Poppy Plaza

[H.E.Pennypacker]

I've always felt that the whole riverbank area by the Renfrew dealership could be redeveloped nicely into a boardwalk type area with commercial/office space... A pedestrian bridge could be built in that area as well in the future .. That part of the river gets a lot of nice sun in the latter half of the day and would be very scenic looking onwards to downtown in the evening .. Of course when it's wintery here 8 months of the year, that makes the sustainability of the idea tough unless there is plans to increase denisity that area to the south in Sunalta with more residential ... A nice dream though

I also think that area would be a neat spot for a unique tall tower as a tourist type attraction .. Possibly with hotel space mixed in with condo's office ... Since the Sunulta station is there too .. The land around the GSL dealership is oddly shaped, but large enough for a completely different design .. A 360 degree observation deck would provide beautiful mountain views and views of downtown

[Blue_Cypress]

Originally Posted by kw5150

Um, my beach would look natural. Just a sandbar on the edge of an island so you dont have to sit on cobble and broken twigs.

The cabana beds and DJ would go away after the beach flash mob. The sandbar willows would poke their little heads through the sand in a couple weeks.

It would still be natural, and dare I say.....FUN. So many summer days I have wanted to be down by the river and put my feet in. The rock and mud and broken sticks arent the best things to sit on!

Anyway, I dont care because we are getting something like this at multiple points along the river edge.

City need urban, Calgary has enough natural.

Im a landscape architect so I think you can trust my decisions and that I could produce something meaningful.....or I would hope so anyway.

Sandy beach is great! But, it could use some refreshing and modernization. I am just dying for a beach that can fit hundreds of people. The ones in Calgary fit about 50 before you start to feel "in peoples space"

Anyway, cant wait for the sun to break through!

...I don't think you could be trusted with designing a flower box. If you want beaches, you're in the wrong part of the country. Might I suggest moving to the west coast? They have beaches there. You won't even need a single dumptruck.

[Chadillaccc]

Yeah, urban beaches, definitely the best way to go.

[kw5150]

And here is the number one reason why Calgary can be so boring. People afraid of a little beach flash mob and a couple loads of sand or pea gravel to sit on.

I think you may be one of the most arrogant a-holes in Calgary.

"Beach" is a very loose term in the landscape architecture industry and would fit in just fine in Calgary. We already have a few areas that I already call a beach in Calgary anyway, I will be visiting all of them this summer. Our goal as landscape architects is to make them better.

Anyone else have a problem with a better place to sit along the river edge in the summer?

Lol, some people really get obnoxious when the weather is gloomy.

My Toronto buddies thought my idea was awesome by the way. A city where they actually understand the value of landscape architecture.

Originally Posted by Blue_Cypress

...I don't think you could be trusted with designing a flower box. If you want beaches, you're in the wrong part of the country. Might I suggest moving to the west coast? They have beaches there. You won't even need a single dumptruck.

[Chadillaccc]

They just completed the installation of the last two iron gateway pilons. These ones are on the south shore of the river an each side of the 10th Street Bridge, with what looks to be lighting features at the top of both.

[Calgarian]

Im not sure I like the gateway pilons they put on the bridge. I know they are trying to tie it all in together, but it clashes so hard with the bridge. The rest of Poppy plaza looks great though! Memorial looks 10x better than 10 years ago, kudos to the city for doing all of it.

[kw5150]

So glad to see this bridge come alive. For years it was just bridge meets ultra shitty landscape and pathway. Finally it has bookends and some attention and gathering space.

[nick.flood]

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

They just completed the installation of the last two iron gateway pilons. These ones are on the south shore of the river an each side of the 10th Street Bridge, with what looks to be lighting features at the top of both.

They're a bit too far apart and from most angles you can't see both of them at the same time. They also don't relate to the bridge much a these positions.

[lineman]

Originally Posted by kw5150

And here is the number one reason why Calgary can be so boring. People afraid of a little beach flash mob and a couple loads of sand or pea gravel to sit on.

I think you may be one of the most arrogant a-holes in Calgary.

"Beach" is a very loose term in the landscape architecture industry and would fit in just fine in Calgary. We already have a few areas that I already call a beach in Calgary anyway, I will be visiting all of them this summer. Our goal as landscape architects is to make them better.

Anyone else have a problem with a better place to sit along the river edge in the summer?

Lol, some people really get obnoxious when the weather is gloomy.

My Toronto buddies thought my idea was awesome by the way. A city where they actually understand the value of landscape architecture.

And you call bluecypress arrogant? This has to be one of the most arrogant posts I've seen here.

Like most people here outside of your cool landscape club would know about your loose definition of "beach". Get off your high horse before you post condescending drivel like this.

[Chadillaccc]

Lol yeah, I made him the inaugural member of my ignore list last week. I'm glad I did so after reading his message that you quoted. Wow.

[Chadillaccc]

Originally Posted by nick.flood

They're a bit too far apart and from most angles you can't see both of them at the same time. They also don't relate to the bridge much a these positions.

I still like them though. But you're right, could have been executed better, as Calgarian said, they clash pretty hard with the bridge. Overall I like what has been done though. If the white things on top of the new gateway pylons are indeed light features, it could add a nice new effect for driving over the Tenth Street Bridge at night


Edit: Oh crap, I thought I had posted my pics on here from a couple of weeks ago! I'll go ahead and do that right away!

[lineman]

Thanks for the pics. It looks good, although I'm on the fence over those weird bridge bookends. What do they represent? (Not much of an abstract thinker, I guess)

[losername]

Google urban beach images and you'll find many many cities around the world, that are nowhere near an ocean, that have designed incredible "beaches"along the banks of their rivers. The naySayers (insert know-it-all, you know who you are) need to get out a bit more.

[Chadillaccc]

Agreed!

Originally Posted by lineman

Thanks for the pics. It looks good, although I'm on the fence over those weird bridge bookends. What do they represent? (Not much of an abstract thinker, I guess)

Yeah I don't know what they represent, but at the pedestrian level while walking around, I really like them. They just don't fit in with the architecture of the bridge unfortunately. I wish they would do a cool red and white lighting scheme under the bridge to tie it in a bit as was mentioned by someone previously in this discussion.

[suburbia]

Originally Posted by losername

Google urban beach images and you'll find many many cities around the world, that are nowhere near an ocean, that have designed incredible "beaches"along the banks of their rivers. The naySayers (insert know-it-all, you know who you are) need to get out a bit more.

Would love to see specific examples that could work in Calgary. Do share!

[bearcat]

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

Agreed!

Yeah I don't know what they represent, but at the pedestrian level while walking around, I really like them. They just don't fit in with the architecture of the bridge unfortunately. I wish they would do a cool red and white lighting scheme under the bridge to tie it in a bit as was mentioned by someone previously in this discussion.

Listening to Druh talk about Poppy Plaza on the news they represent beacons for the soldiers to follow back to their own lines. Apparently the lower pathway on the north shore that runs right along the river is supposed to represent bunkers.

[Chadillaccc]

Very cool, thanks man!

Originally Posted by suburbia

Would love to see specific examples that could work in Calgary. Do share!

Absolutely. I know of two from personal experience. Both are on the lake shore in downtown Toronto. Neither are directly connected to the water but both are right next to it and protected from being washed away by tidal changes and winter ice.

HTO Park - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTO_Park
Sugar Beach - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugar_Beach

also there is one in the Seine River in Paris, probably would be a more fitting comparison to what Calgary could do as ours would also be along the river. But it is very similar to both of Torontos urban beaches, however Torontos are much nicer...

Paris-Plages - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris-Plages

[Calgarian]

I ran by Poppy Plaza on Saturday as they were gearing up for the grand opening, was great to see how many people turned out. Once again this is a great project and is another example of the great direction the city is heading in.

[Chadillaccc]

Is the restaurant open yet?

[tdurden5573]

I think this could be a very cool public space if developed properly. Wish it had some cafe or bar to actually draw people to hang out at the river.

I was really impressed by the 'Beach Bar' that Berlin has right outside its main train station downtown, very good use of space along the river:







Would love for Calgary to actually create some world class public spaces, with the River Walk I feel like we are getting there.