The Ugly Canada Thread

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by Daveography

^ Nearly all the major arterials in Calgary look like they were designed to eventually be upgraded to expressways not unlike Glenmore.

Yes it's true. The roads department has a ridiculous amount of sway.

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally Posted by jeremy_haak

The thing that bugs me about it is that in a building where geometry is so important, the windows are just slightly too big, interrupting the lines.

Don't be fooled by the black coloured cladding (concrete composite?) . I find the windows too small.

[niwell]

Originally Posted by Daveography

^ Nearly all the major arterials in Calgary look like they were designed to eventually be upgraded to expressways not unlike Glenmore.

I remember when I was visiting Ontario as a kid it always seemed bizarre to me that major arterials had not only retail strips, but houses with driveways backing directly on to them! I assumed the Calgary mini-expressway with traffic lights at major intersections only was the norm. And the "island" suburban neighbourhoods with only a few entrances that goes along with it.

[SignalHillHiker]

They're always bad.

Our main crosstown arterial. 70 km/hr, minimal intersections - but they're in bunches of three or four in short sequence where they do exist.

It's Columbus Drive from Kilbride to the Avalon Mall.





Then from there it's Prince Philip Parkway until wherever the fuck it ends, Portugal Cove or Torbay or somewhere out in the East End (area of town I go to least - no family or anything there anymore).

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

They're always bad.

Is that a parking garage built on top of the road?

[SignalHillHiker]

No, . Much worse. That's Memorial University's food court. It's much wider than it looks. It includes a huge seating area adjacent to the closest wall, and a row of fast foodish places along the back wall.

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by niwell

I remember when I was visiting Ontario as a kid it always seemed bizarre to me that major arterials had not only retail strips, but houses with driveways backing directly on to them! I assumed the Calgary mini-expressway with traffic lights at major intersections only was the norm. And the "island" suburban neighbourhoods with only a few entrances that goes along with it.

Another thing we have here that my family from Quebec always seems fascinated by is our alleys.

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

No, . Much worse. That's Memorial University's food court. It's much wider than it looks. It includes a huge seating area adjacent to the closest wall, and a row of fast foodish places along the back wall.

That has to be the single strangest location for a food court I have ever seen. I can just imagine the meeting...

"Right. We're all done planning the school's design. Wait, we forgot a food court. I know, let's put it above a highway on the edge of campus. It'll have breathtaking views!"

[SignalHillHiker]

Originally Posted by O-tacular

Another thing we have here that my family from Quebec always seems fascinated by is our alleys.

Back lanes in Winnipeg freaked me out. Twice the street for every house.

We only have a handful of back lanes in the whole city, certainly fewer than 10, and they all have houses on them:



Buying houses that sold their backyards to allow construction as above is hilarious. When I was house shopping, I went in a couple where the back door opened and the fence was RIGHT there before the backyard had been sold to someone else.

So that was the craziest thing about Winnipeg... knowing basically every house you saw had its own lane in the back.

[SignalHillHiker]

Originally Posted by O-tacular

That has to be the single strangest location for a food court I have ever seen. I can just imagine the meeting...

"Right. We're all done planning the school's design. Wait, we forgot a food court. I know, let's put it above a highway on the edge of campus. It'll have breathtaking views!"

That's the heart of campus. You're underestimating how ugly MUN is.

I mean that, it's the heart of activity and probably the geographic heart as well.

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

Back lanes in Winnipeg freaked me out. Twice the street for every house.

We only have a handful of back lanes in the whole city, certainly fewer than 10, and they all have houses on them:



Buying houses that sold their backyards to allow construction as above is hilarious. When I was house shopping, I went in a couple where the back door opened and the fence was RIGHT there before the backyard had been sold to someone else.

So that was the craziest thing about Winnipeg... knowing basically every house you saw had its own lane in the back.

I guess that's more efficient land use. Though my townhouse exits onto an alley / back lane. That's one of the upsides to them. You can avoid having vehicles in front of your house. That's also where they do trash collection from. They can be kinda fun to explore.

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

That's the heart of campus. You're underestimating how ugly MUN is.

I mean that, it's the heart of activity and probably the geographic heart as well.

How big is the campus? Is it mostly that building? If it's spread out like most universities I find it bizarre that they have a highway like that cutting through it.

[SignalHillHiker]

Originally Posted by O-tacular

How big is the campus? Is it mostly that building? If it's spread out like most universities I find it bizarre that they have a highway like that cutting through it.

Oh, it goes right through:

[O-tacular]

That must be so disjointed. Are there any tunnels going under the road or does everyone have to go through that cafeteria bridge? This seems like perfect Newfie joke material

[SignalHillHiker]

There is a whole MUNnel system underground, yeah. And a few skywalks. They put one up everytime someone dies, and take it back down 20 years later.

The Munnels of Memorial University of Newfoundland by david barclay, on Flickr

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

There is a whole MUNnel system underground, yeah. And a few skywalks. They put one up everytime someone dies, and take it back down 20 years later.

The Munnels of Memorial University of Newfoundland by david barclay, on Flickr

I'm so confused. Are you saying that students have died being hit by cars on that road?

Also that hallway looks so depressing.

[SignalHillHiker]

MUN is depressing, yeah.

And yes, several students have been killed crossing the road. Most recent was only a year or two ago. In total, definitely at least 6 since it opened in the 19-whatevers.

IE:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundla...l-captain-succumbs-to-injuries-1.1146348

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

MUN is depressing, yeah.

And yes, several students have been killed crossing the road. Most recent was only a year or two ago. In total, definitely at least 6 since it opened in the 19-whatevers.

IE:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundla...l-captain-succumbs-to-injuries-1.1146348

That's sad but not surprising considering you have a freeway cutting through the middle of the campus. How on earth was that ever considered a good plan?

[holhm22]

Originally Posted by O-tacular

Is that a parking garage built on top of the road?

when you said this, you reminded me of this place I know:

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by holhm22

when you said this, you reminded me of this place I know:

Lol! Where is that? China?