The Great Canadian Skyline Thread!

[Allan83]

Originally Posted by Ramako

In terms of what it "does" for Toronto, I'm guessing your meaning is that, beyond its function as a symbol, communications tower or observation deck, the CN Tower acts as a psychological anchor for Torontonians, in that wherever you are in the city you can instantly orient yourself by finding the tower, kind of like the North Star. There's something reassuring about its - for lack of a better word - omnipresence.

That's not to say that Calgary Tower isn't equally important to Calgarians for a different set of reasons, but it's worth noting when comparing the respective roles of the two towers.

Interesting. That is a real thing, and something that’s hard to quantify. The Calgary Tower doesn’t do that to the same extent that the CN tower does, I’m sure, but it serves that function to some extent i would say. It’s surprising how often it pops up in front of you when you’re driving down a major road in Calgary. But I would say that the structure that primarily serves that grounding function you speak of is the Rocky Mountains. You can’t see them from every point in Calgary, but you can see them from a lot of places, and whenever I do I feel that connection to this place. Our manmade structures are impressive, but they pale in comparison to the mountains. I was just reading some information on the new via ferrata in Banff, for example. The top of it gets you up to about 2450m. The Banff townsite in the valley below is at about 1450m, almost exactly 1000 meters below. To give that some perspective that’s almost twice the entire height of the CN Tower. Mankind builds some great things, but we’re just children in the sandbox compared to what the great forces of this earth can do.

[Ramako]

Originally Posted by Allan83

Interesting. That is a real thing, and something that’s hard to quantify. The Calgary Tower doesn’t do that to the same extent that the CN tower does, I’m sure, but it serves that function to some extent i would say. It’s surprising how often it pops up in front of you when you’re driving down a major road in Calgary. But I would say that the structure that primarily serves that grounding function you speak of is the Rocky Mountains. You can’t see them from every point in Calgary, but you can see them from a lot of places, and whenever I do I feel that connection to this place. Our manmade structures are impressive, but they pale in comparison to the mountains. I was just reading some information on the new via ferrata in Banff, for example. The top of it gets you up to about 2450m. The Banff townsite in the valley below is at about 1450m, almost exactly 1000 meters below. To give that some perspective that’s almost twice the entire height of the CN Tower. Mankind builds some great things, but we’re just children in the sandbox compared to what the great forces of this earth can do.

That's a really interesting comparison that I hadn't really considered before. Whereas many cities are defined by their unique geography, Toronto's lack of geographic markers makes having the CN Tower all the more important to Torontonians in that its function goes beyond being a mere beacon or landmark but a way of defining the space that the city occupies. In other words, it's not just a signpost but the visual and psychological centre-point of the city, away from which everything radiates. Rather than just providing a supplementary practical benefit it fulfils a more fundamental role in creating a sense of place. It's our Rocky Mountains or Mount Royal.

[isaidso]

I just hope that Calgary doesn't go down the same road as Vancouver. Vancouver's spectacular setting is a distraction to the point that man made structures are an after thought or built see through in the hopes that people won't notice them. Buildings can be beautiful too and should never apologize for existing.... which seems to be the case in Vancouver.

Calgary needs to build a beautiful city to go with the beautiful scenery. Both are equally important, but it's only the 2nd part that's in your control. Never argue that man made structures can't compete with the Rockies so no need to bother. You'll end up with a very dull looking city. It's not like you're going to spend your whole day looking up at the mountains. What the actual city looks like is what matters the most.

[Chadillaccc]

Sublime Elevation by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

[Pavlov]

^ The Bow looks so much better from nearby than from afar.

[esquire]

^ Beautiful photo. It really speaks to Calgary's boomtown character too... those lowrise commercial buildings in the foreground look like they belong in a place like downtown Lloydminster. There aren't too many places that would go from building those downtown to building monsters like the Bow over the course of just a couple of generations!

[caltrane74]

Originally Posted by Ramako

Down the line, an influx of residential and hotel towers into the core (like Toronto is currently experiencing) will help to add more round-the-clock life to downtown. Calgarians can probably look forward to that occuring during the next big boom. It's already kind of starting with Telus Sky.

This is true, even Toronto gets really slow after 7pm downtown. That's why I eagerly await each and every new tower that gets added to the core, in the hope that it will likely add more to the street life and which is dearly needed, when the weather is colder.

[Chadillaccc]

That has already started in Calgary in earnest, with developments like Le Germaine in the central CBD, and the Waterfront quadruple tower development currently in its 3rd phase. It should accelerate greatly though, as developments like the Eau Claire Redevelopment (expected population over 1000), and the Eau Claire 7-tower proposal (over 1500) break ground in the next couple years.

Originally Posted by esquire

^ Beautiful photo. It really speaks to Calgary's boomtown character too... those lowrise commercial buildings in the foreground look like they belong in a place like downtown Lloydminster. There aren't too many places that would go from building those downtown to building monsters like the Bow over the course of just a couple of generations!

Two of those buildings you're talking about are over a century old (the Firehall to the left and the Travellers Building in the centre). A lot of cities have gone from building 4 storey buildings to 60 storey buildings in a century.

[Urbanarchit]

Here are some skyline shots of Ottawa. In the first picture you can see Cathedral Hill under construction, which is a 20-storey, LEED Platinum residential building by Windmill.


Downtown by Shel DeF

Here is Tunney's Pasture and some other buildings in Hintonburg, with the Gatineau Hills behind the skyscrapers.


Tunney's Pasture by Shel DeF


Downtown Ottawa by Shel DeF

[1overcosc]

Downtown Ottawa from the west is a rarely seen angle. A shame, because it's probably the most construction-heavy view you can get.

The view of the CBD from Bayview Station makes you go "woah, construction frenzy."

[isaidso]

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

That has already started in Calgary in earnest, with developments like Le Germaine in the central CBD, and the Waterfront quadruple tower development currently in its 3rd phase. It should accelerate greatly though, as developments like the Eau Claire Redevelopment (expected population over 1000), and the Eau Claire 7-tower proposal (over 1500) break ground in the next couple years.

That's terrific news. Downtown Toronto is infinitely more interesting and vibrant today than it was just 5 years ago. I believe there's roughly 150,000 people (and rapidly climbing) who live downtown. You need a large permanent resident population (100,000+) or it just empties out after 5pm. It will take a good 10-15 years for downtown Calgary to get where it needs to be, but look forward to seeing it all unfold.

[Chadillaccc]

Yeah, I agree. I don't think we'll see a downtown (CBD, Chinatown, Eau Claire, EV, WV, and Beltline) population over 100 000 in my lifetime, but we're on track for 50 000 in the near future. The Beltline alone could be 30 000 by 2020 at the rate it's going, with Eau Claire coming close to 10 000 if these projects go forward. Many of the forumers here who live downtown have said they notice changes in liveliness on a semi-yearly basis, and I've definitely noticed it since I moved here two and a half years ago. It may not be that that many people are moving downtown, just that downtown has become that much more of an attractive place for families and young adults, thanks mostly to efforts put forth by Nenshi and our current council.

[ACT7]

Originally Posted by caltrane74

This is true, even Toronto gets really slow after 7pm downtown.

I would strongly disagree with you there. If you mean the financial district specifically then maybe, but overall, downtown is very lively and busy way beyond 7 PM - even on a Sunday or Monday. It's not just the downtown population that creates this liveliness - downtown Toronto, Montreal, and to a large extent, Vancouver are major draws for the entire region around them. Sporting events, festivals, theater, restaurants, shopping, museums, etc, are all a huge part of this.

I'm actually a bit surprised you feel that way.

[caltrane74]

Originally Posted by ACT7

I would strongly disagree with you there. If you mean the financial district specifically then maybe, but overall, downtown is very lively and busy way beyond 7 PM - even on a Sunday or Monday. It's not just the downtown population that creates this liveliness - downtown Toronto, Montreal, and to a large extent, Vancouver are major draws for the entire region around them. Sporting events, festivals, theater, restaurants, shopping, museums, etc, are all a huge part of this.

I'm actually a bit surprised you feel that way.

I said when the weather is colder though.. so not during the warmer months.

[isaidso]

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

Yeah, I agree. I don't think we'll see a downtown (CBD, Chinatown, Eau Claire, EV, WV, and Beltline) population over 100 000 in my lifetime, but we're on track for 50 000 in the near future.

I dunno. You'd be shocked at how fast momentum towards downtown living can build. Once a tipping point is reached, the gradual move downtown becomes a flood. The tipping point occurs when people look at the downtown core and start viewing it as a hopping, exciting, attractive, safe, vibrant place to live.

Even as recently as 2000, people in Toronto didn't view our core like that. They came downtown to have fun, then went home to the outskirts. Perceptions started to change mid decade, and all of a sudden it seemed like everyone under 30 wanted to live downtown.

Calgary's move downtown will follow a similar path. Once the tipping point is reached, the number of people moving downtown will mushroom. You'll be adding 5,000+/year.

[isaidso]

Originally Posted by ACT7

I would strongly disagree with you there. If you mean the financial district specifically then maybe, but overall, downtown is very lively and busy way beyond 7 PM - even on a Sunday or Monday. It's not just the downtown population that creates this liveliness - downtown Toronto, Montreal, and to a large extent, Vancouver are major draws for the entire region around them. Sporting events, festivals, theater, restaurants, shopping, museums, etc, are all a huge part of this.

I'm actually a bit surprised you feel that way.

Busy is relative. If you've lived in Hong Kong or central London then move to downtown Toronto there's a big drop in foot traffic. Toronto is busy, but not like some of those other mega cities around the world.

I'd very much like to see Toronto's downtown population triple, tbh. 500,000 would be a nice number. I don't view it as sleepy any more, but it's not busy compared to other places I've lived.

[Nouvellecosse]

How about central Halifax? Is there anyone who's spent enough time both here and in other major cities in Canada to compare its street activity?

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

Two of those buildings you're talking about are over a century old (the Firehall to the left and the Travellers Building in the centre). A lot of cities have gone from building 4 storey buildings to 60 storey buildings in a century.

I was thinking mainly of the 2-storey on the corner... it looks like it dates back to the late 40s or early 50s.

[isaidso]

Originally Posted by Nouvellecosse

How about central Halifax? Is there anyone who's spent enough time both here and in other major cities in Canada to compare its street activity?

I lived in downtown Halifax for 10 years. I've always viewed Halifax as a quaint town, so moving downtown I had no expectations that it be busy. I just wanted a cute neighbourhood where I could walk everywhere and run into 50 people I knew within an hour or so. It satisfied all of those requirements in spades.

For Halifax's size, the downtown is extremely urbane. I'd argue that it's more vibrant than the one in Hamilton, Calgary, or Winnipeg. It's on par with Ottawa, but understandably miles behind Montreal and Toronto. I haven't been to Edmonton or Vancouver so can't comment.

[Nouvellecosse]

Hmm, interesting. I suppose unless a city is super dense like a millenium old city in Europe there's a limit to how busy it's going to be with a smaller population size. Sometimes I wish for higher intensity but I suppose we're doing pretty good.