The Ugly Canada Thread

[begratto]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

I also remember the days when Mile-end was but a decaying working-class hood with closing factories. The Plateau was not much to write home about either. On the other hand, since then, parts of Lachine, NDG, LaSalle and Verdun have decayed significantly. Most of all, the armpit of the island (perhaps the world), Ville St. Pierre.

Verdun, on the contrary, is definitely on its way up, with tons of small condo projects or rental-to-condo conversions, new cafés, bakeries, restaurants, fromageries, etc opening up all the time. It has gentrified significantly in the last 7-8 years.

And NDG? Where second floor appartments in duplexes go for $400K+?

Both of these neighbourhood are full of young famillies. Actually, Verdun is the area (with Saint-Henri, Pointe-Saint-Charles) of Montreal where the average family revenue has increased the most in the past ten years. The Gazette had an article about that recently, I can't' find it now but will try to post the link when I find it.

[Rico Rommheim]

NDG and Verdun have definitely gentrified in the past 10 years. Pointe St-Cahrles, St-henri and parts of Verdun are becoming new "Mile-Ends".

LaSalle and lachine? Two perpetual losers on the Montreal scene, and with a combined pop of 116,000, they both need a green line extension. Too bad that's not even in development.

[kool maudit]

those bars are still there. idée fixe... primetime... at least they were still there a year ago.

[matthew6]

N.D.G is rather large and diverse. Eastern N.D.G north of Sherbrooke is basically an extension of Lower Westmount. And with a similar price tag. Mostly humble but nice duplexes below Sherbrooke. Rundown apartments near Cavendish. Small cottage type buildings as you head at toward Montreal West.... I am sure I missed some sections....

[MolsonExport]

^indeed. the operant word is "parts of", e.g., cavendish/sherbrooke/walkley areas, and parts of NDG along Queen Mary Rd.

[SignalHillHiker]

The ugliest building in St. John's (The Rooms) from street level on Military Road. Straight ahead is Harvey Road, downhill is Garrison Hill, uphill is Bonaventure Avenue.

[franktko]

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

The ugliest building in St. John's (The Rooms) from street level on Military Road. Straight ahead is Harvey Road, downhill is Garrison Hill, uphill is Bonaventure Avenue.

Yeah... I always found it weird, out of scale, like a giant little farm house. And a landmark on any skyline shots!

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

The ugliest building in St. John's (The Rooms) from street level on Military Road. Straight ahead is Harvey Road, downhill is Garrison Hill, uphill is Bonaventure Avenue.

Unusual angle of The Rooms - you usually see the long shot with it dominating the cityscape. I have only seen it in photos, but I really don't find it ugly. Not to say I love the scale or the "fishing rooms" design, but not to the point of finding it ugly.

[MolsonExport]

to me the Rooms is an abomination. A cancer on the otherwise appealing St. John's cityscape.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by O-tacular

Mind you it's a building for a non profit group (and a Mennonite one at
That) but this ugliness is still unforgivable. Hell, make it a bunker if that's what it is, just don't paint it circus colours and try to make it look 'fun'.

[IMG] http://www.ft3.ca/projects/office/officeMCCAlberta.php[/IMG]

It took me a while, but here's the Kitchener version, Ontario MCC HQ and Thrift Shop currently under construction (this is the front - Thrift Shop entrance!). I think the hydro wires add a certain je ne sais quoi. I assume the varied pre-cast panels are intended to evoke the local Mennonite quilt-making tradition. In my kindest moments, I could describe this as "understated", but "ugly" seems spot-on.

[ssiguy]

OMG that is a ghastly thing.

As for The Room, ya I don't like it. When I was in St.John's it just seemed so completely out of place.

[MTLskyline]

Some Laval updates from Eustasche. I believe this is the appropriate thread.

Originally Posted by Eustache

Villa Latella hier

tour 1-2

tour 5-6

tour 6


tour 3-4

Originally Posted by Eustache

Photos prises hier

Quintessence:

Originally Posted by Eustache

Logix, probablement pire que villa latella, c'est pas peu dire!

[niwell]

Jesus Laval - ya blew it.


That last complex has a serious identity crisis.

[kool maudit]

the truly sad buildings are not the purely utilitarian ones. they're the ones with the little gestures, the cheap little winks to "luxury" or "exclusivity". it's heartbreaking, in a very snobbish sense, to imagine people with no taste or sense of proportion being fooled by them.

[MTLskyline]

Here are a few more of Laval by Eustasche.

Originally Posted by Eustache

Oui j'avais compris!

Suite:

Urbania:



Le merveilleux aménagement de la cour intérieure, qui consiste en un magnifique stationnement hors terre de trois étages...



Bonus:

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by niwell

Jesus Laval - ya blew it.


That last complex has a serious identity crisis.

Paris suburbs meet Third World.

[lio45]

Actually in terms of looks Villa Latella and Quintessence are far from being subpar for Laval IMO... I'd say "surprisingly nice", even.

[O-tacular]

Dear Lord! I've been to Montreal and the south shore many times but never set foot on the notorious Laval side. I can't believe those are new buildings! Why?!?

[Nouvellecosse]

Those Laval buildings wouldn't be half as bad if they were built in some kind of context as part of an urban fabric with street interaction. It's the fact that they're sitting in the middle of nowhere surrounded by nothing but parking and grass that bothers me much more than the architecture.

[Architype]

Originally Posted by Eustache

Logix, probablement pire que villa latella, c'est pas peu dire!

Some people should have their architects (or developers) licenses revoked!
I think that one wins both the ugly and banal prizes for this year.