The Ugly Canada Thread

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by jeremy_haak

My favourite example of facadism from 1971: the Tin House Courtyard in the Byward Market in Ottawa. You'll all find it particularly egregious since the house wasn't even originally located there.

To me that's pretty cool and not egregious at all.

Of course, I am very used to it.

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper

I believe this one won a urbantoronto contest for the stupidest facadism.

https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.6683387,-...dBzLaB6DBWYcQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1


It's so bad that, I admit, I kinda like it.

What a grotesque, Donald Trumpian facade job! How did that ever get approved? Calgary's biggest facade debacle remains the old York hotel facade that's sitting in a warehouse somewhere waiting indefinitely for construction to begin on the building south of the Bow that was to be the 'cultural' portion of the project but predictably got axed after the bait and switch occurred to allow for the otherwise impossibly large parkade spanning two blocks.

On a brighter note the old King Eddy restoration as part of the Canadian Music Centre (now Studio Bell) was exceptionally well executed.

[O-tacular]

I disagree with all those who so vehemently hate power poles on city streets. I find they add texture and grit to the urban environment and also provide a place for posters to hang stuff which is always interesting and useful. I love Vancouver's wooden power poles.

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by niwell

I didn't see that thread but I hope this one was on it: https://goo.gl/maps/ibmK1Kyarpj


It at least was done quite a while ago now. I agree with the Bedford one - it's kind of funny more than anything.

Why?! It looks like the entrance to a funeral home now.

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper

I totally forgot about this one. Much worse.

I totally agree. Bedford makes me laugh. Same can be said with the stone tower in some otherwise anonymous Calgary subdivision.

Which tower is that? I can't think of any stone towers in Calgary's suburbs that have any facadism or anything. Or were you referring to the laughable 'castle' tower in Kincora with the cellphone broadcasting equipment in it?

[someone123]

I have probably already posted this one:





http://halifaxbloggers.ca/noticedinnovascotia/2015/01/saint-pauls-parish-hall/

[OutOfTowner]

Originally Posted by O-tacular

Why?! It looks like the entrance to a funeral home now.

That thing looks like a 90's version of Kung Foo Kondo!

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by OutOfTowner

There's this 70's thing across from Metro Sherbrooke. Looks much worse in person. They were going for the giant Chinese restaurant look:



Another view of Egg Foo Condo

Reminds me of these things in the Beltline. Montreal's is better and less Soviet looking though.

https://www.google.ca/maps/@51.0422316,-...tgOXLRWViU6LQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

https://www.google.ca/maps/@51.0392901,-...3b8-nbdMUILkW7nS0ofpg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by someone123

I have probably already posted this one:





http://halifaxbloggers.ca/noticedinnovascotia/2015/01/saint-pauls-parish-hall/

How many amazing buildings were razed in the 60's and 70's to build these government monstrosities?

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by OutOfTowner

That thing looks like a 90's version of Kung Foo Kondo!

Yeah I can see it. Montreal seems to have at least dodged those ugly 90's condos unlike much of the rest of the country.

[O-tacular]

I miss MolsonExport in this thread. We need updates from London and K/W.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by O-tacular

How many amazing buildings were razed in the 60's and 70's to build these government monstrosities?

I think that may have originally been built for Canada Trust. Now as far as I know it is just a private office building, not owned by any level of government.

Either way, Halifax lost an enormous number of good heritage buildings in the 1960's and 70's.

[O-tacular]

From the proposals thread. What an ugly mish-mash of bastardized styles. Where to begin? The two level of balconies that are straight as opposed to wavy like everything else but that are clad exactly the same and so look sloppy and accidental? The hole in the middle near the top.... the fact it's a blatant and poorly done knock off of Aqua in Chicago... The useless grey frames....

Originally Posted by Martin Mtl

The tower will add even more density to this little cluster...


https://www.instagram.com/p/BOkDWjRgzQf/?taken-by=stphnpqt76

Edit: In addition this cluster of new towers looks particularly suburban to me. The Marriott is just... blah.... and the other tower has the same cheap beige stucco look to it. Montreal could do without this kind of shit. The lack of new buildings over the last 20 years could end up being a blessing in the end. Hopefully they avoid this type of crap with all the development near the hockey arena.

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by someone123

I think that may have originally been built for Canada Trust. Now as far as I know it is just a private office building, not owned by any level of government.

Either way, Halifax lost an enormous number of good heritage buildings in the 1960's and 70's.

So did most of the continent I think. There are absolutely heinous examples in most cities I can think of.

[O-tacular]

Some nice condos in Edmonchuck...

[HomeInMyShoes]

^At least its not circus-clown coloured?

If we changed the colours it could look like a Playmobile dollhouse. Actually, I just looked at images and the Playmobile dollhouses have more design integrity.

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally Posted by OutOfTowner

Code? More like stupidity. "This corner needs an oversized p.o.s. because.. because it's a corner!"

The codes that prevent fires from spreading from one building to another aren't stupid. The tower isn't a p.o.s. It's just in the wrong place. There are hundreds if not thousands of buildings in the wrong place across Canada. It isn't fair to single this one out.

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally Posted by O-tacular

On a brighter note the old King Eddy restoration as part of the Canadian Music Centre (now Studio Bell) was exceptionally well executed.

I would agree the King Eddy rebuilt is pretty damn good. It's incorporation into the larger complex leaves a lot to be desired. I really don't care that much Studio Bell. It has some awe inspiring spaces but, it comes at a cost to some convoluted cramped spaces. The exterior is a prime example. No one really speaks of the design. It's only about the nice terracotta tiles.

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally Posted by O-tacular

Which tower is that? I can't think of any stone towers in Calgary's suburbs that have any facadism or anything. Or were you referring to the laughable 'castle' tower in Kincora with the cellphone broadcasting equipment in it?

yeah, the castle tower

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally Posted by O-tacular

How many amazing buildings were razed in the 60's and 70's to build these government monstrosities?

It's somewhat ironic how so much great modernism from the 1960s and 1970s is getting razed for Deco inspired crap.