National Music Centre | 7 Floors | Construction

[suburbia]

Originally Posted by Surrealplaces

In this pic, the tile looks much more gray. Maybe this is what Suburbia meant by the 'massive brutalist building' This is one thing I love about the tile.....every time I see it, it looks different depending on the sky, and angles of sun etc...


NMC by Construction Mania, on Flickr

I think colour has something to do with it, but I saw it last during the evening, and you couldn't really see much of a colour. What was reinforced, however, was how much of this building is not transparent, with very few windows evident. It just looks like a triple-wide toilet - just massive. In this new picture, it just looks like a big pile of bricks, so quite like some of its neighbours. Still, it will be unique and notable. People will remember it no doubt. I'm hoping for some great lighting to help the outside though.

[nick.flood]

delete

[Calgarian]

I think once the copper coloured tiles get installed they will contrast quite nicely. I don't see anything brutalist about this building, I see something very unique and am thrilled they are building it!

[Big Sky]

Agreed. This building will look amazing.

[CorporateWhore]

From certain angles some of the tiles look like other buildings under construction.

[suburbia]

Originally Posted by CorporateWhore

From certain angles some of the tiles look like other buildings under construction.

Agreed.

[Chadillaccc]

Some of the tiles are even sky and cloud coloured! Wow! What will they think of next!?!?

[suburbia]

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

Some of the tiles are even sky and cloud coloured! Wow! What will they think of next!?!?

I think they are actually LED lined.

[WhipperSnapper]

Don't see anything Brutalist about it. Either I'm or others are confused about the movement.

Unmistakably terra-cotta. Haven't seen this size of tile before. Looks really good.

[Habanero]

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper

Don't see anything Brutalist about it. Either I'm or others are confused about the movement.

Unmistakably terra-cotta. Haven't seen this size of tile before. Looks really good.

You and others aren't confused, it's more one member that's confused.

[suburbia]

Originally Posted by O-tacular

For once I actually agree with you suburbia. This building has always reminded me of brutalist structures (but the good kind). My hope is the reflective tiles will give it some warmth and light.

Like OT, I think the form of the building and general lack of windows gives the optical perception of some elements of brutalism, but clearly it is not brutalist in that it is not a massive hunk of concrete.

I drove by again today, and certainly now see the different shades in the tiles. Almost like a smaller tile and muted version of how south health campus is finished. I did find the colour a pinch on the gray side though, but am hopeful the more golden tiles will brighten things up, and per a prior post, am hopeful for good lighting on this one.

[Surrealplaces]

Originally Posted by suburbia

Like OT, I think the form of the building and general lack of windows gives the optical perception of some elements of brutalism, but clearly it is not brutalist in that it is not a massive hunk of concrete.

I drove by again today, and certainly now see the different shades in the tiles. Almost like a smaller tile and muted version of how south health campus is finished. I did find the colour a pinch on the gray side though, but am hopeful the more golden tiles will brighten things up, and per a prior post, am hopeful for good lighting on this one.

The tile is grayer than I would have liked. It's definitely a look that will be really nice when the sun is reflecting off the tile. On a grayish hazy day it may look like concrete (like the pic above) I guess we'll see how the accent tile looks.

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally Posted by suburbia

Like OT, I think the form of the building and general lack of windows gives the optical perception of some elements of brutalism, but clearly it is not brutalist in that it is not a massive hunk of concrete.

I drove by again today, and certainly now see the different shades in the tiles. Almost like a smaller tile and muted version of how south health campus is finished. I did find the colour a pinch on the gray side though, but am hopeful the more golden tiles will brighten things up, and per a prior post, am hopeful for good lighting on this one.

A massive hunk of concrete is not Brutalism either. Brutalism is ornate in the details. It takes its cues from traditional styles like Beaux Arts and was a clear alternative to the modernism movement.

[The Fisher Account]

Starting to wonder if we'll ever see tiles on the north side!

[Surrealplaces]

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper

A massive hunk of concrete is not Brutalism either. Brutalism is ornate in the details. It takes its cues from traditional styles like Beaux Arts and was a clear alternative to the modernism movement.

He might be referring more to Beton Brut, the popular choice in Brutalist architecture. I could be wrong here, but couldn't brutalism be ornate or a large wall of concrete?

[suburbia]

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper

A massive hunk of concrete is not Brutalism either. Brutalism is ornate in the details. It takes its cues from traditional styles like Beaux Arts and was a clear alternative to the modernism movement.

Move on. I concede you are more an expert on concrete.

And I apologize for suggesting the National Music Centre has elements I feel are indeed ornate. Certainly more so in my opinion than the Calgary Planetarium building, which many have also accused of being brutalist.

[Blue_Cypress]

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper

A massive hunk of concrete is not Brutalism either. Brutalism is ornate in the details. It takes its cues from traditional styles like Beaux Arts and was a clear alternative to the modernism movement.

Please provide some clear examples of 'ornate' brutalism.

[Calgarian]

The Brutalism I'm familiar with usually has concrete fins like the old CBE building has at the windows, but that's usually about it for ornamentation.

[suburbia]

Originally Posted by Calgarian

The Brutalism I'm familiar with usually has concrete fins like the old CBE building has at the windows, but that's usually about it for ornamentation.

I don't think fins and ornamentation are actually the primary definers of brutalism, at least not according to this web-site, which also includes a number of examples from Toronto:
http://www.ontarioarchitecture.com/Brutalist.htm

The development of béton brut, a concrete with no formal finish, was intrinsically linked to this style. When the formwork is lifted from the poured concrete, the rough, naturally textured surface is the final finish.
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Most windows in Brutalist buildings do not open and the buildings are thoroughly climate- controlled. The design of the building is largely dependent on the shape and placement of the various room masses.

While not concrete, the tiles do create a unique texture on the NMC, and most certainly, the exterior design of the building is based on contours of the interior rooms and how they have been stacked together to create the massing. Lastly, no matter how you cut it, there are not many windows.

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally Posted by Blue_Cypress

Please provide some clear examples of 'ornate' brutalism.

Ornate wasn't the best choice of wording. The facades are heavy on articulation and details. I don't see any connection to a wall of grey tile.