The Great Canadian Skyline Thread! - Page 47

Pavlov · #**921** Posted **Sep 26, 2014, 1:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beedok

I'll still put forward my unpopular opinion that Montreal has the nicest skyline in the country.

I'm rather sympathetic to that opinion, frankly.

esquire · #**922** Posted **Sep 26, 2014, 1:41 PM**

I think trying to rank Vancouver/Calgary/Montreal using any sort of subjective measure (i.e., not just by the total number of buildings over 100m or some such clearly objective standard) is a mug's game.

The three cities have skylines that are clearly similar in terms of overall scale so it really comes down to a matter of preference... do you like new and flashy? Then Calgary is your number 2. Do you like dense collections of skinny condo towers with a mountain backdrop? Then it's Vancouver. Do you like the look of an old-school Eastern metropolis? Then it's Montreal.

In my view there's a three-way tie for second when it comes to skylines in this country. (I don't think I can accept the idea that Montreal is number one, though... it's a wonderful city but if I wanted to show off Canada's best skyline to impress a foreign fellow skyscraper nerd I'd be using Toronto all the way.)

Pavlov · #**923** Posted **Sep 26, 2014, 1:50 PM**

^ I can't argue with that. Well said.

Boris2k7 · #**924** Posted **Sep 26, 2014, 2:39 PM**

Without attaching a ranking to it, I'd say that the Calgary skyline has distinct advantages in terms of colour, variety, and visual impact (in the sense that the skyline seems to just burst forth from the prairie and BAM it's there). I think it's unique (at least, inside of Canada) in that we are not building out the skyline predominantly with thin, glassy condo towers like Vancouver or chunky, tall condo towers like Toronto, but instead with big, muscular office buildings. This is a very masculine, testosterone-filled skyline. Of course, the condo towers are there, and they are extending the skyline in several directions, but it's not on the same scale as the other two cities.

Acajack · #**925** Posted **Sep 26, 2014, 2:46 PM**

Interesting all the love for Montreal's skyline. It was my first big city skyline but I don't find it's anything special. It's OK. I am surprised some people think it's the best in Canada as I am not even sure it's a slam dunk for second or third in the country.

So Montreal's skyline doesn't do much for me...

Montreal at street level on the other hand...

G.S MTL · #**926** Posted **Sep 26, 2014, 3:06 PM**

When is the mini bow being built? lol

Chadillaccc · #**927** Posted **Sep 26, 2014, 3:12 PM**

We're not talking about street level, we're talking about skylines.

Chadillaccc · #**928** Posted **Sep 26, 2014, 3:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Klazu

I think more important than the absolute height is that there are differences in building heights and that buildings are of different age. Variation and "layering" make an interesting and great skyline, like with New York.

A skyline needs to be also visible from ground to be really considered and I wouldn't count anything visible only from a a drone / airplane, as nobody ever sees those views. With this kind of criteria, would for example Calgary still have any skyline view with Rocky Mountains visible? I am just curious if there is any naturally tall place to see the skyline and mountains in the distance.

Of course, photos of this are posted on an extremely regular basis. On this very thread. I have never had a telephoto zoom capable camera, yet many of my skyline shots include the mountains.

As far as skylines go, Calgary is obviously #2, Montreal #3, and Vancouver #4, for the time being.
As far as skyline + natural settings go, Vancouver is #2, Calgary #3, and Montreal #4. I honestly don't understand how some people are ranking this shit

begratto · #**929** Posted **Sep 26, 2014, 3:17 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

Montreal at street level on the other hand...

We definitely need a "Great Canadian Street Level / Street Life Thread".

SkahHigh · #**930** Posted **Sep 26, 2014, 3:35 PM**

Chad, why would Montreal be #4 for natural setting? Calgary doesn't have anything but fields around, the mountains are really far. Vancouver is obviously number 1 but Montreal has the mountain bearing over Downtown so I don't get your point... And why would Toronto be number 1?

caltrane74 · #**931** Posted **Sep 26, 2014, 4:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkahHigh

Chad, why would Montreal be #4 for natural setting? Calgary doesn't have anything but fields around, the mountains are really far. Vancouver is obviously number 1 but Montreal has the mountain bearing over Downtown so I don't get your point... And why would Toronto be number 1?

If we are talking about Skyscrapers then Toronto and Calgary are number 1 and 2 without question.

When you want to talk about natural setting and the skylines, then that's a matter of opinion, which has basically been determined by the debate of the past few pages.

Surrealplaces · #**932** Posted **Sep 26, 2014, 4:14 PM**

I don't have a particular favourite for Canada, but I do love Montreal's skyline and always have. It has a great symmetry and diversity.
My own personal opinion is that Tor, Mtl, Van and Cgy are the one in Canada that are most photogenic skylines and can give a real 'big city' look that would appeal to people from other countries etc..

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

Interesting all the love for Montreal's skyline. It was my first big city skyline but I don't find it's anything special. It's OK. I am surprised some people think it's the best in Canada as I am not even sure it's a slam dunk for second or third in the country.

So Montreal's skyline doesn't do much for me...

Acajack · #**933** Posted **Sep 26, 2014, 4:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkahHigh

Chad, why would Montreal be #4 for natural setting? Calgary doesn't have anything but fields around, the mountains are really far. Vancouver is obviously number 1 but Montreal has the mountain bearing over Downtown so I don't get your point... And why would Toronto be number 1?

Toronto is on a big lake and that makes the skyline stand out in a pretty cool way. Maybe that's it.

Surrealplaces · #**934** Posted **Sep 26, 2014, 4:15 PM**

Calgary Skyline by Surrealplaces, on Flickr

LeftCoaster · #**935** Posted **Sep 26, 2014, 5:25 PM**

Guys you are NEVER going to agree on which skyline is best, because there is nothing to agree on.

IT's ALL PREFERENCE.

People saying XXX city is obviously the best just dont seem to understand that skylines and architecture are art, and inherently subjective. Some people value certain attributes more than others and that will change their rankings, and trying to come to a concensus on art is simply impossible.

It surprises me that on a site devoted to architecture and development that so many people have such a lack of understanding for the underlying love that brought us all here. The magic of these skylines is their art and it is exactly that magic that makes "raking' such an irrelevant futile pastime. You can have your own personal preferences, but trying to espouse that onto others or claim that one is obviously better than another just shows a complete lack of passion or understanding for what makes skylines spectacular in the first place.

On that note lets go back to posting some damn pictures.

Martin Mtl · #**936** Posted **Sep 26, 2014, 5:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

Guys you are NEVER going to agree on which skyline is best, because there is nothing to agree on.

IT's ALL PREFERENCE.

People saying XXX city is obviously the best just dont seem to understand that skylines and architecture are art, and inherently subjective. Some people value certain attributes more than others and that will change their rankings, and trying to come to a concensus on art is simply impossible.

It surprises me that on a site devoted to architecture and development that so many people have such a lack of understanding for the underlying love that brought us all here. The magic of these skylines is their art and it is exactly that magic that makes "raking' such an irrelevant futile pastime. You can have your own personal preferences, but trying to espouse that onto others or claim that one is obviously better than another just shows a complete lack of passion or understanding for what makes skylines spectacular in the first place.

On that note lets go back to posting some damn pictures.

Hallelujah ! Thank you for that

Pavlov · #**937** Posted **Sep 26, 2014, 5:33 PM**

Kingston:

SteelTown · #**938** Posted **Sep 26, 2014, 5:34 PM**

From last night's rooftop party

Delirium · #**939** Posted **Sep 26, 2014, 5:42 PM**

thanks Leftcoaster!

Photo by Clayton Perry https://www.flickr.com/photos/claytonperry/

Photo by Seaside https://www.flickr.com/photos/seasidesigns/

1overcosc · #**940** Posted **Sep 26, 2014, 5:42 PM**

My personal rankings:
1) Toronto, by a huge margin
2) Calgary
3) Vancouver
4) Montreal

Calgary and Vancouver are very close. What gets me with Calgary, though, is there's something really, I don't know, 'bright and excited' I guess about it. It's very uplifting to look at.

Montreal is a ways back IMO. I'm not really that much of a fan for its architecture. Too much 60s and 70s which I've never really been a fan of. I like my modern glass towers.

This is really all subjective, obviously. If I was a fan of 60s/70s style architecture than Montreal would probably rank #2 for me. I feel like there's a certain level of objectivity in saying that Toronto is #1 simply because of its massiveness though.