the exact opposite.

These Sydney and HK structures ARE very functional buildings, but just for the people going inside. They are very inward facing buildings. I remember being struck while visiting the HKCC, that for a building with so much glass, how little it took advantage of it. No outward facing spaces, and lots of escaltors that descended into spaces underground. And as vanman has said, there is relatively little considration to life outside it.

I can understand the viewpoints such as Mr.X has brought up. These building sculptures, if indeed they are sculptures, should almost be admired in isolation. Sydney's and HK's look great as postcard shots. And perhaps that is what the debate is here, whether the VCC West is iconic enough to be a postcard building. And if it is, should things like float plane airports and marinas clutter it up?

That part is debateable, but that this part of Coal Harbour should be a hub of human activity, that should be a no brainer. And undoubtedly amenities like the terminal and marina enhance that.

[DKaz]

What marina? And how exactly is the plaza being ruined?

[wrenegade]

I'm all for both the seaplane terminal and the marina. You'll hardly be able to either from the convention centre itself or the plaza. Only once you're on the seawall and peer over will you really be able to see them, it's quite a ways down there. However I also don't think the convention centre is a particularly good looking building from that angle though, so I am all for something at the water level to break up the monolithic appearance.

[Prometheus]

Originally Posted by DKaz

What marina?

Scroll down the entire length of the following page to see a number of different renders of the marina: http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...138016&page=64

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by DKaz

What marina? And how exactly is the plaza being ruined?

that elevator shaft ruins the panoramic view from the plaza its like "ahhh d'oh ahhh"

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by vanman

I think you are the one making a big deal out of nothing here. I agree the floatplane terminal would be better suited for the east side of Canada Place, but since that is not going to happen, it should be as close to Waterfront station as possible, even if that means in front of the convention center. Coal Harbour is not just something pretty to look at, it is a working harbour and should remain as such.

The Sydney Opera house and Hong Kong Convention Centers are more like isolated sculptures rather than functional buildings. Although they are iconic from afar, they turn their back on the public realm and ignore the pedestrian. The Vancouver Convention Center actually interacts and integrates into its surroundings, and the new float plane terminal will only add to this.

And is Canada Place any less iconic because of the cruise ships that regularly dock beside it? I'm sure if you asked the average tourist they would say the exact opposite.

I highly doubt having the float plane terminal 80-metres further to the west is going to be a major hindrance to the people that use the service, whereas having it 80-metres east right in front of the convention centre destroys the concept of the billion dollar structure.

The Sydney Opera House and HKCC aren't functional buildings? Right...come to think of it, all this city (Vancouver) really cares about is what's purely functional. Screw quality and iconic architectural design! But now that we do have one, the convention centre, we've foolishly decided to clutter it up because it's "functional". I also don't to see how much more additional pedestrian activity a boat marina can bring, it's not significant.

Canada Place cruise ships...you've gotta be kidding right? Apples and oranges.



And to the others here, this isn't an argument about not having the sea planes around it's about where the terminal should be located. You've completely missed the point SFU. There's no denying that Coal Harbour is a working harbour. I'm certainly not excited over the prospect of floating restaurant right in front of the convention centre either. It's totally the wrong place for it. And if a marina were to be plopped right in front of Science World, I would be just as opposed and appalled.


What a complete farce:
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...138016&page=64

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by Prometheus

The issue, for me, is not the seaplanes, which are an essential part of the energy, dynamism and beauty of Coal Harbour. Nor is the issue the new seaplane terminal, which looks elegant, uniform, and will be placed tastefully to the side of the VCC's grand windows. The issue is the planned marina. Plunking down a hodge-podge of private boats right in front of the VCC's architectural centrepiece--a sea of glass which intersects with the glass sea, creating a magical point of fusion between the natural and the man-made--will fundamentally tarnish the beauty and coherence of a serious work of architecture and our experience of it, from within and without.

The effect of the planned marina on the integrity of the VCC will be similar to that of parking cars in Jack Poole Plaza.

Exactly, this isn't a debate about not having sea planes at all. I don't know how one could come to that conclusion.

Good to see that someone can see the same thing I'm seeing. The boat marine is particularly awful, though I have also argued that the float plane terminal will do the same though to a slightly lesser extent than the off-place boat marina. It kills the harmony of the convention centre design.

I've lost much faith in this city, what haven't we done half-assed lately?

[delboy]

Originally Posted by mr.x

Exactly, this isn't a debate about not having sea planes at all. I don't know how one could come to that conclusion.

Good to see that someone can see the same thing I'm seeing. The boat marine is particularly awful, though I have also argued that the float plane terminal will do the same though to a slightly lesser extent than the off-place boat marina. It kills the harmony of the convention centre design.

I've lost much faith in this city, what haven't we done half-assed lately?

Oh give it arest. As nice as it is, the convention centre is hardly iconic. its barely even noticable from ariel shots and looks more like a soccer pitch. Canada place is way more iconic and can easily be identified with vancouver

I think the renderings look great and coal harbour needs something to break up the god-awful sterile nature of the area. Over priced condos, beyond most peoples reach, are to be blamed for vancouver's steady march to resort only town, not a few boats.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by delboy

I think the renderings look great and coal harbour needs something to break up the god-awful sterile nature of the area. Over priced condos, beyond most peoples reach, are to be blamed for vancouver's steady march to resort only town, not a few boats.

LOL and who can afford these boats exactly?

For the record, I don't like the marina in front of the CC either. I'll take the float planes though.

[flight_from_kamakura]

thanks for those renderings, mr x. i'm with you: the yacht marina looks completely ludicrous, it's just irritating that planning would okay that and the float plane terminal. push it off.

[Phil McAvity]

Originally Posted by mr.x

I've lost much faith in this city, what haven't we done half-assed lately?

Ummm, Expo86, Canada Place, The Science Center, Skytrain, the Cruise Ship Terminal, GM Place, the Convention Centre, The Winter Olympics, the Shangri-La hotel, the Canada Line, the Olympic Village, BC Place.....do you want me to keep going? If you want half-assed you need to come to Victoria. "Half-assed" should be our city's logo.

I don't know if this is the right location for the seaplanes or not but I do think the idea of a floating airport is pretty cool.