New Central Library | Construction - Page 18

Boris2k7 · #**341** Posted **Sep 5, 2014, 2:03 AM**

I toyed around with the image from the last page and tried to clean it up a bit.

mellbell416 · #**342** Posted **Sep 5, 2014, 2:03 AM**

The outside is cool, but it's the gorgeous interior that took my breath away - all those amazing organic curves reminded me a bit of the Sydney Opera House. F$&@king awesome.

Loved the design concepts presentation - that guy knows how to sell the artistic process...

craner · #**343** Posted **Sep 5, 2014, 2:03 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DizzyEdge

If there's no render there will be riots.

Really got a good laugh with this comment - Dizzy, you're on fire tonight.

The new Library looks very promising. As CW noted; too bad the west elevation will be largely blocked by the municipal building.
Sure makes the current main branch look even more pathetic, I kind of feel sorry for it.
Enjoy the beers guys (& at least 1 gal) - thanks for completing your mission to post renders.

craner · #**344** Posted **Sep 5, 2014, 2:10 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarthMalgus

Love it. Love the facade treatment, love how it responds to the site context, love the organic shape. This is going to be a fantastic building.

Lots of cities have construction booms, but not often that a city has so many very high quality, significant buildings going up at once. With this, NMC, Telus Sky and SOM's new tower soon to all be under construction at the same time, this may be the most exciting period, architecturally, in Calgary's history.

Very good point - I think you are definitely correct.

CorporateWhore · #**345** Posted **Sep 5, 2014, 2:10 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DizzyEdge

So admittedly, every new 'marquee' project I'm waiting for Calgary's answer to the Alberta Art Gallery or something that's crazy shaped. That said, I like this, it's like the curvier cousin to the National Music Centre.

The Alberta Art Gallery is akin to buying a cheap knockoff purse because you can't afford the real thing.

The design here might be more subtle, but it is feels more considered and elegant, which in the long run I'll take any day over a me-too design.

Boris2k7 · #**346** Posted **Sep 5, 2014, 2:14 AM**

Was someone watching Star Trek when they were pushing out these renders? Holy lens flare!

DizzyEdge · #**347** Posted **Sep 5, 2014, 2:15 AM**

So I took all the images I posted and did some cleanup

polishavenger · #**348** Posted **Sep 5, 2014, 2:17 AM**

meh, only the inside seems particularly interesting. Big let down for me.

dleung · #**349** Posted **Sep 5, 2014, 2:29 AM**

I find it surprisingly small and underwhelming for Snohetta on $250 million. Here's what they did in Egypt for the same price:

http://www.globalpost.com/sites/default/...gypt_05_09_09_May_AlexandriaLibrary2.jpg

It's also 7 times the cost of Surrey's new library, though only 3 times larger.

Vancouver's Central Library is 1.5 times as big, but built at only 0.4 times the cost.
Something doesn't add up?

DizzyEdge · #**350** Posted **Sep 5, 2014, 2:34 AM**

To be fair Vancouver's library was built 20 years ago, and at Canada's inflation rate that translates to about $160 million in today's dollars, and likely even higher considering Calgary's inflation rate tends to be higher than the rest of the country.

Boris2k7 · #**351** Posted **Sep 5, 2014, 2:36 AM**

I don't even care at all about the interior. The public spaces around this thing look pretty cool. Including how you will be able to cut through the "loop" in this thing to get from 3st to 4st. I also like how the main treatment seems to be on the EV side, but it doesn't just present a "backside" to City Hall.

SKYSTHELIMIT · #**352** Posted **Sep 5, 2014, 2:39 AM**

Amazing looking library guys. Now if they could carve out a tunnel through the municipal bldg to the same effect would be nice. Mind you it won't feel that cut off as your east village rises and welcomes more people to that side.

Boris2k7 · #**353** Posted **Sep 5, 2014, 2:40 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SKYSTHELIMIT

Amazing looking library guys. Now if they could carve out a tunnel through the municipal bldg to the same effect would be nice. Mind you it won't feel that cut off as your east village rises and welcomes more people to that side.

Yes this.

CorporateWhore · #**354** Posted **Sep 5, 2014, 2:41 AM**

That Alexandria library is definitely a masterpiece.

Fuzz · #**355** Posted **Sep 5, 2014, 2:44 AM**

I'm sure the safety guys will have something to say about the lack of railings everywhere...

Really like it though, still don't understand why they don't release HQ renderings until later....

Wooster · #**356** Posted **Sep 5, 2014, 2:45 AM**

Things I love about the design:

The pass through to 8th Ave and main entrance. They turned a liability into a very interesting design feature, which is a mark of great design. The step ups will create an interesting landscape and gathering place. The entrance being underneath the building, with gorgeous wood above will create a very cool environment both day and night. Connects the building on both sides.

The façade. Snohetta is very creative in the use of exterior façade materials, especially with the use of patterns to create some articulation and visual identity. Also like the colour white - in combination with glass and wood, will be simultaneously warm and fresh looking.

The shape. They've picked up on some of the features of the site, like the curved LRT tunnel to create an interesting shape. I think it will be quite striking from multiple angles. More shape in our buildings is always a good thing. Although as CorporateWhore mentioned it would have been nice to have some room to admire from afar, I also think it will feel intimate and highly urban once its surroundings build up.

Interior. The extensive use of wood is very welcome. It looks amazing. I also think the amount of natural light through the atrium and the glass façade will create a wonderful environment inside.

The programming. Although not the focus of today, I've seen quite a bit on the programming in the interior, including children's level, theatre and particularly the common reading and learning areas - they will be really pleasant to experience.

Everything is just really well thought out.

9.5/10

joe498 · #**357** Posted **Sep 5, 2014, 2:50 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fuzz

I'm sure the safety guys will have something to say about the lack of railings everywhere...

Really like it though, still don't understand why they don't release HQ renderings until later....

Lol! Truth.

mellbell416 · #**358** Posted **Sep 5, 2014, 3:06 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fuzz

I'm sure the safety guys will have something to say about the lack of railings everywhere...

Really like it though, still don't understand why they don't release HQ renderings until later....

there was a question about this in the forum, and apparently they do have railings- you just can't see them well in this image. And they said that the design isn't final yet...

Pavlov · #**359** Posted **Sep 5, 2014, 3:15 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by dleung

I find it surprisingly small and underwhelming for Snohetta on $250 million. Here's what they did in Egypt for the same price:

http://www.globalpost.com/sites/default/...gypt_05_09_09_May_AlexandriaLibrary2.jpg

It's also 7 times the cost of Surrey's new library, though only 3 times larger.

Vancouver's Central Library is 1.5 times as big, but built at only 0.4 times the cost.
Something doesn't add up?

Wages of Canadian worker > Wages of Egyptian worker

jawagord · #**360** Posted **Sep 5, 2014, 3:15 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DizzyEdge

East Village ‏@EastVillageYYC 1m
Massing model of New Central Library. #NCLinEV

Looking at this sketch and all I can think is now I know where Noah's Ark landed. Not blowing my skirt up.