Robson Square Renovations - Page 76

Migrant_Coconut · #**1501** Posted **Apr 3, 2017, 4:17 AM**

Good point. If we want to ape Europe, can we at least ape their decorative tiling as well?

officedweller · #**1502** Posted **Apr 3, 2017, 7:48 AM**

The main body of the plaza is supposed to be in coloured tiles:

https://www.instagram.com/hapacobo/

Also see this:

https://www.instagram.com/hapacobo/

mcminsen · #**1503** Posted **Apr 4, 2017, 7:32 AM**

New sidewalk has been poured on the Howe Street side.

April 3 '17, my pics

mcminsen · #**1504** Posted **Apr 13, 2017, 7:16 AM**

I'm noticing now how much the white bus shelter/pavilion obscures the view of the Art Gallery from Howe Street. I'm also wondering how much the forest of new trees along the west side of the plaza (along Hornby Street) is going to eventually obscure the view from Hornby Street.

April 12 '17, my pics

mcminsen · #**1505** Posted **Apr 13, 2017, 10:27 AM**

Some of the new plantings along the Howe Street side.

April 12 '17, my pics

trofirhen · #**1506** Posted **Apr 13, 2017, 12:04 PM**

Looking good. Love the magnolia trees!! Perfect choice, as they once grew on the front lawn priorto 1967; ... plus they're just plain ol' fashioned beautiful.

nickbeaulieu · #**1507** Posted **Apr 13, 2017, 5:16 PM**

Ya, I'm not a huge fan of the bus shelter.

Prometheus · #**1508** Posted **Apr 13, 2017, 9:49 PM**

To add insult to injury, the stupid, pointless superstructure of the shelter blocks out the view of the great building itself as you approach the site from the east on Georgia. Utterly moronic and infuriating. Whoever thought this feature was a good idea (and approved it) is an idiot.

trofirhen · #**1509** Posted **Apr 13, 2017, 10:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prometheus

To add insult to injury, the stupid, pointless superstructure of the shelter blocks out the view of the great building itself as you approach the site from the east on Georgia. Utterly moronic and infuriating. Whoever thought this feature was a good idea (and approved it) is an idiot.

Wasn't it supposed to have a 'dual purpose' of some sort? A 'cozy' shelter, or a an interior lighting gizmo? But as you say, sho' is ugly and stupid.
Now there'll need to be a campaign to level it out. Vancouver always seems to need 'gimmicks' to go with everything. They can't leave well enough alone.

officedweller · #**1510** Posted **Apr 13, 2017, 11:58 PM**

I noticed that about the shelter too.
Seems rather silly given that the fins at the top serve no purpose other than "design".

Probably explains why you never saw a street level perspective rendering from that angle.

The magnolias look great.

Still wondering what the other "flowering" trees (according to the renderings) are along Georgia.
They don't look like cherry trees to me (they could be plum trees) - so they could have bailed on the flowering trees (?).

EdinVan · #**1511** Posted **Apr 14, 2017, 1:24 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prometheus

To add insult to injury, the stupid, pointless superstructure of the shelter blocks out the view of the great building itself as you approach the site from the east on Georgia. Utterly moronic and infuriating. Whoever thought this feature was a good idea (and approved it) is an idiot.

An utter abomination.

EdinVan · #**1512** Posted **Apr 14, 2017, 1:35 AM**

Amazing how much ugliness there is in the background. If you squeezed the Nordstrom building in, it would be even worse. When it comes to architecture, this is a sad, sad city.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcminsen

Some of the new plantings along the Howe Street side.

retro_orange · #**1513** Posted **Apr 14, 2017, 3:56 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by EdinVan

An utter abomination.

I give it 10 years max before it's neglected and awful or heavily altered or removed completely and replaced.

All the fins and white paint will also make it susceptible to getting dirty quickly and I doubt it would get a power washing more than once a year. Future mess.

trofirhen · #**1514** Posted **Apr 14, 2017, 5:51 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by EdinVan

Amazing how much ugliness there is in the background. If you squeezed the Nordstrom building in, it would be even worse. When it comes to architecture, this is a sad, sad city.

As you're from Montreal (correct?) I can see why you say that. There, the buildings are smart and elegant, and there is a 'cohesiveness' to downtown which Vancouver lacks.
But take a look at Seattle. There, big huge buildings stand cheek-by-jowl with vast parking lots, and the zoning permits KFC and fast-food next to tall
office and residential buildings. There are some big impressive buildings, but generally it's more of a jarring mish-mash than Vancouver IMO.

mcminsen · #**1515** Posted **May 2, 2017, 9:22 PM**

May 1 '17, my pics

officedweller · #**1516** Posted **May 2, 2017, 10:56 PM**

Thanks.
I do see the pattern for each colour paver
- but I think it would have been better without the light gray rectangular ones.

csbvan · #**1517** Posted **May 2, 2017, 10:57 PM**

Nice access!

Thanks for the pics. I think that the coloured/patterned tile looks great.

EdinVan · #**1518** Posted **May 3, 2017, 8:08 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by trofirhen

As you're from Montreal (correct?) I can see why you say that. There, the buildings are smart and elegant, and there is a 'cohesiveness' to downtown which Vancouver lacks.
But take a look at Seattle. There, big huge buildings stand cheek-by-jowl with vast parking lots, and the zoning permits KFC and fast-food next to tall
office and residential buildings. There are some big impressive buildings, but generally it's more of a jarring mish-mash than Vancouver IMO.

Toronto, actually. Anyway, it's sad that when we talk about Vancouver's many shortcomings, we often say, "Well, at least it's not as bad as other cities." <Sigh>

trofirhen · #**1519** Posted **May 3, 2017, 11:50 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by EdinVan

Toronto, actually. Anyway, it's sad that when we talk about Vancouver's many shortcomings, we often say, "Well, at least it's not as bad as other cities." <Sigh>

Slightly off-thread, but what would you say are really smart and well-designed cities in North America, for comparison?
Montreal? San Francisco? Toronto? Any others we could emulate a little?

Vin · #**1520** Posted **May 3, 2017, 4:12 PM**

Love the tiles.

Speaking of elegance, once the square is completed, they better remove those model ships perched on top of the roof, and that tarp thing on the roof east of the cafe. Those really soil this heritage building.

By comparison, Toronto's Union Station building and the front plaza got renovated recently and they are very simple but exquisite elegance.....

From SSC:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taller, Better

Wow, loving the new all-granite plaza in front of Union Station. It is absolutely grand looking and will provide a fantastic new public space for events. I'm quite gobsmacked at how beautifully they have achieved it, and at the quality of the materials:

the mosaic like paving of the street:

the old clock is back: