Future Canadian Skylines

[caltrane74]

Originally Posted by isaidso

Agree. It's so sterile/featureless down there it puts you to sleep. BORING! Unfortunately, we'll likely have to wait decades to get these buildings re-clad with something charming/beautiful/enduring.

Glass is nice in moderation, but entire blocks of it end up looking cheap and temporary like a green house.

Red brick in Southcore would be kitsch. And I'm pretty sure you understand that.

[travis3000]

I'd like to see some of Toronto. That's the most drastic skyline change in Canada.

[caltrane74]

I'd give the edge to Calgary, Montreal or Vancouver. However, in the next 5 years, you'll likely not recognize Toronto.

[MTLskyline]

Originally Posted by caltrane74

Red brick in Southcore would be kitsch. And I'm pretty sure you understand that.

If it is a decent quality red brick, along with a decent design, I don't see what how it would be kitsch? It would add a little more depth and contrast to the area which would be positive. Individually none of the towers in southcore are ugly, but they need to contrast with something in order to stand out. They can't really contrast with each other.

I was always impressed by the podium of Market Wharf. Something like that might work well.

[Maldive]

Originally Posted by travis3000

I'd like to see some of Toronto. That's the most drastic skyline change in Canada.

There are plenty on page 78 of this thread, though largely ignored ;-) Maybe the "ignore" list is the culprit.

Caltrane... you can't be serious re: change. Montreal? Every once in a while you kiss some butt, presumably looking to mitigate perceived boosterism. Stick to your guns, you're not running for prime minister ;-)

[caltrane74]

Originally Posted by MTLskyline

If it is a decent quality red brick, along with a decent design, I don't see what how it would be kitsch? It would add a little more depth and contrast to the area which would be positive. Individually none of the towers in southcore are ugly, but they need to contrast with something in order to stand out. They can't really contrast with each other.

I was always impressed by the podium of Market Wharf. Something like that might work well.

You guys obviously don't believe in urban purity. You can't create what wasn't there, and this area "Southcore" has been built in the past 5 years. You'll never get anyone to believe it was an 18th century military outpost. It won't be the Distillery District, or St. Lawrence Market, or the Junction. It's highly modern, and adding brick would in my opinion turn the place into Disneyland, or Las Vegas. If you don't like glass, then remember that Southcore is also, lots of polished stone, and concrete, and yes if you like brick, "The Bremner Entertainment Boulevard" will likely be entirely redone in inter-locking brick as has been done at Air Canada Centre.

[caltrane74]

Originally Posted by Maldive

Caltrane... you can't be serious re: change. Montreal? Every once in a while you kiss some butt, presumably looking to mitigate perceived boosterism. Stick to your guns, you're not running for prime minister ;-)

lol! ok.

[isaidso]

Originally Posted by caltrane74

Red brick in Southcore would be kitsch. And I'm pretty sure you understand that.

Red brick is now considered kitcsch? Now I've heard everything. I'd take a mile of stone/brick/metal/wood than a mile of this vapid 'stand in' architecture any day. High rise green houses; that's what it looks like. Sorry, but I want to live in a city with real buildings, buildings with character, streets with colour and texture. Southcore has scale, but it's an aethetic only an accountant could love. If I stare at it too long I run the risk of slipping into a coma.

[yyzer]

tweeted by @buzzbuzzhome, there is a nifty infographic at the bottom right of this page, with a summary of current and future projects in the Yonge & Bloor neighbourhood...pretty intense changes coming to this area of T.O....

http://www.cwna.ca/building-development.html

[travis3000]

Originally Posted by MonkeyRonin

Render by Elliot on SCC, as seen in Spacing Magazine.

Stunning transformation! Can't believe the difference. Looks like a mega city.

[The_Architect]

It doesn't have to be either St. Lawrence red brick or blue glass... Any stone really would be a welcome change from the current monotony.

[Gresto]

^Definitely.

[MonkeyRonin]

Black brick and limestone would work wonderfully to create a bit of variance in material and colour down there, without taking away from any aesthetic cohesion.

[DrNest]

Originally Posted by MonkeyRonin

Black brick and limestone would work wonderfully to create a bit of variance in material and colour down there, without taking away from any aesthetic cohesion.

That is true.

[isaidso]

Originally Posted by caltrane74

You guys obviously don't believe in urban purity. You can't create what wasn't there, and this area "Southcore" has been built in the past 5 years. You'll never get anyone to believe it was an 18th century military outpost. It won't be the Distillery District, or St. Lawrence Market, or the Junction. It's highly modern, and adding brick would in my opinion turn the place into Disneyland, or Las Vegas. If you don't like glass, then remember that Southcore is also, lots of polished stone, and concrete, and yes if you like brick, "The Bremner Entertainment Boulevard" will likely be entirely redone in inter-locking brick as has been done at Air Canada Centre.

What on earth does 'urban purity' mean? First you say brick is kitsch which makes no sense, and now this which makes even less sense. Do you mean homogeneity? If that's what you mean, few people would.

The best urban areas are rich in life, noises, smells, colour, texture, uses, and architecture. Having 3-4 blocks of sameness takes away from the vibrancy of a neighbourhood especially if that sameness is something as vapid as glass. If it was all stone it wouldn't be optimal either, but at least that material has weight, texture, colour. Glass has nothing. You couldn't get anything more cold and sterile.

No one is suggesting that Southcore look 18th century. We're informing you that new and modern does not mean glass. There are lots of materials used in sleek modern buildings, glass is just 1 of many materials.

Adding brick would make it look like Disneyland? So the podium of Market Wharf looks like Disneyland to you? Polished stone? Sorry, but I can't think of one building down there covered in polished stone.

Telus: glass
PWC: glass
Maple Leaf Square North: glass
Maple Leaf Square South: glass
ICE I: glass
ICE II: glass
Bremner tower: glass
Delta hotel: glass
16 York: glass
Ten York: glass
RBC Centre: glass
90 Harbour: glass
Infinity: precast and glass

The only one that's not all glass is Infinity and it was a piece of shit to begin with. Are you really going to argue that there's diversity in materials down there when every last building is glass except for Infinity? Talking about pavement or a small patch of wall on the arena to make your case? Really? Where are the non-glass buildings?

If you like all glass fine, but don't argue that there's a rich diversity of architecture and materials down there because there isn't.

[Chadillaccc]

Holy moly! But agreed!

[isaidso]

Sorry, had to vent.

[caltrane74]

Originally Posted by isaidso

Sorry, had to vent.

You have a right to your opinion. I have a right to mine.

It's all good.

[Innsertnamehere]

doesn't MLS use highly polished stone in its base? I think the Delta poduim will be stone as well.

[caltrane74]

Yes it does!


Also, the Air Canada Centre maintained its historic stone facade and Bremner Blvd is being redone in interlocking brick.

Hardly Sterile, but that's my opinion.