Downtown Vancouver Updates - Page 752

BodomReaper · #**15021** Posted **Jun 1, 2017, 1:57 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rocketeer

This came in the mail for me today. Landa/Asia Standard is having an open house for their upcoming development on the Alberni block they picked up from Wall Financial a few years ago.

Really excited to see a RAMSA architectural project out here on the west coast! Looks very New York to me. (apologies for the crappy picture quality)

private picture hosting

I've never understood why Robert Stern is so highly regarded - even in the realm of postmodernism, his designs are nothing special. Grace, by a local firm Merrick, easily surpasses even his signature residential projects in NYC and Chicago. One St. Thomas in Toronto (pictured in above posts) is about as good as gets with Stern. This project looks like a simple clone of it.

Millennium Development initially hired Stern to design the Olympic Village in a pomo style, but that was thankfully nixed by the city hall.

trofirhen · #**15022** Posted **Jun 1, 2017, 2:03 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by trofirhen

Luckily, we don't have too many twin tower projects in Vancouver; not really big ones, anyway.

Quote:

Originally Posted by s211

No, just the massive-multi-cookie-cutters along the north shore of False Creek, west of the Cambie Bridge, and many other cut/paste phased developments in virtually another other community you can name.

Very true. I think I'm trying to kid myself that Vancouver architecture is better than mediocre. In some cases, it is .... but generally not. I stand corrected.

retro_orange · #**15023** Posted **Jun 1, 2017, 2:26 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BodomReaper

I've never understood why Robert Stern is so highly regarded - even in the realm of postmodernism, his designs are nothing special. Grace, by a local firm Merrick, easily surpasses even his signature residential projects in NYC and Chicago. One St. Thomas in Toronto (pictured in above posts) is about as good as gets with Stern. This project looks like a simple clone of it.

Millennium Development initially hired Stern to design the Olympic Village in a pomo style, but that was thankfully nixed by the city hall.

Lol, Grace is an awful piece of architecture that is not aging well. The stucco is failing and the cast concrete details look like they were picked up from a garden centre.

James Schouw's designs are stuck in the 90's. He's kind of a jerk too. (ran into the guy several times)

retro_orange · #**15024** Posted **Jun 1, 2017, 2:42 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by officedweller

The responses on Frances Bula's twitter equate to "traditional is boring":

https://twitter.com/fabulavancouver

Personally, I think the traditional building would be more stable in an earthquake, easier to meet LEED with punch-out windows, easier to maintain (window wash), won't have a leaky window wall and will provide rectangular living spaces.

Yes precisely. Though I wouldn't call them traditional in style. I would call it Classic Modernism. Streamlined machine era styling.

As for being 90's POMO there's a fine line between that and a proper revival of a distinct era of design.

POMO was an unarticulated mishmash of eras from Victorian/Edwardian to Streamlined Deco with a gawdy and tacky colour palate. Often using inferior quality materials such as EIFS stucco, fiberglass, plastic etc. for details and do not age well. The quality of the materials and execution of good detailing will be key.

red-paladin · #**15025** Posted **Jun 1, 2017, 8:50 PM**

I like this project.

From: http://dailyhive.com/vancouver/alberni-street-project-open-house-event-vancouver-2017

phesto · #**15026** Posted **Jun 1, 2017, 9:09 PM**

I love how everyone has drawn their final conclusions of the design based on a blurry and dark picture of a small rendering on a post card.

The above rendering seems promising.

Feathered Friend · #**15027** Posted **Jun 1, 2017, 9:16 PM**

It's great to see how much action there is on Alberni right now. This should be be an interesting project considering that Westbank and Bing Thom are involved. However, we'll see what comes out of the open house.

Rocketeer · #**15028** Posted **Jun 1, 2017, 10:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by phesto

I love how everyone has drawn their final conclusions of the design based on a blurry and dark picture of a small rendering on a post card.

The above rendering seems promising.

Again, apologies for the crappy photo quality of that postcard. My picture doesn't do that rendering any justice. At least it stirred some debate though

Feathered Friend · #**15029** Posted **Jun 1, 2017, 10:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rocketeer

Again, apologies for the crappy photo quality of that postcard. My picture doesn't do that rendering any justice. At least it stirred some debate though

It's important that people know what's going on in their city. Thanks for getting it out as soon as soon as you could.

I can provide a more clear image of the notice.

I'm happy to see the number of units provided, and that there will be an increase to the rental stock. Also it's great that the towers will be a decent height.

phesto · #**15030** Posted **Jun 1, 2017, 10:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rocketeer

Again, apologies for the crappy photo quality of that postcard. My picture doesn't do that rendering any justice. At least it stirred some debate though

No, thanks for posting. Not a slight to your photo. More just a comment that posters on SSP will form final judgement based on so little info.

officedweller · #**15031** Posted **Jun 1, 2017, 10:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by red-paladin

I like this project.

From: http://dailyhive.com/vancouver/alberni-street-project-open-house-event-vancouver-2017

Agreed, this rendering looks very good, and I would not call these PoMo, either.

officedweller · #**15032** Posted **Jun 1, 2017, 10:54 PM**

Tripping hazard at London Drugs:

http://dailyhive.com/vancouver/banana-sculpture-vancouver-preventable

Klazu · #**15033** Posted **Jun 2, 2017, 2:20 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by red-paladin

From: http://dailyhive.com/vancouver/alberni-street-project-open-house-event-vancouver-2017

Oh wow! That looks FANTASTIC.

Jebby · #**15034** Posted **Jun 2, 2017, 3:04 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by officedweller

Agreed, this rendering looks very good, and I would not call these PoMo, either.

Get rid of the bay windows and this looks amazing. I wouldn't call them PoMo either.

If clad properly this could be one of the best looking projects in the city. They look very Manhattan.

dleung · #**15035** Posted **Jun 2, 2017, 3:39 AM**

This will not happen. It's just a bad dream from a 1930's fascist sci-fi movie. The only thing Vancouver should have in common with Manhattan is the tower density

VancouverOfTheFuture · #**15036** Posted **Jun 2, 2017, 4:37 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jebby

If clad properly this could be one of the best looking projects in the city. They look very Manhattan.

i thought they looked good in the first render, but this high quality one is quite nice. first thing i thought when i saw it was very Manhattan looking. which i quite like

Quote:

Originally Posted by dleung

It's just a bad dream from a 1930's fascist sci-fi movie. The only thing Vancouver should have in common with Manhattan is the tower density

uhhh

ok.

logan5 · #**15037** Posted **Jun 2, 2017, 4:49 AM**

The render shows what is in my opinion a pretty piece of architecture for Vancouver or anywhere really. Manhattanesque indeed.

http://wirednewyork.com/landmarks/chrysler/

retro_orange · #**15038** Posted **Jun 2, 2017, 4:51 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by dleung

This will not happen. It's just a bad dream from a 1930's fascist sci-fi movie. The only thing Vancouver should have in common with Manhattan is the tower density

Top hyperbolic statement of the day. Glad you are in Toronto.