New Central Library | Construction - Page 19

Pavlov · #**361** Posted **Sep 5, 2014, 3:16 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by CorporateWhore

That Alexandria library is definitely a masterpiece.

One of my favourite buildings in the world.

fusili · #**362** Posted **Sep 5, 2014, 3:21 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reesonov

Wages of Canadian worker > Wages of Egyptian worker

Thank you for stating that.

Pavlov · #**363** Posted **Sep 5, 2014, 3:34 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by fusili

Thank you for stating that.

It isn't a commonly known fact. And yet its true.

Spring2008 · #**364** Posted **Sep 5, 2014, 3:38 AM**

I really like how the design really is adapted to the site and our local attributes i.e. curvy like the mountains, wintery white exterior, and snow flake shaped cladding. Even better is how the wintery exterior contrasts with the warm wood tones inside.

Full judgement can't be made until we see all elevations, and high-res images with most of the actual detailing. Looks promising though.

trueviking · #**365** Posted **Sep 5, 2014, 3:42 AM**

spectacular....its annoying to be in the same country as calgary these days.

great stuff.

Husky Tower · #**366** Posted **Sep 5, 2014, 3:52 AM**

I was prepared, with all the recent hype about the new Central Library design, to have my socks blown off.

Just checked...still wearin' 'em.

For me, the jury's still out on this one.

Maybe the final renderings will show more promise.

HT

Spring2008 · #**367** Posted **Sep 5, 2014, 3:52 AM**

I hope this spurs more construction along 3rd and 4st SE. Imagine what it'll do for the city centre as a whole once all adjacent areas to the commercial core i.e. 4 st SE, 10th av sw, west end, eau-claire get going at once. This is already happening, but I mean really get going as in massive construction zones all around.

RyLucky · #**368** Posted **Sep 5, 2014, 3:58 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DizzyEdge

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

Perfect example of how development can improve the public realm. Notice 3rd st is narrowed and the pedestrian realm is flourishing?

We've taken a small site that was considered not worth developing for the past 35 years and turned it into the city's gem.

Maybe one day we'll renovate that side of City Hall. The terraces could look great as green roofs.

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.

This. It looks like a completely different building from different sides. Pointed and urban where it meets the c-train corridor, airy and accessible where pedestrians will walk through, warm and inviting to derelict 8th Ave. Best of all, it improves pedestrian connections between all nodes, as though the building were not even there. It has no real "front", which is vital as visitors to the Library begin to come more and more from the east.

beatlesque · #**369** Posted **Sep 5, 2014, 3:58 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wooster

Things I love about the design:

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.

Yes, bringing the Scandinavian touch. A section of the facade made me think of Escher actually...

RyLucky · #**370** Posted **Sep 5, 2014, 4:07 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by beatlesque

Yes, bringing the Scandinavian touch. A section of the facade made me think of Escher actually...

Totally. Or even this:

WARNING: NOT SAFE FOR SEPTEMBER:

lineman · #**371** Posted **Sep 5, 2014, 4:09 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DizzyEdge

If anything were to rip it all down, it'd be that damn U2.

Aside from seeing that old relic in the render, I really like it.

geotag277 · #**372** Posted **Sep 5, 2014, 4:09 AM**

Personally I think the new library is stunning. From the limited pictures I've seen, worth every penny IMO.

With the library, the peace bridge, the national music centre, Calgary's public works projects are really on another level. Mature, sophisticated, classy, elegant architecture that dramatically improves the public realm. This is how you do public architecture. Once all these pieces are finally built and operating, I think we'll all see how awesome the vision of the future is with these projects. These are buildings and transformations that will stand the test of time IMO

Wooster · #**373** Posted **Sep 5, 2014, 4:13 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by beatlesque

Yes, bringing the Scandinavian touch. A section of the facade made me think of Escher actually...

Very good call.

This is the image it was apparently modelled after - may or may not be an actual Escher, not 100% sure.

Chadillaccc · #**374** Posted **Sep 5, 2014, 4:24 AM**

I'll be honest and say I was expecting more of a "wow" factor, but I do really like it.

Tills13 · #**375** Posted **Sep 5, 2014, 4:43 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mellbell416

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...

if you look on the far right side, just above the floor, you can see the reflection on what appears to be glass "railings"

edit: you guys are also a tough crowd. You have to remember that we're a city of 1.2 million people. We're privileged to be competing as well as we are with cities 2.5 and 5 times as large as ours.

RyLucky · #**376** Posted **Sep 5, 2014, 4:48 AM**

Canadian Museum for Human Rights (2014 - set to open in a couple weeks IIRC)

Art Gallery of Alberta (2010)

National Music Centre (2015 - Just down the block!)

Canada's Sports Hall of Fame (2011), Royal Alberta Museum (2015), a facelift for Heritage Park (2009), Investor Group Field (2013), MTS Centre (2004), Roughriders' Stadium (2016), EAD (2016), tons of new university buildings...

And now... CALGARY CENTRAL LIBRARY! (2018)

RyLucky · #**377** Posted **Sep 5, 2014, 4:55 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DizzyEdge

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

Thanks again to everyone who posted. I can't stop looking!

RyLucky · #**378** Posted **Sep 5, 2014, 5:07 AM**

so... does this mean 616 Macleod Trail SE is for sale?

Colin · #**379** Posted **Sep 5, 2014, 5:19 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wooster

Very good call.

This is the image it was apparently modelled after - may or may not be an actual Escher, not 100% sure.

I believe Dykers mentioned that the pattern was to resemble tiny houses along the prairie. The details were truly amazing.

Something that also stood out was that they mentioned the top floor would be used for a quiet reading space that would be wrapped in wood to provide the warmth and openness of a grand reading hall found in great libraries. However, they did say the design was still not finalized and will continue to evolve (for the better).

My first impression was true amazement. I think it's a beautiful building that is refined and organic for our city. It may not take your breath away immediately but the level of detail and thoughtfulness to the location has me in awe. To me, it's perfect.

The Urbanist · #**380** Posted **Sep 5, 2014, 5:27 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Husky Tower

I was prepared, with all the recent hype about the new Central Library design, to have my socks blown off.

Just checked...still wearin' 'em.

For me, the jury's still out on this one.

Maybe the final renderings will show more promise.

HT

I'm with you HT. It's a beautiful building, but not as daring as I would've hoped.