Great Canadian Skyline Thread II

[TorontoDrew]

Originally Posted by Martin Mtl

/\ Thin skin aren't you? Especially coming from someone who always make negative comments about every single Montreal proposals. Trolling goes both ways.

Really? I love most Montreal projects. Get your facts straight.

[Rico Rommheim]

Originally Posted by Acajack

1855 for the most monumental of the buildings. The complex has buildings way older than that though.

http://archeologie.ville.quebec.qc.ca/si...n-architecturale-du-seminaire-de-quebec/

I was right! So this means the seminare would be Canada's 4th tallest building at the time if you include all the church spires.

Seriously, Quebec's stock of 19th century buildings (and 18th and 17th centuries) blows Old Montreal's right out of the park. It's not even close. The only thing Montreal old port beats Quebec at are the old skyscrapers.

[Martin Mtl]

Originally Posted by Rico Rommheim

I was right! So this means the seminare would be Canada's 4th tallest building at the time if you include all the church spires.

Seriously, Quebec's stock of 19th century buildings (and 18th and 17th centuries) blows Old Montreal's right out of the park. It's not even close. The only thing Montreal old port beats Quebec at are the old skyscrapers.

I'll have to disagree with you on that one. The whole victorian commercial-warehouse-banking buildings of the western part in Old Montreal have no equivalent in Quebec. It's very different and both are wonderful in their own ways.

[Rico Rommheim]

Originally Posted by Martin Mtl

I'll have to disagree with you on that one. The whole victorian commercial-warehouse-banking buildings of the western part in Old Montreal have no equivalent in Quebec. It's very different and both are wonderful in their own ways.

I agree. They're both different. But I was being very nerdy and referring exclusively to monumental aspects of 19th century buildings. Although now that think of it 19th century old montreal does have its share of monuments such as the city hall, the next-door courthouse and of course, the Ny Life highrise. And yes of course, the country's first steel-skeleton highrise at St-Pierre and St-James. And the Bonsecours market. AND Notre-Dame. But imagine if we had the likes of their Seminaire, or their city hall (which i prefer, their courhouse, etc)

I'll give you that, they're not easily comparable.

[Martin Mtl]

Originally Posted by TorontoDrew

Really? I love most Montreal projects. Get your facts straight.

Well I remember this comment you made right after I posted every single project in Griffintown (13 renders):

Originally Posted by TorontoDrew

Not a great page for proposals.

And I worked so hard on that post too

But seriously, it doesn't matter. You have the right to be negative about whatever you want. But don't deny this right to other members by attacking them and their city ("LOL, too funny, especially from somebody in the city of bagels" - a gratuitous comment especially considering that Rico is often very enthusiastic about Toronto and even more often very critical about Montreal).

[caltrane74]

I don't know how anyone can degrade One Bloor. It is by far the nicest tower to go up in Toronto during this nearly 20 year boom. Take a look at it in comparison to the two concrete slabs at the same crossing that went up in the last high rise boom from the 1970's. Yes, it is far taller, but other tall towers will be coming to this intersection, hopefully sooner, than later.

[MonkeyRonin]

Originally Posted by le calmar

The top looks strange, I actually thought it was unfinished.

Well it is unfinished...

[hipster duck]

Originally Posted by Rico Rommheim

It just looks like a generic glass shoe-box with an ugly hat on top. I really don't like it.

On my last sojourn to TO a few weeks ago there was a lot of really interesting architecture I found scattered all around the city. The type of ambitious and ballsy architecture that we seldom see in Montreal. But for the most part I found the city's stock of new skyscrapers to be at best quite forgettable. At worst remarkably ugly/kitshy. Of course this is my opinion. I just don't think that height + glass = nice.

Like Montreal, my favourite Toronto proposals are the midrises (let's be generous and say anything below 20 stories).

I find most of the towers to be inoffensive but bland. I suppose they're forming a recognizable style that way.

Of all the skyscraper condos built in the past 15 years, I only ever really loved a few: 4 Seasons, L tower, 1 St. Thomas. I'm racking my brain to think of another one, which means that it's probably not something I truly loved.

[Rico Rommheim]

1 St. Thomas is my favourite one actually. Wish we had it here in mtl. A great example of properly-made old-style skyscraper. It would look great as a landmark tower in Griffintown.

[koops65]

Originally Posted by mr. snazzy pants

ugh I do not like this tower

it's way out of proportion to the rest of the city. somewhat taller than the other two buildings at that intersection would have been just great. as it is now, it's the McMansion of Downtown

That is my photo, which you took, uncredited. This troll needs to learn some manners. I really couldn't care less about your opinion of the building, to each their own.

@niwell - what is so horrible about the pic? Not in focus? Not perfectly vertical? Not using the rule of thirds? I agree, and I'm certainly not a professional photographer. Sorry.

And yes, the top of One Bloor looks unfinished because it's unfinished. The balconies are only 3/4 complete too.

[niwell]

Originally Posted by koops65

@niwell - what is so horrible about the pic? Not in focus? Not perfectly vertical? Not using the rule of thirds? I agree, and I'm certainly not a professional photographer. Sorry.

For a construction update it's fine! Particularly when it's with a set of other pictures. Just looks a bit grim as a standalone pic with that lighting (which was basically all of our January) and the perspective accentuates the height difference.

[koops65]

I was waiting at a red light and noticed Casa III peeking through the other towers, so I snapped a pic. Funny thing is I brightened it up before posting it. In reality it was far more dark and gloomy out. Nobody seemed to notice the pic when I posted it the other day, but now suddenly it gets high jacked and people are commenting left and right. I think the whole thing is kind of funny in a way, one of those weird internet things I guess.

[niwell]

Originally Posted by hipster duck

Like Montreal, my favourite Toronto proposals are the midrises (let's be generous and say anything below 20 stories).

I find most of the towers to be inoffensive but bland. I suppose they're forming a recognizable style that way.

Of all the skyscraper condos built in the past 15 years, I only ever really loved a few: 4 Seasons, L tower, 1 St. Thomas. I'm racking my brain to think of another one, which means that it's probably not something I truly loved.

I would say the almost all of my favourites are the mid/low-rises as well. They have more ability to be architecturally bold at a scale that doesn't come off as tacky. I find L Tower a bit disappointing up close, but it looks good from afar. I really like Picasso but the street treatment isn't as great.

I'm ok with inoffensive but bland to be honest, particularly for towers in the mid-price range. Inoffensive now tends to still be inoffensive in 20 years time. A tower that tries hard to be "different" (particularly if it has poor material choices) may end up looking like garbage. See - most Po-mo.

[rousseau]

Originally Posted by hipster duck

Like Montreal, my favourite Toronto proposals are the midrises (let's be generous and say anything below 20 stories).

I find most of the towers to be inoffensive but bland. I suppose they're forming a recognizable style that way.

Of all the skyscraper condos built in the past 15 years, I only ever really loved a few: 4 Seasons, L tower, 1 St. Thomas. I'm racking my brain to think of another one, which means that it's probably not something I truly loved.

Is there a thread where people list their top ten favourite new buildings of the last 20 years?

[caltrane74]

It is January, pictures will look better when we finally get some sunshine.

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally Posted by Rico Rommheim

^Regardless of the height, I find that toronto tower simply hideous. It's prominence enhances its ugliness. I've seen some pretty bad towers go up in TO lately, but this one is quite awful. Shame, because TO also builds some remarkable condo towers, i guess there must be a balance?

I'm surprised anyone finds it hideous. It has a little bit of every trend going on; pretty much the hallmark for Hariri Pontarini. Mind you the unfinished nature of the balconies and the overcast sky doesn't do it any favours in that photo.

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally Posted by niwell

I would say the almost all of my favourites are the mid/low-rises as well. They have more ability to be architecturally bold at a scale that doesn't come off as tacky. I find L Tower a bit disappointing up close, but it looks good from afar. I really like Picasso but the street treatment isn't as great.

I'm ok with inoffensive but bland to be honest, particularly for towers in the mid-price range. Inoffensive now tends to still be inoffensive in 20 years time. A tower that tries hard to be "different" (particularly if it has poor material choices) may end up looking like garbage. See - most Po-mo.

I've actually been disappointed by the last round of completed midrises. Most didn't remotely live up to their renderings. The few exceptions are among the best built in a long time. I hope this year is better than last.

Totally agree on inoffensive and bland over an inspired design that is simply too much for the architect and/or budget.

[drawarc]

Ottawa:

http://www.341maclaren.com/our-neighbourhood/

[dleung]

I'm surprised that people are surprised that some people don't like 1 Bloor. I know we're supposed to like it since it's the tallest new condo and it's all about height around these parts, but it's really just a 800' upmarket version of the same wavy balcony game that afflicts every other new condo in the city. I don't hate it, but am not particularly into the thought of living inside 76 stories of voluptuous feminine folds...

[rbt]

Originally Posted by Rico Rommheim

1 St. Thomas is my favourite one actually. Wish we had it here in mtl.

Few in Montreal would be willing to maintain it; maintenance fees for a typical 1 bedroom unit in that building are $1500/month ($3500+/month for the larger 2/3 bedroom units). A good chunk of that is for replacement exterior stone and regular cleanings (stone is already stained despite it). In Montreal you can get a really nice 2500sqft condo in that maintenance fee range.

It would most likely be getting pretty shabby after 20 years of maintenance deferrals to get the fees down to something more reasonable and downright dumpy at 30+ years old.


That said, as a hotel in Montreal it might do alright. Just don't see how it would work as a residential building (nearly ground floor, shit view, street noise, and you're still paying $8,000/month in mortgage+taxes+fees).