The Ugly Canada Thread

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Non non non

Hon Hon Hon!

[AirGuitarChampion]

Originally Posted by Harrij

This was just unleashed by the City of Edmonton on twitter. I don't really know what the tower portion is trying to be.



At least it's "subject to change".

This is the new technology - energy and structural efficiency - by not requiring numerous large windows. Rather, interior floor to ceiling LED video screens showing what is outside. Where you see windows are really just antiquated rescue ports, required by "the man".

It would actually be cool if they could pack the seams between all those panels with LED strips that could either show streaking light chases or turn it up so bright that the building looks like it's going to explode.

[MolsonExport]

For old times' sake:

montrealsimon

[MolsonExport]

[IMG]via Imgflip Meme Maker[/IMG]

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

[IMG]via Imgflip Meme Maker[/IMG]

Lol!

[O-tacular]

Forgot to post about this monstrosity next door to the Oratoire St. Joseph in Montreal. There was an amazing view of the city in the distance, the mountain behind you, the impressively huge St. Joseph's and then just to the left some soviet era radio towers jutting out from concrete prison slabs that look straight out of the U.S.S.R.. The most unabashedly hideous complex of buildings I have seen from that era.

[O-tacular]

This has potential to become a future commie block.

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

40 widmer:

[SkahHigh]

Originally Posted by O-tacular

Forgot to post about this monstrosity next door to the Oratoire St. Joseph in Montreal. There was an amazing view of the city in the distance, the mountain behind you, the impressively huge St. Joseph's and then just to the left some soviet era radio towers jutting out from concrete prison slabs that look straight out of the U.S.S.R.. The most unabashedly hideous complex of buildings I have seen from that era.

Forest Hill is not that bad... It's student residences. Sure they're slabs but I've seen much worse in more central areas.

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by SkahHigh

Forest Hill is not that bad... It's student residences. Sure they're slabs but I've seen much worse in more central areas.

Seriously? Waterloo student housing looks less depressing. What really clinches it is the radio towers on top.

[esquire]

The word "commieblock" gets tossed around pretty loosely around here, but that complex in Montreal looks straight up commieblock. I mean, if you told me those photos were of a workers' housing complex in Volgograd, I'd believe it.

[dleung]

Don't see how this complex is particularly bad. Brutalism is still > plain commie block. I rather live in one of those than one of these plastic-corniced piles, which are again, ubiquitous:

[Rico Rommheim]

I live next to the Forest Hill complex, and I got to say, I've grown to like them. The towers are well maintained, the newly renovated central square between the towers is legit, and I like the classic 1960's design. It's one of the rare brutalism successes in this city (along with Habitat). I often go there and walk around just for the fun of gazing at those huge things. But I understand the perception of their ugliness, and I won't argue against that point of view. But they are iconic in the neighbourhood. A true landmark, in a neighbourhood that already contains many.

And student residences? Last I checked the towers were either luxury units or full of families, although I'm sure many students from the nearby University of Montreal live there.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Rico Rommheim

I live next to the Forest Hill complex, and I got to say, I've grown to like them. The towers are well maintained, the newly renovated central square between the towers is legit, and I like the classic 1960's design. It's one of the rare brutalism successes in this city (along with Habitat). I often go there and walk around just for the fun of gazing at those huge things. But I understand the perception of their ugliness, and I won't argue against that point of view. But they are iconic in the neighbourhood. A true landmark, in a neighbourhood that already contains many.

And student residences? Last I checked the towers were either luxury units or full of families.

This is KEY!

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by dleung

Don't see how this complex is particularly bad. Brutalism is still > plain commie block. I rather live in one of those than one of these plastic-corniced piles, which are again, ubiquitous:

To me it sounds like you're more offended by the idea of the fakeness than by the actual appearance. Commie block = real concrete / that = plastic cornice. No human being with eyes can possibly think those student houses in Montreal with the massive lighting rod antennas on the top are nice looking.

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by Rico Rommheim

I live next to the Forest Hill complex, and I got to say, I've grown to like them. The towers are well maintained, the newly renovated central square between the towers is legit, and I like the classic 1960's design. It's one of the rare brutalism successes in this city (along with Habitat). I often go there and walk around just for the fun of gazing at those huge things. But I understand the perception of their ugliness, and I won't argue against that point of view. But they are iconic in the neighbourhood. A true landmark, in a neighbourhood that already contains many.

And student residences? Last I checked the towers were either luxury units or full of families, although I'm sure many students from the nearby University of Montreal live there.

i like Habitat and see why it's appealing and interesting. This thing is just a turd bucket. It's especially egregious in light of the fact it is so visible beside the oratoire St. Joseph.

As for the 'luxury units'....

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by Acajack

This is KEY!

What's to maintain? It's concrete.

[Rico Rommheim]

Originally Posted by O-tacular

i like Habitat and see why it's appealing and interesting. This thing is just a turd bucket. It's especially egregious in light of the fact it is so visible beside the oratoire St. Joseph.

As for the 'luxury units'....

I've been in one of them last year. The units are large and spacious. 9 foot ceiling and all. I wouldn't necessarily 'luxury', but 'luxury' as in lower upper middle class. A good 1200$ a month I'd say.

[Xelebes]

Originally Posted by O-tacular

What's to maintain? It's concrete.

It could easily become a blight with cracked concrete, patches of grass among the dirt, copious amounts of debris strewn around.

[O-tacular]

Westwinds in Calgary's NE is one of the city's most 'interesting' areas. It's not so much that the buildings themselves are ugly, but the neon coloured signs festooning every window are quite obnoxious. The names are also hilarious. See Lovely Lovely's Banquet in this one:

https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Lovely+...0000000000000:0xbc4e1650f5ecc26d!6m1!1e1

More signs everywhere:

https://www.google.ca/maps/@51.1076888,-...eWj_K08GIIfYfr2o4V5IA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

I think it looks worse in person but you get the idea. There are also Bollywood posters plastering every second empty bay's windows.

[srperrycgy]

Originally Posted by O-tacular

Westwinds in Calgary's NE is one of the city's most 'interesting' areas. It's not so much that the buildings themselves are ugly, but the neon coloured signs festooning every window are quite obnoxious. The names are also hilarious. See Lovely Lovely's Banquet in this one:

I think it looks worse in person but you get the idea. There are also Bollywood posters plastering every second empty bay's windows.

Ahh yes, Westwinds Industrial. The Indian food & sweets (that I can't have anymore ) are decent in these places though. Spent a few years at Nortel/Flextronics nearby which is now the Calgary Police Service HQ fortress.