Place des Peuples [61-77 rue Laurier] | 200m & ?m | 55 & 35 fl | Cancelled

[daud]

Originally Posted by BlueJay

I agree with you 100%. Well said.

My initial reaction was ugh; then I looked again and it was ok. A third look and I am starting to like it. It's bold, different and while it lacks a symmetrical design that I look for in buildings, it's really growing on me. If they cut any corners on material though, this thing could look seriously bad quick.

[ortelius]

It seems some like it, some don't. It's probably not a good enough reception for a project of this scale. At first glance I didn't like it and I still don't like it. I actually liked the old proposal better, though I didn't love that one either. The quality of the rendering doesn't help their cause either. Maybe it's just an initial rendition that will be improved later. That blue colour...not sure. It makes me think of the 150 Elgin colour, not a huge fan.

Of the three super tall projects (this one, Dow Honda, Icon) this is my least favourite.

[daud]

Originally Posted by ortelius

It seems some like it, some don't. It's probably not a good enough reception for a project of this scale. At first glance I didn't like it and I still don't like it. I actually liked the old proposal better, though I didn't love that one either. The quality of the rendering doesn't help their cause either. Maybe it's just an initial rendition that will be improved later. That blue colour...not sure. It makes me think of the 150 Elgin colour, not a huge fan.

Of the three super tall projects (this one, Dow Honda, Icon) this is my least favourite.

Try revisiting the renders a few times.

http://www.brigil.com/news/143-unveiling-place-des-peuples

I've been doing that and am liking this project more and more. I think I am at the "love it" stage now but I started with Ugh. I question whether it will be built though. The Gatineau mayor is waffling and there is strong community resistance to the project.

I kind of get the feeling the design is emulative of a feather though the site says its connecting sky and water.

[Arcologist]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

A total redesign:










http://www.brigil.com/upload/communities/23/bannerPromoFr.pdf


http://www.brigil.com/community/23-61-laurier

Did anybody notice the group of people staring at the giant human in the middle of the last rendering?

And to the left of that, some spider-looking creature?!

(Sorry, I've obviously spent waaaay too much time looking at these, but I just can't make myself like them...)

It reminds me of the "Le Phare" proposal in Quebec City -- interesting design, but WAY out of place -- sticks out like a sore thumb!

[Kitchissippi]

What bothers me most about this design is the monolithic podium. The fact that it is trying to match the museum is not a good thing — it dilutes the museum building's uniqueness and effaces its "nobility" by associating it with what probably will end up being a commercial indoor mall.

The vertical lines on the towers also ruin the stratified aesthetic, which to me on the museum is reminiscent of the badlands in Alberta. It would have been more apropos if the towers continued on with the horizontal lines like the Absolute towers, maybe more evocative of the hoodoos in Drumheller, Alberta:

[jitterbug]

Great discussion -- this is what this forum is all about! (Now if only the decision makers read our posts...)

At least we have quite a bit to chew on in Ottawa these days. I predict that with the new Liberal government in power and more money for cities coming downstream we'll have lots to chew on in here for a few years.

As for the Brigil proposal, I believe it's a shot in the dark at best. Obviously there has to be an actual market for this to even get started, and with all the more advanced condo projects on the Ottawa side of the river (especially the Dows Lake area), nothing of this magnitude will get built on the Gatineau side. Nice try though.

[Marcus CLS]

Mississauga gets the Marilyn Monroe and we get Lobster hands American Horror story: Freak Show.

[Kitchissippi]

I just figured out what these towers really remind me of:

[Vanier]

Those buildings remind of these home audio speakers:

http://www.kef.com/html/en/showroom/flagship_hi-fi_series/blade/overview/

[MoreTrains]

This forum always cracks me up. And I know I am guilty of it too. The whole too bland, too gawdy and — were they thinking stances. There never seems to be a happy medium, expecially when something like this comes up. It is trying to break up the monotony of square and conventional. I did prefer the original design, but this will be a great start for a downtown revitalization in Gatineau.

[bikegypsy]

Originally Posted by MoreTrains

This forum always cracks me up. And I know I am guilty of it too. The whole too bland, too gawdy and — were they thinking stances. There never seems to be a happy medium, expecially when something like this comes up. It is trying to break up the monotony of square and conventional. I did prefer the original design, but this will be a great start for a downtown revitalization in Gatineau.

Yep! My thoughts exactly. I heartily welcome this proposal as it is a clear attempt to spice up the architectural landscape of both Gatineau and Ottawa.

[Harley613]

I showed this proposal to my Fiancee, I didn't tell her what it is, I just asked 'what do you think of this?'. She said 'EWWWW, those are the ugliest buildings I have ever seen!'

[bikegypsy]

Originally Posted by Harley613

I showed this proposal to my Fiancee, I didn't tell her what it is, I just asked 'what do you think of this?'. She said 'EWWWW, those are the ugliest buildings I have ever seen!'

To balance things out, you now have to post a picture of her.

[jitterbug]

Originally Posted by Harley613

I showed this proposal to my Fiancee, I didn't tell her what it is, I just asked 'what do you think of this?'. She said 'EWWWW, those are the ugliest buildings I have ever seen!'

LOL

Interesting that Brigil hasn't shown what the proposed buildings would look like from in front of Parliament Hill. Would the Brigil towers be visible (poking out from behind the neo-gothic spires), and if so, would it forever spoil the iconic scene of Canada's Parliament and the Gatineau Hills in the background? Does the NCC not have a say in this?

Don't get me wrong, I like (attractive) tall towers, but not at all costs. If this were to go through, the risk is that decades of height restrictions on the Ottawa side could be all for nothing.

[Boxster]

Originally Posted by jitterbug

LOL

Interesting that Brigil hasn't shown what the proposed buildings would look like from in front of Parliament Hill. Would the Brigil towers be visible (poking out from behind the neo-gothic spires), and if so, would it forever spoil the iconic scene of Canada's Parliament and the Gatineau Hills in the background? Does the NCC not have a say in this?

Don't get me wrong, I like (attractive) tall towers, but not at all costs. If this were to go through, the risk is that decades of height restrictions on the Ottawa side could be all for nothing.

The NCC should be abolished.

[jitterbug]

Originally Posted by Boxster

The NCC should be abolished.

And replaced with what? OK, probably no one here is a big NCC fan, but it actually does have a worthwhile purpose. If you've ever been on or along the Rideau Canal, or hiked, biked, or skied in the greenbelt or in Gatineau Park, or admired the stretch of historic buildings along Sussex Drive, to name just a few areas, you can thank the NCC for all of these. Can the NCC do better and be more agile? Absolutely.

[rocketphish]

Since we're all sharing...

My first thought was that it resembled one of those nasty-looking Cambrian sea creatures rearing up out of the river:






http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/link/hist_02.html
http://www.livescience.com/17348-big-eyes-marine-predator.html

[Boxster]

Originally Posted by jitterbug

And replaced with what? OK, probably no one here is a big NCC fan, but it actually does have a worthwhile purpose. If you've ever been on or along the Rideau Canal, or hiked, biked, or skied in the greenbelt or in Gatineau Park, or admired the stretch of historic buildings along Sussex Drive, to name just a few areas, you can thank the NCC for all of these. Can the NCC do better and be more agile? Absolutely.

Do other cities have the equivalent of the NCC?

[jitterbug]

Originally Posted by Boxster

Do other cities have the equivalent of the NCC?

I suppose the District of Columbia (Washington D.C.) is similar in that the federal government (US Congress) has authority over the affairs of the city, not unlike the NCC having authority over some aspects of Ottawa and surrounding area. Obviously both Washington and Ottawa are national capitals and have a mandate beyond the local or provincial/state levels. In many respects, their only raison d'etre are the fact that they're political capitals and "belong" to all citizens of their respective countries. Interestingly, Washington D.C. also has height restrictions and consequently there are no high-rises to be seen in the core. The result is quite spectacular with the Capitol dome and Washington Monument dominating the skyline.

[rocketphish]

The United States has the National Capital Planning Commission:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Capital_Planning_Commission

While Australia has the National Capital Authority:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Capital_Authority

I imagine that there are other examples.