Winnipeg Construction

[Mininari]

Why does the city of Winnipeg allow buildings (such as the one above) to be constructed right to the edge of the sidewalk? Why are there no setbacks mandated anywhere?

[cheswick]

Originally Posted by Mininari

Why does the city of Winnipeg allow buildings (such as the one above) to be constructed right to the edge of the sidewalk? Why are there no setbacks mandated anywhere?

BGBX? It's located in a predominantly comemrcial/industrial area. The main floor that opens onto wall street is intended to be commercial space.

Not sure what building further from the sidewalk would accomplish

[rrskylar]

^ Looks like they have spared no expense in the construction!

[drew]

^ the funny part is that that project has been "under construction" for at least a couple years now.

The exterior walls were built in pre-fab panels and have sat at out exposed to the elements for a few years now...

[Mininari]

Originally Posted by cheswick

Not sure what building further from the sidewalk would accomplish

This is actually something that I've noticed on many new winnipeg construction projects (UoW buildings on portage come to mind).

The buildings are constructed right up to the edge of the sidewalk, which creates a confining experience for pedestrian traffic. On one side, you've got a busy road, and on the other, you've got a (usually dirty) glass and concrete wall. For BGBX, People's front doors will be RIGHT BESIDE the sidewalk. To me, this doesn't seem very private for a residence. There's no steps, or gate or anything to separate the residence from the street. There's no separation for a little green space (lawn, bushes, flowers, anything). You end up with a street front that has no personality whatsoever, and looks very cold and uninviting. Call me an elitist or whatever, I don't care... I'm just comparing to the set-back standards throughout Vancouver, which I find much more pleasing to the eye, and to be a pedestrian in.

[Biff]

Originally Posted by Mininari

This is actually something that I've noticed on many new winnipeg construction projects (UoW buildings on portage come to mind).

The buildings are constructed right up to the edge of the sidewalk, which creates a confining experience for pedestrian traffic. On one side, you've got a busy road, and on the other, you've got a (usually dirty) glass and concrete wall. For BGBX, People's front doors will be RIGHT BESIDE the sidewalk. To me, this doesn't seem very private for a residence. There's no steps, or gate or anything to separate the residence from the street. There's no separation for a little green space (lawn, bushes, flowers, anything). You end up with a street front that has no personality whatsoever, and looks very cold and uninviting. Call me an elitist or whatever, I don't care... I'm just comparing to the set-back standards throughout Vancouver, which I find much more pleasing to the eye, and to be a pedestrian in.

All of their "separation for a little green space (lawn, bushes, flowers, anything)" will be on an interior courtyard, away from the noise and smell from a busy industrial street. Seems to me like it is a good design to give residents an quieter place to enjoy life other than a outdoor space with a parking lot facing the street.

[cheswick]

Originally Posted by Mininari

This is actually something that I've noticed on many new winnipeg construction projects (UoW buildings on portage come to mind).

The buildings are constructed right up to the edge of the sidewalk, which creates a confining experience for pedestrian traffic. On one side, you've got a busy road, and on the other, you've got a (usually dirty) glass and concrete wall. For BGBX, People's front doors will be RIGHT BESIDE the sidewalk. To me, this doesn't seem very private for a residence. There's no steps, or gate or anything to separate the residence from the street. There's no separation for a little green space (lawn, bushes, flowers, anything). You end up with a street front that has no personality whatsoever, and looks very cold and uninviting. Call me an elitist or whatever, I don't care... I'm just comparing to the set-back standards throughout Vancouver, which I find much more pleasing to the eye, and to be a pedestrian in.

That's actually incorrect. The condo units will all have their entryways from the courtyard.

The entrances facing St. Matthews or Wall street are to the flex spaces which are supposed to be commercial space.

The whole idea behind the concept was to have the cold exterior of a big box but within is the lush courtyard.

From 5468796:
"BGBX takes on an industrial big box typology as its prefatory metaphor, transforming a vacant lot at the intersection of Wall Street and St. Matthews Avenue into a 24-unit housing development for Winnipeg’s West End. The project incorporates six separate blocks with alternating two and three storey residential loft units and small scale commercial flex spaces at grade. The project begins as a white corrugated metal box, a blank slate which is then strategically sliced at six points to reveal unexpected glimpses of lush, green foliage at the block's centre. The landscaped courtyard cuts away at the box from the inside out to create a dynamic, multi-facetted courtyard facade.

The design seeks innovation at all levels, including its building systems. Hollowcore concrete slabs are used as air plenums, eliminating the need for ductwork. Abundant vegetation in the courtyard acts as lungs for the entire block, providing fresh air for residents. Gray water cisterns collect run-off from the roofs while permeable surfacing and bioswales in the courtyard filter runoff water into the soil."

[Mininari]

Okay, fair enough. The courtyard IS nice enough, but I still dislike how tightly the building is wedged against the street and sidewalk.
Its definitely a good project for the area.

[cheswick]

$43-million facility to be built at Misericordia Health Centre
By: Staff Writer



The province will announce this morning that construction is to begin immediately on a $43-million project at the Misericordia Health Centre.

A new two-storey facility is being built to house an eye-care centre, a diagnostic centre and a program to care for the elderly.


http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/43-milllion-facility-to-be-built-at--121253969.html

[Donovanf]

New Wpg Airport Terminal To Open October 30th
CJOB News Team reporting
5/4/2011


Winnipeg Airport Authority President and CEO Barry Rempel just announced the airport's new terminal will open Oct 30th. Construction of a new hotel at the airport started yesterday. The announcement was made at the Airport Authority's annual general meeting Wednesday.

http://www.cjob.com/News/Local/Story.aspx?ID=1412585

[flatlander]

Originally Posted by drew

^ the funny part is that that project has been "under construction" for at least a couple years now.

The exterior walls were built in pre-fab panels and have sat at out exposed to the elements for a few years now...

I think they changed contractors at one point?

I like the design. And generally I prefer zero setbacks, although i guess it depends on the context. Maybe a few feet for extra landscaping would be nice. But unfortunately, setbacks in Winnipeg are often used for parking ...

Is the same architect doing the new hotel at the airport?

[rgalston]

Originally Posted by Mininari

This is actually something that I've noticed on many new winnipeg construction projects (UoW buildings on portage come to mind).

The buildings are constructed right up to the edge of the sidewalk, which creates a confining experience for pedestrian traffic. On one side, you've got a busy road, and on the other, you've got a (usually dirty) glass and concrete wall. For BGBX, People's front doors will be RIGHT BESIDE the sidewalk. To me, this doesn't seem very private for a residence. There's no steps, or gate or anything to separate the residence from the street. There's no separation for a little green space (lawn, bushes, flowers, anything). You end up with a street front that has no personality whatsoever, and looks very cold and uninviting. Call me an elitist or whatever, I don't care... I'm just comparing to the set-back standards throughout Vancouver, which I find much more pleasing to the eye, and to be a pedestrian in.

I think your criticism is a little misplaced. In any great neighborhood in the centre of a North American (and certainly in every great city and town in Europe), there are few setbacks--and they are usually minimal (ie, to allow room for stairs to the front door). They are anything but cold and uninviting.

The difference between no setbacks in Europe (or the Exchange District) and no setbacks on many of the new buildings going up in central Winnipeg today is the texture and interface of the buildings at sidewalk level. Is it scaled appropriately? Are there doors or windows? Is it interesting? Does someone bother to clean it once in a while (a foreign concept in Winnipeg, I know)?

Another difference, as you pointed out, is heavy and usually relatively rapid vehicle traffic. Setbacks or no, who wants to walk down Wall Street, or Portage Avenue west of Memorial? Not if I don't have to...

[Joshy]

Originally Posted by techfreak

BGBX Condominium

Sorry, where is this located again?

[1ajs]

wall and st mathews on that masive lot
http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8...yTch1LDXUfXEJ-JAw&cbp=12,144.75,,0,-5.46

[1ajs]

barber house


eagle wing early childhood center atached to the rear of barber house

[BubberMiley]

Is that yellow vinyl?

[kenny]

Originally Posted by flatlander

I think they changed contractors at one point?

I like the design. And generally I prefer zero setbacks, although i guess it depends on the context. Maybe a few feet for extra landscaping would be nice. But unfortunately, setbacks in Winnipeg are often used for parking ...

Is the same architect doing the new hotel at the airport?

I believe Thomas Design Builders are now responsible for the new airport hotel. Don't know who they hired as their 'architect' - Ray Wan maybe?

check out their previous track record on hotels.

As for BGBX, they may look like glass garden doors on the street side, but they're being used as large operable windows. All those 'doors' will be screened with perforated metal that will let through plenty of light and provide tonnes of natural ventilation, but will protect anyone from falling from the upper levels.

The doors to the 'flex spaces' are in the 'recessed' areas on the street side. All residential suites enter from the courtyard [as mentioned here by others].
Unless the entire Wall St. / Erin St. light industrial area were to be leveled and new infill housing put in it's place we won't be seeing a lot of pedestrian traffic near this building. It's going to be semi-industrial for quite a long time.

[trueviking]

^ oh man that is a ray wan special if ever i have seen one.....is it a car dealership, a research centre for a pharmasutecal company in smart park, a main street office for a non profit organization or a 4 star airport hotel....i cant tell.

seriously get another trick....the wing wall era ended with the final showing of pulp fiction.

how is he getting so much work....

i wonder what happened to the — 54321 design.

[h0twired]

Originally Posted by trueviking

^ oh man that is a ray wan special if ever i have seen one.....is it a car dealership, a research centre for a pharmasutecal company in smart park, a main street office for a non profit organization or a 4 star airport hotel....i cant tell.

seriously get another trick....the wing wall era ended with the final showing of pulp fiction.

how is he getting so much work....

i wonder what happened to the — 54321 design.

If Ray Wan designed cars...

[Biff]

Ray Wan Design
[/QUOTE]

546..... old design