The Ugly Canada Thread - Page 419

WhipperSnapper · #**8361** Posted **Feb 9, 2017, 12:10 AM**

Okay. The concrete balconies are jarring but, I can't say one is better or worse than the other. I like the band of windows more on the slab.

GeneralLea · #**8362** Posted **Feb 9, 2017, 1:33 AM**

I think I like how it's literally a cylinder apt building, haven't seen one of those in TO yet, until now.

EDIT: Rental, and older apt building, not some kindof condo apt building, like Cityplace.

niwell · #**8363** Posted **Feb 10, 2017, 2:28 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by O-tacular

Would be cool if it was open in the center like that one in Johannesburg.

This thing down the street looks worse.

https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.7032785,-...1spPtMcpyInNDM1H2-R2w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Ponte tower is definitely cool, but not exactly pretty either! The interior facing apartments were originally only rented to the "help" and they don't exactly get much light. Interesting history to the building and it has gone from luxury to vertical slum and currently at a very safe tower that houses working to upper-middle class (but definitely not luxury). I've driven past in an uber and want to take a walking tour of the area and tower next fall when I'm back in the city.

http://www.sapeople.com/2016/05/30/a-jaw-dropping-tour-inside-johannesburg-ponte-city/

https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/...y-of-cities-in-50-buildings-day-33#img-4

http://archinect.com/news/article/129959041/the-many-lives-of-johannesburg-s-notorious-ponte-tower

WhipperSnapper · #**8364** Posted **Feb 10, 2017, 2:42 AM**

Fascinating place that would be fun to visit. I've read stories of inward facing apartments. This suggests an inner hallway with all apartments facing outwards.

https://geoarchitecture.wordpress.com/2014/01/16/buildings-are-geological-agents/

8 elevators for 500 units is pretty sweet

niwell · #**8365** Posted **Feb 10, 2017, 2:54 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper

Fascinating place that would be fun to visit. I've read stories of inward facing apartments. This suggests an inner hallway with all apartments facing outwards.

https://geoarchitecture.wordpress.com/2014/01/16/buildings-are-geological-agents/

8 elevators for 500 units is pretty sweet

Yeah I believe it was technically only outward facing apartments when built, but the back portions (at least in the penthouse floors) were semi-separate and intended for the help. Because there were never really enough whites to rent out the huge number of spaces in the downtown built on spec, so a lot ended up being rented out as sublet space.

For reference most of the middle class houses in Joburg built before the mid 80s featured a back cottage for the same purpose. Nowadays they are usually rented out like we would basements here - I stayed in one used as an airbnb.

The number of elevators sounds sweet until you realize how often the power is out! I think it's better now but even a few years ago you'd have scheduled outages of several hours for "load-shedding". Still prob not much worse than some buildings here with the elevator maintenance situation...

Acajack · #**8366** Posted **Feb 10, 2017, 5:25 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by niwell

Ponte tower is definitely cool, but not exactly pretty either! The interior facing apartments were originally only rented to the "help" and they don't exactly get much light. Interesting history to the building and it has gone from luxury to vertical slum and currently at a very safe tower that houses working to upper-middle class (but definitely not luxury). I've driven past in an uber and want to take a walking tour of the area and tower next fall when I'm back in the city.

http://www.sapeople.com/2016/05/30/a-jaw-dropping-tour-inside-johannesburg-ponte-city/

https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/...y-of-cities-in-50-buildings-day-33#img-4

http://archinect.com/news/article/129959041/the-many-lives-of-johannesburg-s-notorious-ponte-tower

Wasn't that the building where people just threw their garbage into the "hole" in the middle? How many storeys did the garbage pile rise to?

niwell · #**8367** Posted **Feb 10, 2017, 1:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

Wasn't that the building where people just threw their garbage into the "hole" in the middle? How many storeys did the garbage pile rise to?

Yep! There's a lot of conflicting information about that - it seems to range from 3 to 13 storeys. Needless to say it was pretty bad in the early 2000s. Everyone in the inner city seems to have their own stories about the building.

The surrounding neighbourhood of Berea and Hillbrow are quite infamous for crime and for a period in the 2000s were considered a no-go zone even by police. It's cleaned up considerably but still a bit jarring to drive through. It's seen as the dumping ground for immigration within Africa which means people from countries much less stable that SA, including refugees and illegal immigrants. Lots of garbage on the streets with some buildings visibly hijacked and occupied by squatters. But a fair amount of regeneration now too. Lots of trees too, which somehow survived years of neglect (the city takes care of them again now).

https://goo.gl/maps/LscCXRSjFU22

https://goo.gl/maps/Qq5soihy4Sw

https://goo.gl/maps/TAbXE4PuAE52

https://goo.gl/maps/aRM2FQThn3q

https://goo.gl/maps/X1E25D8WszP2

Apparently the building itself VERY secure right now and you can't even have an overnight guest without paying a R50 fee (about $5). The management is incredibly top heavy, inaccessible and apparently treats those on the penthouse floors far better than those in the lower ones. And weird rules like once a tenants kid reaches age 13 they have to be put on the lease and charged extra. That being said it is clean and safe now. There was an interesting Master's thesis I read on the building, its occupants and surrounding area a few months back - can't find the link anymore unfortunately.

HomeInMyShoes · #**8368** Posted **Feb 10, 2017, 2:06 PM**

Someone brought up the windswept, empty planter, broken concrete entrance to the Cornwall Centre from Saskatchewan Drive as needing something. Needing to be posted in this thread is what it be needing ye scury dog

Welcome to the Cornwall Centre.

TorontoDrew · #**8369** Posted **Feb 10, 2017, 4:08 PM**

201 Sherbrbourne and it's sister to the south need to be torn down.

From Emporis.

TownGuy · #**8370** Posted **Feb 12, 2017, 3:20 PM**

These jackets as seen worn at your local Giant Tiger, Walmart or Timmies.

MrBigStuff · #**8371** Posted **Feb 12, 2017, 8:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper

Fascinating place that would be fun to visit. I've read stories of inward facing apartments. This suggests an inner hallway with all apartments facing outwards.

https://geoarchitecture.wordpress.com/2014/01/16/buildings-are-geological-agents/

8 elevators for 500 units is pretty sweet

They could say that they live in the world's largest pop can.

WhipperSnapper · #**8372** Posted **Feb 12, 2017, 11:14 PM**

Colour!

https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.6722109,-...!5s20070901T000000!7i3328!8i1664!6m1!1e1

https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.6722022,-...5s20110801T000000!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.672191,-7...5s20140601T000000!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.6722194,-...5s20161101T000000!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

yup, over 10 years!

O-tacular · #**8373** Posted **Feb 13, 2017, 2:48 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by townguy

these jackets as seen worn at your local giant tiger, walmart or timmies.

Yas!!!!!

O-tacular · #**8374** Posted **Feb 13, 2017, 2:53 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper

Colour!

https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.6722109,-...!5s20070901T000000!7i3328!8i1664!6m1!1e1

https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.6722022,-...5s20110801T000000!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.672191,-7...5s20140601T000000!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.6722194,-...5s20161101T000000!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

yup, over 10 years!

Holy fucking shit! That is the ugliest building I have seen on here in quite a while. The drab concrete was soul sucking and drab but the new colour is almost like painting Mama June pepto bismol pink! It makes the building go from depressingly forgettable to in your face fugly.

O-tacular · #**8375** Posted **Feb 13, 2017, 3:00 AM**

Here's a condo near my place that has shades of Clockzilla. The tower has no functional purpose whatsoever as it has a brick fire wall going straight through the middle of it and no access for residents.

O-tacular · #**8376** Posted **Feb 13, 2017, 3:13 AM**

The Grey Eagle Casino on the reserve next to Calgary. Believe it or not this is the entrance to the hotel.

For context here is the Casino portion next to it.

Rollerstud98 · #**8377** Posted **Feb 13, 2017, 4:03 AM**

OMG!!!!!! You're playing the angles like a fat girl on social media!

O-tacular · #**8378** Posted **Feb 13, 2017, 4:39 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rollerstud98

OMG!!!!!! You're playing the angles like a fat girl on social media!

The reason I never posted the Grey Eagle casino before is cause I never saw it from that side before. I found it astonishing that that is the sight that greets guests as they check in. Admittedly the other angle isn't nearly as bad as you see windows but come on!

Rollerstud98 · #**8379** Posted **Feb 13, 2017, 5:01 AM**

Yeah it is an ugly building.

WhipperSnapper · #**8380** Posted **Feb 13, 2017, 3:01 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by O-tacular

Holy fucking shit! That is the ugliest building I have seen on here in quite a while. The drab concrete was soul sucking and drab but the new colour is almost like painting Mama June pepto bismol pink! It makes the building go from depressingly forgettable to in your face fugly.

"Green Towers"

http://viewit.ca/vwExpandView.aspx?ViT=2705

pretty damn depressing on the inside as well.