Great Canadian Skyline Thread II

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally Posted by Ramako

The above factors are good but I think a possible x-factor is the overall quality of the architecture, which none of the above factors quite capture.

I would say variety more than covers it as the details of individual buildings are hard to see.

Some of those categories are more relevant than others in defining a good skyline. The values should be weighted to reflect that

[BretttheRiderFan]

Originally Posted by Tosin007

EXACTLY Thank you! That's why Vancouver's is beautiful, because most of the good Skyline Photo's can be taken from Balconies & Rooftops as well anyways.
Also u guys act like Toronto doesn't have ALOT of Downtown Residential it DOES! So many Waterfront Properties in Downtown Toronto are Residential
& Not Commercial, but it still makes Toronto's Skyline look great, so why can't people like Vancouver's too? Game Changers for the Toronto Skyline are City Place &
those 2 New Sleek Condo's u always see in the newer Toronto Photo's/ Aerials. & Many of the Tall Proposal's are Condo's too!
So ya!

Outside of the relatively small financial district, the Vancouver skyline is dominated by condos to an extent that just doesn't exist with Toronto.

[BretttheRiderFan]

I really don't agree with weighing natural surroundings equally with the built form of a skyline (and yes, I'm aware that the technical definition of a "skyline" has to take it into account, but it's just a personal beef). I mean, if you built a few 10-15 floor residential towers in Banff would it suddenly be a challenger on these lists? At some point I feel it's just ridiculous to even rank Quebec City within spitting distance of Calgary, even if it's a beautiful aesthetic from the St. Lawrence.

[csbvan]

Originally Posted by BretttheRiderFan

Outside of the relatively small financial district, the Vancouver skyline is dominated by condos to an extent that just doesn't exist with Toronto.

Toronto has a fantastic skyline, but it is now completely dominated by condos:

[BretttheRiderFan]

Eh I dunno, even from the least generous angles, the financial district in TO is still the defining feature of the skyline (apart from CNT).

I personally quite like what the condo developments have added to the downtown core, the saddest aspect is the lack of diversity in design, but that's no different from Vancouver's downtown which is much more heavily condo-oriented throughout the entire area.

[csbvan]

I don't disagree that the condo dominated downtown skylines are lacking diversity. That being said, Canada has a particular urban style and that style has increased urban density for livelier streets. This is opposed to downtowns with big office districts and nothing else, and these can end up being evening ghost towns. So yes, every building can't be revolutionary, that can be a disappointment. In 20 years our cities will have many outdated buildings. That being said, we have built cities that may prove to have permanent urban street life, and long lasting design principles. While they will look dated for several decades, in 100 years we may have created cities that stand the test of time. It is difficult to know at this point in time.

Anyways, back on topic:


http://www.mikestewart.ca/cambie-35th-ea...izabeth-park-pricing-floor-plans-to-come

[BretttheRiderFan]

Stunning!

[ainvan]

Indeed, stunning pic of Lotusland!

[ue]

A bit late to the party, but I'll add my two cents...

Although I'd say Toronto has the best skyline in Canada, I have real admiration for Montreal's and Calgary's skylines. Even with more recent booms, both cities still manage to have a skyline littered with distinctive and varied styles. Perhaps its a factor of being a more commercially dominated skyline? Montreal just feels very classic and sleek in its skyline. You can tell it is a gritty behemoth of important stature. Calgary is a more modern take on this, but it isn't in any way cookie cutter. The only qualm I have is that Brookfield will overtake the Bow as the city's tallest, which is a far more distinctive and iconic skyscraper worthy of the title than the boxy Brookfield. It's making up for it with Telus Sky, though.

Toronto's skyline is great, dynamic, and varied. The only unfortunate thing is that from the lakefront (the most well-known vantage), its been muddied by the same generic glass boxes that have made Vancouver famous. The more distinctive 20th century skyscrapers are being shrouded as the Harbourfront fills in. I would say this is just a fact of North American architecture now, but Calgary clearly disproves this. Toronto could take a few pointers from Calgary in this regard, as well as obvious world cities like New York, though I think Australian cities could really provide some good inspiration for Toronto (and Vancouver).

Edmonton's skyline is very stubby and meh currently, though the immediate core is decently varied. The recent dissolution of the height overlay, causing the tabletop to be disrupted really proves how stubby the skyline is. But I think with the construction boom surrounding the Ice District, the Edmonton skyline will end up better than Vancouver's by the end of the decade, especially if you take out the gorgeous backdrop.

[giallo]

Originally Posted by ue

But I think with the construction boom surrounding the Ice District, the Edmonton skyline will end up better than Vancouver's by the end of the decade, especially if you take out the gorgeous backdrop.

I've thought about this too, and it could very well happen. Edmonton has some very well place tall buildings currently coming up from the ground. Very exciting to watch.

My hope is that we see something really cool proposed/approved this year or next in Vancouver. Something tall and beautiful enough to really give Vancouver's skyline a punch in the arm. One well-placed, non-spandrel, no-balcony skyscraper in the CBD would do wonders.

Whatever happens, I'm always happy to see Canada's city skylines expanding and evolving. I really don't understand the versus BS that keeps cropping up in these threads.

[Tosin007]

Originally Posted by BretttheRiderFan

Outside of the relatively small financial district, the Vancouver skyline is dominated by condos to an extent that just doesn't exist with Toronto.

Ya but East Village, & the West End & Beltline are all a Part of Calgary's Skyline too! (They are mostly Residential). So like @ least 1/3rd of Calgary's Skyline is Residential. (Yes Vancouver has more Per-Capita), but doesn't it have more Commercial Buildings still? Besides Vancouver's Skyline is alot bigger too!
I understand some people preferring Calgary's Skyline over Vancouver but I still prefer Vancouver's. Maybe Once Telus Sky is done I will change my mind but for now Vancouver's looks better to me.

[Tosin007]

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper

Quality has dropped in Toronto since the days the CBD dominated the downtown skyline. I don't think anyone here needs a reminder that Toronto has many residential towers or that the scale of those towers is massive compared to their counterparts in Vancouver.

I guess so. Doesn't Toronto have a 90 Storey Proposal too that's entirely Commercial? That's impressive. (Even for a Residential).

[Tosin007]

Originally Posted by hipster duck

To get nerdy and quantify it, I would say a skyline is some combo of variety (often based on history), height, urban surroundings and natural surroundings.

On a scale of 0-10, I would say:

Variety / Height / Urban Surr / Natural Surr [TOTAL]

Toronto 6 8 6 4 [24]
Montreal 5 3 8 5 [23]
Quebec City 6 1 7 8 [22]
Vancouver 2 3 5 10 [20]
Calgary 4 7 3 4 [18]
Halifax 3 2 5 6 [16]
Winnipeg 4 3 4 3 [14]
Edmonton 3 4 3 4 [14]
Mississauga 2 6 1 1 [10]

Some comparisons:

New York 10 9 10 7 [36]
Rio de Janeiro 3 2 8 10 [23]
Hong Kong 8 10 9 9 [36]
Chicago 9 9 9 4 [31]

How does Vancouver get a 3 for Height? Should be a 4 if you ask me! The City has 12 Buildings over 40 Storey's. (& an additional 5 more over 40 Storey's currently under construction). Nvm I think u adjusted it no?

[BretttheRiderFan]

Originally Posted by Tosin007

Ya but East Village, & the West End & Beltline are all a Part of Calgary's Skyline too! (They are mostly Residential). So like @ least 1/3rd of Calgary's Skyline is Residential. (Yes Vancouver has more Per-Capita), but doesn't it have more Commercial Buildings still? Besides Vancouver's Skyline is alot bigger too!
I understand some people preferring Calgary's Skyline over Vancouver but I still prefer Vancouver's. Maybe Once Telus Sky is done I will change my mind but for now Vancouver's looks better to me.

What does Calgary have to do with my comment that you replied to?

[landpirate]

Best skylines:
Toronto
Montreal-Calgary
Vancouver

Best cities overall (including culture, entertainment, quality of life, etc.):
Toronto
Montreal
Vancouver
Calgary

Best natural environment/weather:
Vancouver
Toronto
Montreal
Calgary

[Beedok]

Since others are doing a list:
1. Montreal (variety, the way it blends seemlessly into the city, pleasing designs)
2. Winnpeg (it's smaller than Montreal, but to me covers every qualitative front pretty perfectly, the best mid-sized skyline I've seen)
3. Vancouver (very high quality designs and material, that Hong Kong esque wall of buildings, and strong supporting skylines in every direction)
4. Toronto (it's big... other aspects are getting better, in a few years it'll certainly pass Vancouver, but for now the sides are just too steep)
5. Calgary, from the right angle (there's some really clean designs)
6. Hamilton (partly home town bias, partly that I like the near complete lack of focus, tall buildings are just springled around the city randomly)
7. Edmonton from the right angle (it's really long)
8. Quebec City (it's cool, has variety, a nice natural settling, but it's just a little too sparse)
9. Yellowknife (cool landscape, and so seriously over performing it gets bonus points)

Honourable mentions:
Regina. Saskatoon. Ottawa in ~10 years. Victoria (more a cityscape though). Saguenay and St. John's (both also more cityscapes because of the hill).

Dishonourable mentions:
Ottawa today (it's in that sweet spot of you having to look up, but so slightly you also over do it). Edmonton from the wrong angle (where did the skyline go???). Calgary from the wrong angle (there's also some very messy designs, and at some angles they completely dominate the skyline).

A good city doesn't need a good skyline though, obviously.

[Wishblade]

Originally Posted by O-tacular

I like Halifax a lot but as far as skylines go it has virtually none. Sure it has a waterfront and a bridge, but not really a place full of skyscrapers imo. Why would you place that ahead of Toronto?

For reference here is the Halifax skyline:

[Martin Mtl]

https://www.instagram.com/p/BIeWyVIDuto/?tagged=livemontreal


https://www.instagram.com/p/BIePESXjNvh/?taken-by=lodionysos


https://www.instagram.com/p/BIeLlWxgGVN/?taken-by=steveglwalsh


https://www.instagram.com/p/BIfR26VjzsZ/?taken-by=ondrejsemerak


https://www.instagram.com/p/BIegQQFhG6E/?taken-by=goodlifemtl


https://www.instagram.com/p/BIXKk3aAAK-/?taken-by=fatma_khazala

[905er]

Here's my list:

1. Toronto
2. Calgary
3. Vancouver
4. Montreal
5. Edmonton
6. Mississauga
7. Halifax
8. Winnipeg
9. Ottawa
10. Burnaby

Honourable Mentions: medium-small city skylines... These cities have great potential and will change soon with some new additions. Sask city developments tend to take a while to start.

1. Regina
2. Hamilton
3. Quebec City
4. Victoria
5. Niagara Falls
6. London
7. Saskatoon
8. Saint John
9. Kitchener-Waterloo
10. tie: Windsor
10. tie: Moncton

[Nouvellecosse]

It's so weird now walking around town and seeing these mysterious skyline mirages popping up after so many years thinking it was real, then finding out it was virtually non-existent.






Hmm... I wonder if any of the power lines are real or if they're just part of the illusion...