The Great Canadian Skyline Thread! II

[davidivivid]

Originally Posted by someone123

I would also say that there's a lot more to heritage buildings than the total overall count. Age, architectural uniqueness, and historical importance count. Toronto has more pre-war buildings than Quebec City for example but I think Quebec City's heritage buildings are more interesting. Quebec City's also a much more storied place.

I believe it will come as a surprise to no one that I wholeheartedly agree with your point of view!!

[Chadillaccc]

Absolutely, not to mention it's one of the only cities in North America that still has its ancient defensive ramparts intact. Pretty sure it's the only city in North America that has old enough structures for some of them to be considered ancient. What a cool place!

[roccerfeller]

Originally Posted by someone123

Toronto doesn't really have a historic district like the Exchange though, and actually there aren't many buildings in Toronto that are comparable to the terra-cotta-clad early 20th century office buildings in Winnipeg.

I would also say that there's a lot more to heritage buildings than the total overall count. Age, architectural uniqueness, and historical importance count. Toronto has more pre-war buildings than Quebec City for example but I think Quebec City's heritage buildings are more interesting. Quebec City's also a much more storied place.

My thoughts exactly

[Shinook]

Originally Posted by Andrewjm3D

I don't recall saying the Peg had a lack luster amount of old buildings however if you want to compare it to Toronto's old stock it can't. The exchange district is nice but small, the Garment District alone has more heritage structures. Ad in the rest of the core, the Entertainment district, Corktown, York, the Annex and more you can't compete. Yes movies were filmed there but it had as much to do with the architecture as it did to do with the cheaper production costs. I know I work in the industry. You say most of your building date back to the 1800's, even QC can't claim that, that would mean the city didn't grow and no new buildings were needed. It's like claiming you have the most festivals, most trees, or your Chicago of the North. Only you think so, Vancouver has the most trees, Montreal and Toronto hold the most festivals, and people from Chicago would feel out of place at Portage and Main.

You can be city proud, just don't say stuff that is easily dis-proven. Your city needs better branding. Even Torontonians know that calling our town New York run by the Swiss is BS.

Thank you for this fairly condescending viewpoint out of the Centre of the Universe. Much appreciated.

[kw5150]

Originally Posted by Andrewjm3D

I've never seen a picture with so many people here, it really shows how large those sculptures are. I can't help but think the artist is a fan of Calatrava.

I work on this street and it is busy every day and most evenings. During stampede it is extra busy. Such a blessing to have a pedestrian only street right smack downtown, with an LRT corridor next to it. The parade is also raging on 9th ave which is one block south of stephen. Lots of fun down here today.

[kw5150]

Originally Posted by Andrewjm3D

I don't recall saying the Peg had a lack luster amount of old buildings however if you want to compare it to Toronto's old stock it can't. The exchange district is nice but small, the Garment District alone has more heritage structures. Ad in the rest of the core, the Entertainment district, Corktown, York, the Annex and more you can't compete. Yes movies were filmed there but it had as much to do with the architecture as it did to do with the cheaper production costs. I know I work in the industry. You say most of your building date back to the 1800's, even QC can't claim that, that would mean the city didn't grow and no new buildings were needed. It's like claiming you have the most festivals, most trees, or your Chicago of the North. Only you think so, Vancouver has the most trees, Montreal and Toronto hold the most festivals, and people from Chicago would feel out of place at Portage and Main.

You can be city proud, just don't say stuff that is easily dis-proven. Your city needs better branding. Even Torontonians know that calling our town New York run by the Swiss is BS.

Anywho......One of the best parts of the exchange area(s) is that all of the street are on different angles so you get some really great views of all the buildings as you approach. Many other cities have their buidlings on a grid system which makes them not as visible. Winnipeg is a great place to go get lost in, lots to discover. It is actually a very distinctive place and you have to live there to appreciate it. And the food!!!

Any BY THE WAY......Winnipeg does have the largest stock of healthy elm trees in Canada. It is actually quite amazing.....and the festivals are great. They are known to shut streets down and open patios all over the streets. The faculty of Architecture is also one of the best in Canada.

[isaidso]

Originally Posted by someone123

Toronto doesn't really have a historic district like the Exchange though, and actually there aren't many buildings in Toronto that are comparable to the terra-cotta-clad early 20th century office buildings in Winnipeg.

I would also say that there's a lot more to heritage buildings than the total overall count. Age, architectural uniqueness, and historical importance count. Toronto has more pre-war buildings than Quebec City for example but I think Quebec City's heritage buildings are more interesting. Quebec City's also a much more storied place.

Agree. Winnipeg obviously has less historical building stock than a city like Toronto, but their stock is of a high quality, quite opulent, and very interesting. I was very impressed and surprised when I visited. The Exchange District is a better historical neighbourhood than anything in Toronto. St. Lawrence or King West comes close, but the Exchange buildings are taller, grander, and more exquisite.

Winnipeg arguably has the most magnificent provincial legislature in the country. I'm not saying that Toronto's old buildings are crap, but Winnipeg can hold its own in this department despite being many many times smaller than Toronto.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by isaidso

The Exchange District is a better historical neighbourhood than anything in Toronto. St. Lawrence or King West comes close, but the Exchange buildings are taller, grander, and more exquisite.

It's also pretty hard to directly compare heritage buildings when the styles and eras are totally different.

Toronto has lots of nice heritage buildings, but there's a lot of history and architectural diversity in Canada that you cannot find in Toronto. Sometimes Torontonians seem to assume that their city must have whatever other Canadian cities have, and in the process they fail to appreciate what the rest of the country has to offer. This is definitely true when somebody says that Montreal was basically a small town before Toronto came along so its added history is unimportant.

[The_Architect]

Originally Posted by isaidso

Winnipeg arguably has the most magnificent provincial legislature in the country.

I give that crown to Victoria. The British Columbia parliament buildings look like a national capitol.

Originally Posted by someone123

Sometimes Torontonians seem to assume that their city must have whatever other Canadian cities have, and in the process they fail to appreciate what the rest of the country has to offer. This is definitely true when somebody says that Montreal was basically a small town before Toronto came along so its added history is unimportant.

I don't know if I could find one person who thinks this.

[Gerrard]

Well for someone123, facts about population apparently = ignorance especially when they're offered up by someone from Toronto.

[flar]

Toronto: http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=200322

[Andrewjm3D]

Originally Posted by Shinook

Thank you for this fairly condescending viewpoint out of the Centre of the Universe. Much appreciated.

You're welcome, it was in response to an off topic condescending remark about Toronto. So touche. As per usual on this forum it's ok to bash Toronto but nothing negative can be said about any other city.

All the other kids are doing it so join in the fun.

[Andrewjm3D]

Originally Posted by someone123

It's also pretty hard to directly compare heritage buildings when the styles and eras are totally different.

Toronto has lots of nice heritage buildings, but there's a lot of history and architectural diversity in Canada that you cannot find in Toronto. Sometimes Torontonians seem to assume that their city must have whatever other Canadian cities have, and in the process they fail to appreciate what the rest of the country has to offer. This is definitely true when somebody says that Montreal was basically a small town before Toronto came along so its added history is unimportant.

Nobody here thinks that, we do have more stock then most cities though, Montreal and QC excluded of coarse. Sometime Canadians seem to assume that Toronto has torn down all of it's historical structures which couldn't be further from the truth. Those pictures I posted were only just a taste of what the city has. In fact I don't mind going out and snapping off a few shots of areas that overlooked by many people here who think we don't have Exchange District areas.

[Andrewjm3D]

Originally Posted by kw5150

Anywho......One of the best parts of the exchange area(s) is that all of the street are on different angles so you get some really great views of all the buildings as you approach. Many other cities have their buidlings on a grid system which makes them not as visible. Winnipeg is a great place to go get lost in, lots to discover. It is actually a very distinctive place and you have to live there to appreciate it. And the food!!!

Any BY THE WAY......Winnipeg does have the largest stock of healthy elm trees in Canada. It is actually quite amazing.....and the festivals are great. They are known to shut streets down and open patios all over the streets. The faculty of Architecture is also one of the best in Canada.

That I can agree with, the odd angles make the area feel so much larger and you can feel like you've stepped back in time because from certain angles you can't see any modern structures.

Winnipeg may have the most Elm trees but that doesn't mean it can proclaim Forest City. Almost all Canadian cities have trees.

[caltrane74]

Toronto was not a really rich city, until after the 1900's. This is why the stock of historic buildings we did have were not even that great. Most of our best "historic buildings" were probably built in the early 20th century during the intial take off of the Toronto economy.

By the way, those are some awesome photos of Toronto!!

[Andrewjm3D]

Toronto was an industrial which is why we have a huge stock of old warehouse style structures.

[caltrane74]

Yes, that's right, the Fashion District, and the Entertainment District, Distillary District, St. Lawerence Market, and the Financial District are proof of that. The problem with Toronto is that all these old structures are spread all over the place, and not concentrated in a couple city blocks like Winnipeg, so the impact is not the same unfortunatly. This is very True of the Financial District were all the old buildings got town down to make the mega bankers Towers on Bay and King.

[haljackey]

Originally Posted by flar

Not much of a suburb anymore...

[roccerfeller]

Originally Posted by Andrewjm3D

Nobody here thinks that, we do have more stock then most cities though, Montreal and QC excluded of coarse. Sometime Canadians seem to assume that Toronto has torn down all of it's historical structures which couldn't be further from the truth. Those pictures I posted were only just a taste of what the city has. In fact I don't mind going out and snapping off a few shots of areas that overlooked by many people here who think we don't have Exchange District areas.

Its not that Toronto doesn't have such areas. Its as someone123 & caltrane said:

Originally Posted by caltrane74

Yes, that's right, the Fashion District, and the Entertainment District, Distillary District, St. Lawerence Market, and the Financial District are proof of that. The problem with Toronto is that all these old structures are spread all over the place, and not concentrated in a couple city blocks like Winnipeg, so the impact is not the same unfortunatly. This is very True of the Financial District were all the old buildings got town down to make the mega bankers Towers on Bay and King.

Originally Posted by Andrewjm3D

That I can agree with, the odd angles make the area feel so much larger and you can feel like you've stepped back in time because from certain angles you can't see any modern structures.

Winnipeg may have the most Elm trees but that doesn't mean it can proclaim Forest City. Almost all Canadian cities have trees.

True. I can't think of a single city in Canada that is lacking in the green department. And I would tip my hat to Vancouver personally, I think the huge trees throughout the area are a spectacle. But very few trees other than American Elms can make a "canopy" like impact on streetscape and, aside from how rare and "valuable" (in a monetary sense - among the most expensive trees in North America) N.A. Elms are, the canopy sensation is the best thing about them.

When I think about any Canadian city in the summer time (implying Trees at the peak of their green bloom), I think of beauty...in that sense each city has beautiful trees and greenery. Calgary has some of the best sites with its hills, Edmonton has the amazing Valley, Victoria and Vancouver are spectacular in greenery, I love Regina and Saskatoon as well...both have amazing canopies too especially around downtown, and that's only the larger cities in Western Canada...when you go East it is just as impressive.

[Lenin]

Those are some nifty Toronto shots!

Oh, and as for the whole "Toronto / Winnipeg" debate, Winnipeg is clearly the greatest city in the history of cities, because I live there. It might slip to Second Best city in the world if I ever move away, but for now it is simply the best thing ever to happen to the universe. It's so breathtaking you need an oxygen mask just to take it all in, and it's so sexy it makes your mother look ugly.

Tell your friends!