Winnipeg Construction VIII - Page 176

headhorse · #**3501** Posted **Jun 24, 2014, 2:12 AM**

Merchant Hotel on Selkirk re-development is now known as "Merchants Corner".

from http://www.themerch.ca

trueviking · #**3502** Posted **Jun 24, 2014, 3:20 AM**

Please tell me those are not supposed to be giant feathers.

Rending looks like its in a park, not on Selkirk.

trueviking · #**3503** Posted **Jun 24, 2014, 3:46 AM**

Selkirk is starting to look like an aboriginal theme park.

I don't get it.

esquire · #**3504** Posted **Jun 24, 2014, 3:46 AM**

Oh yeah, those are definitely feathers. Aboriginal architectural symbolism on Selkirk Avenue... taken way too literally, as per usual.

Still, it's an impressive looking project. Nice to finally get a gap filled in among the many that have emerged along Selkirk over the past 15 years. If only there were some businesses coming back to the area.

1ajs · #**3505** Posted **Jun 24, 2014, 5:45 AM**

least the area is genirating its own architectual identity in the city
should be an interesting project to see move forward though being they are adding to the merch on mostly empty lots and across the ally is an empty lot they are building on

our cities future is the native segmit of our population yea theres some identity being shuved on this segmit of the pop untill some sorta pride can be inseted into this region of the city we will contue to see the problems fester.....

Authentic_City · #**3506** Posted **Jun 24, 2014, 3:29 PM**

I guess the province will be announcing funding for Merchant's Corner today?

There is an announcement scheduled today at 12:30:

When: Tuesday June 24; 12:30 p.m.
Where: Merchants Hotel, 541 Selkirk Avenue (in case of rain: Murdo Scribe Building, 510 Selkirk Avenue)

Event participants will include: Premier Greg Selinger, UWinnipeg President and Vice Chancellor Dr. Lloyd Axworthy, and Peter Bjornson, Minister of Housing and Community Development.

trueviking · #**3507** Posted **Jun 24, 2014, 3:43 PM**

if I was aboriginal I'd be offended at my traditions and deeply symbolic history being turned into cartoon architecture. Its racism in my mind....why the hell does every building on Selkirk have to so overtly scream native?.....that hotel would be 100% better without the headdress...its insulting....would you put giant bagpipe reeds on a building in a neighbourhood where Scottish people happen to live?....would you put a giant menorah on a community building in Tuxedo just because some Jewish people live there?

bejb · #**3508** Posted **Jun 24, 2014, 4:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by trueviking

if I was aboriginal I'd be offended at my traditions and deeply symbolic history being turned into cartoon architecture. Its racism in my mind....why the hell does every building on Selkirk have to so overtly scream native?.....that hotel would be 100% better without the headdress...its insulting....would you put giant bagpipe reeds on a building in a neighbourhood where Scottish people happen to live?....would you put a giant menorah on a community building in Tuxedo just because some Jewish people live there?

From what I've seen + heard - they actually like and prefer this (cartoon) aboriginal architecture over anything else. Apparently the Urban Circle Training project (from Prairie Architects) just up the street form Merchants is a very beloved building. that said - I think the city deserves better..

rrskylar · #**3509** Posted **Jun 24, 2014, 4:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by trueviking

Selkirk is starting to look like an aboriginal theme park.

I don't get it.

Almost like it was designed by a 1950's Hollywood studio who was pumping out western's.

Cyro · #**3510** Posted **Jun 24, 2014, 5:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bejb

From what I've seen + heard - they actually like and prefer this

Who exactly is they? Always curious, the aboriginal population in the area? Or the architectural firm who was awarded the contract.

bejb · #**3511** Posted **Jun 24, 2014, 6:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyro

Who exactly is they? Always curious, the aboriginal population in the area? Or the architectural firm who was awarded the contract.

People in the area. Specifically, and only, the aboriginal population of the area.

Cyro · #**3512** Posted **Jun 24, 2014, 6:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bejb

People in the area. Specifically, and only, the aboriginal population of the area.

Good to know. Did they poll the residence or conduct community meetings on this?
Were, the Ukrainian, Polish And German populations included? If they engaged the community, then it was done in the proper manner.

esquire · #**3513** Posted **Jun 24, 2014, 6:56 PM**

^ It appears that the only consultation some architects are undertaking is with the decision makers who sign the cheques. Not the worst thing in the world since that's the client, but the whole thing seems very crass and cynical... "look, I even put a giant medicine wheel on the front..."

trueviking · #**3514** Posted **Jun 24, 2014, 7:42 PM**

its completely non-inclusive to design a community building that reflects a single ethnic group.....its also an issue to create a building typology for a group of people who have no permanent built form tradition...why are we making it up for them in 2014?

It makes way more sense to interpret the philosophical beliefs of a community than to mega-size beadwork from their footwear or things they used to wear on their heads and stick it on a building....all the swoops and colours...that doesn't represent aboriginal culture....embracing the environment, living softly on the land, connecting to the sky, rivers etc...these are the traditional principles that should be explored to engage the native people, not cartoon interpretations of unrelated tradition.

...and why should it be geared towards one group anyways?.....a diverse community is the goal....inclusive not exclusive....if we built buildings that explicitly rejected a single group there would be outrage...why is it acceptable to reject all but one?

esquire · #**3515** Posted **Jun 24, 2014, 7:59 PM**

Recall that the APTN Building on Portage is (or at least was?) supposed to receive the same treatment... so soon this cartoonish architecture could be front and centre on our main drag.

drew · #**3516** Posted **Jun 24, 2014, 8:31 PM**

Anyone know how this particular Architect got chosen for this job?

Not a criticism, but it is a fairly decent sized project for someone with a relatively limited amount of experience.

Winnipeg Architect · #**3517** Posted **Jun 24, 2014, 9:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by trueviking

if I was aboriginal I'd be offended at my traditions and deeply symbolic history being turned into cartoon architecture. Its racism in my mind....why the hell does every building on Selkirk have to so overtly scream native?.....that hotel would be 100% better without the headdress...its insulting....would you put giant bagpipe reeds on a building in a neighbourhood where Scottish people happen to live?....would you put a giant menorah on a community building in Tuxedo just because some Jewish people live there?

That is not nice.

1ajs · #**3518** Posted **Jun 24, 2014, 10:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bejb

People in the area. Specifically, and only, the aboriginal population of the area.

theres been alot of consultations with the community on this project and others on the strip.........

Danny D Oh · #**3519** Posted **Jun 24, 2014, 11:11 PM**

So...what's the plan for the current clientele of the Merchants?

More business for the hotels on North Main?

trueviking · #**3520** Posted **Jun 25, 2014, 1:58 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Winnipeg Architect

That is not nice.

Why not?

I believe the aboriginal traditions are too rich in meaning to be taken out of context as architectural kitsch. Feathers are deeply sacred and filled with symbolism. To scale them up 1000 times and stick a representation of them on a building is an insult to those beliefs. A giant stucco fake feather does not have the same meaning as a real feather from a bird. Its sacred meaning comes from the fact that it is real. It's a superficial representation that is degrading to the depth and value of thousands of years of tradition and belief.