The Ugly Canada Thread - Page 102

SignalHillHiker · #**2021** Posted **Jun 6, 2015, 1:32 PM**

Virtually every single building on the Memorial University campus.

It's the ugliest university I've ever seen, excluding a handful of the oldest and newest buildings. Central Asian, Soviet-era universities have got nothing on Memorial. Joey was obsessed with Canadian/American manufacturing hubs and had an awful inferiority complex about NL. When he wasn't establishing ill-fated factories in the middle of nowhere, he was commissioning public buildings modeled on the very best exurban, industrial Ohio had to offer.

There are even books about how we got so ugly:

McGill-Queen's University Press - Newfoundland Modern

O-tacular · #**2022** Posted **Jun 6, 2015, 6:19 PM**

Maybe I'm missing it but I don't see the soviet inspired architecture in that picture.

SignalHillHiker · #**2023** Posted **Jun 6, 2015, 6:32 PM**

It's not Soviet inspired - it's worse than that (to me). It's based on North American industrial architecture.

O-tacular · #**2024** Posted **Jun 6, 2015, 8:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

It's not Soviet inspired - it's worse than that (to me). It's based on North American industrial architecture.

Current NA industrial buildings are all stick frame buildings with cheap metal siding. This seems to have a lot of glass and brick.

SignalHillHiker · #**2025** Posted **Jun 6, 2015, 9:09 PM**

The glass ones are all new (or renovated). The brick ones are the ones built during Joey's time. One of them, though, has plywood on the exterior. I'm not sure if it's only temporary.

Marty_Mcfly · #**2026** Posted **Jun 6, 2015, 11:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

The glass ones are all new (or renovated). The brick ones are the ones built during Joey's time. One of them, though, has plywood on the exterior. I'm not sure if it's only temporary.

It was meant to be temporary about 15 years ago, and is now permanent. Legit plywood building.

The education and chemistry buildings are good examples of bad architectural practices, though this was probably the style back in the mid 60s. The Science and Arts buildings, however, aren't as bad as I once thought.

Architype · #**2027** Posted **Jun 7, 2015, 12:01 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

Virtually every single building on the Memorial University campus.

It's the ugliest university I've ever seen, excluding a handful of the oldest and newest buildings. Central Asian, Soviet-era universities have got nothing on Memorial. Joey was obsessed with Canadian/American manufacturing hubs and had an awful inferiority complex about NL. When he wasn't establishing ill-fated factories in the middle of nowhere, he was commissioning public buildings modeled on the very best exurban, industrial Ohio had to offer.

There are even books about how we got so ugly:

McGill-Queen's University Press - Newfoundland Modern

[img]https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/482/18525656861_3b216abb06_b.jpg [/img]

At least half of it was built post-Joey, but that didn't really seem to help much.

Klazu · #**2028** Posted **Jun 7, 2015, 3:30 AM**

Lougheed Town Centre is the biggest concentration of commie towers in Metro Vancouver. The new plan for this area will see 30 new 10-60 floor towers being added in the next 30 years, transforming Lougheed completely. Lougheed is where the new Evergreen Line meets Millennium Line.

Trevor3 · #**2029** Posted **Jun 7, 2015, 10:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by O-tacular

Maybe I'm missing it but I don't see the soviet inspired architecture in that picture.

Chemistry-Phyics:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LCoV6BgDfBk/TD30vwS_SmI/AAAAAAAAB6g/V-A-7tEismA/s1600/4q.JPG

And it's cousin, the Education bldg:

http://siti.tesic.org/images/pic02.jpg

Science building:

http://thumbnails.cbc.ca/maven_legacy/thumbnails/498/109/MUN%20Infrastructure.jpg

The purposely forgotten Ingstad building, worth clicking on:
https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Memoria...ca38ed8abfb89:0x6b5a08da64519740!6m1!1e1

Burton's Pond residences:

http://www.alfosool.com/the-edge/images/housing/guy-slider.jpg

Arts & Admin:

http://www.mun.ca/generalcounsel/images/content/232-1311336034.jpg

You know it's bad when the university website avoids showing you any photos of any of the buildings. They just give you maps. The most you get is a photo of the Bruneau Centre or a view of the city from Signal Hill.

Everything, and I mean everything, is paved. It's just depressing.

Architype · #**2030** Posted **Jun 7, 2015, 11:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trevor3

...

Burton's Pond residences:

http://www.alfosool.com/the-edge/images/housing/guy-slider.jpg

Arts & Admin:

http://www.mun.ca/generalcounsel/images/content/232-1311336034.jpg

You know it's bad when the university website avoids showing you any photos of any of the buildings. They just give you maps. The most you get is a photo of the Bruneau Centre or a view of the city from Signal Hill.

Everything, and I mean everything, is paved. It's just depressing.

It's such a shame they had to deface that beautiful blank brick wall with parking signs and lights, etc.. On the other hand, the Arts Building is almost identical to the confed building; obviously they only left out the tower to save money. Often, the most common remedy to uglyful buildings is lots of trees and shrubs, also known as the "nature bandage".

MolsonExport · #**2031** Posted **Jun 8, 2015, 1:56 AM**

There is an ocean of these uglies in London. Aka Soul-Sucking.

They sprout like poisonous toadstools after a rainstorm. And they are taking over London.
https://www.google.ca/maps/@42.988369,-8...3m2!1smAT3I1fK5s7j-HYyTnHp6g!2e0!6m1!1e1

O-tacular · #**2032** Posted **Jun 8, 2015, 2:43 AM**

London looks like a mini Moscow. Still doesn't look as bad as the student housing in Waterloo though. Not sure what I'd even call theirs... it defies categorization.

O-tacular · #**2033** Posted **Jun 8, 2015, 2:45 AM**

I'm curious to see the plywood clad building from the St. John's university.

Pinion · #**2034** Posted **Jun 8, 2015, 7:01 AM**

The new Coast Capital Savings HQ in Surrey is a horrendous eyesore in the middle of what they want to be downtown

Yellow Fever on Flickr

mcminsen · #**2035** Posted **Jun 8, 2015, 8:01 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pinion

The new Coast Capital Savings HQ in Surrey is a horrendous eyesore in the middle of what they want to be downtown

Dwils01 · #**2036** Posted **Jun 8, 2015, 8:41 AM**

Those coloured spandrel panels were on the rendering as well but it didn't look nearly as bad as this.

MolsonExport · #**2037** Posted **Jun 8, 2015, 1:58 PM**

Poor Surrey. It is the Rodney Dangerfield of Western Canada. Can't get no respect.

pterosaurheresies

Metro-One · #**2038** Posted **Jun 8, 2015, 2:01 PM**

Don't worry, on the specific thread itself there are more people who love it than hate it.

I don't feel strong either way, it has a few problems, but I also like how different it is compared to ever other structure in the area.

Pinion has been one of its largest critics as one may guess.

O-tacular · #**2039** Posted **Jun 8, 2015, 5:33 PM**

The biggest problem with the Surrey one is the colours. Otherwise it's kinda cool. Some equally ugly colours can be seen on the WinSport building at COP in Calgary.

gecarchitecture.com

actionplan.ca

Pinion · #**2040** Posted **Jun 8, 2015, 5:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metro-One

Don't worry, on the specific thread itself there are more people who love it than hate it.

I don't feel strong either way, it has a few problems, but I also like how different it is compared to ever other structure in the area.

Pinion has been one of its largest critics as one may guess.

Are you sure you're not confusing me with someone else? I hate the look of it for sure but I can't even find my posts in that thread (on phone) and try to avoid multiple parallel arguments with the Surrey Defence League

I'd disagree that the majority like it too. I mean, most people have eyes.