Great Canadian Skyline Thread II

[TallBob]

Love those new towers In Edmonton. Sounds like there are several more Lofty proposals in the near future!

[Monolith]

Downtown Vancouver with Mt. Baker by james c. (vancouver bc), on Flickr


By Trysh, on Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/trysh/44786863601/

[logan5]

I suppose that really doesn't look like San Francisco, but I get that San Fran vibe looking at that pic.

The densely populated West End is getting even denser (is that a good thing?), with a bunch of new towers going up.

Originally Posted by officedweller

From Trish Jewison twitter - posted today:


https://twitter.com/TrishJewison

[Coldrsx]

https://twitter.com/MikeIsaak/status/1044300413384646670
@MikeIsaac

[B.ike]

Took this shot couple hours ago (Edmonton):

[ciudad_del_norte]

Originally Posted by Hali87

The impressions I got last time I was there:

Edmonton:

Peak Modernism, retro, no-frills, flat, stability, functionality, sports/gambling, indoor-oriented, everything is wide, reminiscent of other Modern Prairie/River cities including Winnipeg, Ottawa, London, Moncton, Saskatoon, and to a lesser degree, Calgary.

Calgary:

Post-Modernism, hip, frills, hilly, dynamic, clean, arts/nightlife, outdoorsy, inner city areas are reminiscent of Eastern Cities/Van/Vic in terms of scale.

They're also really similar in a lot of ways though, or at least comparable. On paper they're very similar. It's only because they're so alike that the subtle differences are really obvious to someone who's familiar with both. To someone from Edmonton Calgary probably feels garish, decadent, and overrated. To someone from Calgary Edmonton probably feels like a "boiled perogies with no salt" kind of place. From an Eastern perspective though it's kind of like comparing different suburbs of Toronto. There's a sort of structural similarity between the two that's the result of being in the same province, being around the same size, having similar geographic constraints, and booming within a reasonably similar timeframe (although Edmonton was clearly a bit earlier).

Makes sense because Edmontonians would know salt isn't the way to dress perogies.

Really though, some elements of truth there. Some things I don't quite agree with but can also see where they come from.

[Calgarian]

Some great Edmonton and Vancouver shots here!

[Coldrsx]

Originally Posted by B.ike

Took this shot couple hours ago (Edmonton):

Density in Edmonton?

[someone123]

Originally Posted by ciudad_del_norte

Nobody is saying two cities are exactly the same. A basis for human description and understanding is finding points of comparison and differentiation, especially for abstract or intangible qualities like the feel and culture of a place. Granted, maybe this isn't the place to have those discussions but that doesn't make the discussion meaningless.

Of course it depends on your frame of reference that's how we perspective on places that I may not have gotten otherwise...so I actually find people's observations of the differences and similarities between places (even if subtle) to be quite interesting.

I could have worded my post a bit more clearly. I didn't mean it's uninteresting to talk about the differences. I meant that the existence of some differences is to be expected any time you compare two cities, so by itself it's not that interesting. Add the question of frame of reference to that and it's hard to get much meaning out of "these cities feel similar" or "these cities feel different" without more context. Maybe it means something along the lines of Stockholm vs. Lagos or maybe it means something way more subtle that a lot of people wouldn't even notice.

Another question to ask might be whether or not you could tell two cities apart if you were shown pictures of streets in each of them or were dropped down in either one without being familiar with the locations. Within Canada, for typical Canadians, I think that pretty much breaks down by region, with a bit of overlap.

[someone123]

Halifax:

You can see the skyline slope up a bit on the left. That is due to the ramparts bylaw that is meant to prevent new construction from being visible inside the parade square of the fort. The smokestacks are the Tufts Cove generating station which is on the Dartmouth side.

Source


Source

Dartmouth. The 4 towers on the right are King's Wharf. The next phases of King's Wharf are ~25 storey towers, and there is supposed to be a ~35 storey landmark tower.


Source

[mistercorporate]

I agree with whoever said Vancouver is developing a SF vibe. I totally see it happening, some of those SFH's near downtown are visually breathtaking, along with the shoreline, boardwalk and mountain backdrop, all it needs is a couple iconic skyscrapers and it will be perfection!


by Trysh on flickr

[someone123]

Originally Posted by mistercorporate

I agree with whoever said Vancouver is developing a SF vibe. I totally see it happening, some of those SFH's near downtown are visually breathtaking, along with the shoreline, boardwalk and mountain backdrop, all it needs is a couple iconic skyscrapers and it will be perfection!

It really depends on what part of Vancouver you are talking about.

Capitol Hill in Burnaby, the one that has the houses on it, is very similar to the hills around San Francisco. The modern 1940's-60's era houses squeezed onto their lots are similar to SF suburbs too.

People are understandably most familiar with the downtown part of metro Vancouver but in terms of scenery I think Burnaby and Coquitlam might top it. The area around the head of Burrard Inlet is spectacular, and there are amazing views from the nearby hills. It is mostly suburban but is starting to develop in a more urban way now that the extension to the Millennium Line is open. It will never be like Vancouver but it will make for some nice skyline photos.

[ciudad_del_norte]

Originally Posted by someone123

I could have worded my post a bit more clearly. I didn't mean it's uninteresting to talk about the differences. I meant that the existence of some differences is to be expected any time you compare two cities, so by itself it's not that interesting. Add the question of frame of reference to that and it's hard to get much meaning out of "these cities feel similar" or "these cities feel different" without more context. Maybe it means something along the lines of Stockholm vs. Lagos or maybe it means something way more subtle that a lot of people wouldn't even notice.

Another question to ask might be whether or not you could tell two cities apart if you were shown pictures of streets in each of them or were dropped down in either one without being familiar with the locations. Within Canada, for typical Canadians, I think that pretty much breaks down by region, with a bit of overlap.

I think for me its partially interesting because of the frame of reference and inherent subjectivity. We're definitely not going to arrive at any interesting objective truth here.

I think these conversations often say much about us, where we are from, and the things we each value. What we project onto the cities we are familiar with, and the strange things that we totally miss in the cities that we don't know well. I'd agree that saying "this city is more like this city etc" isn't that interesting in and of itself, but I find it really interesting if people are able to provide that context you mentioned and communicate what they see as similar and different.

I'll also admit that since I joined this forum I've become less interested in the physical forms of cities and more interested in abstractions of cities - and so I could probably find somewhere better than a skyline thread to ramble on about these things.

[Chadillaccc]

From Sunday morning, by me.

[kool maudit]

Originally Posted by B.ike

This certainly has the requisite density to be a lively city neighbourhood, but it's ugly as sin. I can't see a single attractive building.

[Franco401]

Originally Posted by kool maudit

This certainly has the requisite density to be a lively city neighbourhood, but it's ugly as sin. I can't see a single attractive building.

I'm completely obsessed with Late Modernism and find myself constantly defending on this forum, and even I find this bland as hell. This is very from the best of what Edmonton can offer in terms of the built form itself.

[HomeInMyShoes]

^Hidden amongst that sea of beige are a few reasonable examples of buildings, but yes,
most of it is blandopia, brutopia, and stalinopia. I lived in that area in Edmonton for a few years. I can just make out the top of my building a little to the right of the tallest tower.

[Franco401]

Originally Posted by HomeInMyShoes

^Hidden amongst that sea of beige are a few reasonable examples of buildings, but yes,
most of it is blandopia, brutopia, and stalinopia. I lived in that area in Edmonton for a few years. I can just make out the top of my building a little to the right of the tallest tower.

Taking issue with this usage. Stalin was dead before the USSR's brutalist period truly began. The things built during Stalin's rule were oppressive and intimidating, but were ornate and traditionally beautiful.









only going off on this tangent because good brutalism often gets dragged as "stalinist" when this is both a false equivalency and factually untrue.

[ExcaliburKid]

That black & white rendering with the Lenin statue...please tell me that actually exists

[suburbanite]

Originally Posted by ExcaliburKid

That black & white rendering with the Lenin statue...please tell me that actually exists

They started construction but had to demo it after the German invasion.