The Ugly Canada Thread

[niwell]

If the Rooms was in a suburban office park I would probably assume it's some sort of new protestant megachurch. It kinda has that vibe to me.

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by lio45

That's actually a very good example: no one would ever think of putting any of the largest existing grain elevators in the country on an "ugliest buildings" list. But if a gigantic caricature of a grain elevator stood out by being visually dominating (taller/bigger than everything else) in downtown Winnipeg, everyone'd complain about it, rightfully. They'd hate it, and wish it was demolished.

In fact I'm fully okay with The Rooms as a top ten ugly for "ugly in context" or "most hated buildings" but not for "ugly in a vacuum". There are TONS of buildings uglier than this inoffensive, super simple mix of basic geometric figures.

You couldn't be more wrong mon ami! The Rooms would be just as ugly in a vacuum. For me it boils down to authenticity. A small fishing hut made of clapboard: inoffensive. A giant stucco representation of said fishing hut: ugly. The same with grain elevators. Same rationale for why faux historic buildings like the Stampede in Calgary loves so much are terrible. In this case it goes beyond that though as they literally abutted the giant caricature fishing house to an 80's style office building.

This building is infinitely worse for me now that I checked the Wikipedia page and saw that it was built in 2005. I always thought it was some PoMo remnant from the 90's.

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

I've always found this one in central Kitchener to be well above average looking:

Looks like a house.

[O-tacular]

Here are some examples of ugly 'Stampitecture' (our colloquial term for faux historic local architecture).





All the condos in the 2005-6 boom in Victoria Park north of the Stampede were forced to incorporate red brick in their podiums to mimic the historic warehouses in the area across the street. The results were not very good.

[esquire]

The Tims' outlets that SHH and kwoldtimer posted are actually not bad at all. So's the big new one in Hamilton. They have some pretty decent looking one-off locations.

[O-tacular]

I don't hate Sasso and Vetro as much as many from Calgary do but thought it merited a post on here.



This mess is being built by Lacaille currently. Vogue condos.

[niwell]

The red brick podiums wouldn't look (so) terrible if they were at least 3 storeys and functional. The faux second level facade thing doesn't really cut it. Still better than whatever's going on with that Lacaille monstrosity at ground level.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by O-tacular

Looks like a house.

It does, a bit. That's why it fits pretty well in a neighbourhood of big century houses.

[Jarrod]

Originally Posted by mcminsen

June 1 '15, my pics

I had the pleasure of staying in this hotel during a major concert at Rogers. My room faced the concrete wall. Plus, only one elevator working for the whole building. So...much... fun...

[matthew6]

You find these types of apartments in the grungier sections of the east end of Montreal. There are worse examples actually but it's too depressing for me to look up... Its those balconies that kill me.... who the hell would ever want to use them?

https://www.google.ca/maps/@45.542564,-7...3m4!1e1!3m2!1soyrQRnIxgKegnkAKNxdGhw!2e0

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by matthew6

You find these types of apartments in the grungier sections of the east end of Montreal. There are worse examples actually but it's too depressing for me to look up... Its those balconies that kill me.... who the hell would ever want to use them?

https://www.google.ca/maps/@45.542564,-7...3m4!1e1!3m2!1soyrQRnIxgKegnkAKNxdGhw!2e0

They almost seem like jail bars (the balcony railings).

[SignalHillHiker]

I don't mind that MTL one. Such balconies would be very well used in a neighbourhood like mine. Needs colourful clapboard to keep things happy but I love the lifestyle they'd support.

[HomeInMyShoes]

Originally Posted by lio45

That's actually a very good example: no one would ever think of putting any of the largest existing grain elevators in the country on an "ugliest buildings" list. But if a gigantic caricature of a grain elevator stood out by being visually dominating (taller/bigger than everything else) in downtown Winnipeg, everyone'd complain about it, rightfully. They'd hate it, and wish it was demolished.

In fact I'm fully okay with The Rooms as a top ten ugly for "ugly in context" or "most hated buildings" but not for "ugly in a vacuum". There are TONS of buildings uglier than this inoffensive, super simple mix of basic geometric figures.

Context is a big part of architecture (at least it should be), we don't live in vacuums and we should design our buildings to work with their surroundings. Sometimes contrast is what is needed and we all need some variety. "We have to change in order to stay the same" was a quote from Philip Glass and a very apt statement when it comes to art and architectural history.

I have to disagree with the grain elevator dominating the city being completely out of context. Regina built the FCC building and its genes most definitely come from the prairies and grain elevators and it turned out interesting and one of Regina's better buildings.


from Regina in pictures (Miggs blog).

There's no mistaking the history in this form, but I also believe while it's not an actual grain elevator the homage to farming within Regina's context makes a lot of sense. As much as say there's a rural/urban split, Regina exists because of farming originally and while Regina has moved on to some oil and potash and steel and other options, the general vibe in the city is still linked to how things are going in the growing season.

I love The Rooms for its story it tells, but it needed to look more like actual large scale building instead of like it was just growth-rayed into existence. Its contextual failure certainly makes it a candidate for ugliest and a great talking point on the context of form and as O-tacular pointed out the effect of materials as well.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by HomeInMyShoes

I have to disagree with the grain elevator dominating the city being completely out of context. Regina built the FCC building and its genes most definitely come from the prairies and grain elevators and it turned out interesting and one of Regina's better buildings.

The reference to grain elevators in the FCC building is so vague that frankly I'm not convinced it even exists. That's as opposed to The Rooms which is an unmistakably blown up version of outport buildings.

The grain elevator equivalent would be taking something like this and blowing it up x 50

[niccanning]

Originally Posted by HomeInMyShoes

I love The Rooms for its story it tells, but it needed to look more like actual large scale building instead of like it was just growth-rayed into existence. Its contextual failure certainly makes it a candidate for ugliest and a great talking point on the context of form and as O-tacular pointed out the effect of materials as well.

I've always liked The Rooms (partially because I picture the colourful wooden houses falling out of it and planting themselves in the hillside) but this is a really good argument which makes me understand why people must hate it

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by esquire

The reference to grain elevators in the FCC building is so vague that frankly I'm not convinced it even exists. That's as opposed to The Rooms which is an unmistakably blown up version of outport buildings.

The grain elevator equivalent would be taking something like this and blowing it up x 50

Interesting bank. Reminds me of this thing in Calgary's Westhills shopping centre. Kind of like a giant barn. Funny enough there is no second story and the ceilings are surprisingly low. Must be quite a pigeon roost up top.

https://www.google.ca/maps/@51.017312,-1...3m2!1s8z8JQNUMgkLNrMojTG7Z9g!2e0!6m1!1e1

[lio45]

Originally Posted by esquire

The grain elevator equivalent would be taking something like this and blowing it up x 50

Hahaha... that RBC building...! OMG!

It actually... works, IMO. I even like it

Now if that "grain elevator" was of skyline-dominating proportions to the point of being the Peg's skyline's visual flagship, it would obviously be horrible.

[O-tacular]

This isn't so much an ugly building as it is a strange context. I actually find this building unique and quite nice looking. It's just utterly bizarre that it resides in a barren industrial park.

https://www.google.ca/maps/@51.004414,-1...3m4!1e1!3m2!1srFNSk_8VGSxGVPEeKtCnYA!2e0

[lio45]

Originally Posted by HomeInMyShoes

Context is a big part of architecture (at least it should be), we don't live in vacuums and we should design our buildings to work with their surroundings.

Totally agree, that's what I'm basically saying...

If you asked me which "ugly building" I'd like to magically eliminate,
The Rooms >> Laval Seniors Clocktower

If you asked me which is the ugliest of the two,
Laval Seniors Clocktower >> The Rooms

[The_Architect]

Originally Posted by Hali87

I didn't think it was that bad until I noticed it's not even symmetrical, instead having.. whatever's going on in the top right corner

I... never actually noticed that part. WTF?