Great Canadian Skyline Thread II - Page 449

headhorse · #**8961** Posted **Sep 26, 2018, 4:49 PM**

so much of what people think of as soviet architecture was just the state providing cheap housing because so many people lived with poor or no housing, most of it was never supposed to be super permanent. a lot of of times when people mention "soviet ruin" they're also thinking of post soviet images from eastern european countries - but that decay is related to capitalism not communism. all of the more permanent buildings are beautiful. not to mention that none of it is worse than any 4 storey bunker in the suburbs that people will drop hundreds of thousands of dollars on

HomeInMyShoes · #**8962** Posted **Sep 26, 2018, 5:03 PM**

Apologies to those offended. I do know there is good architecture from that period, but I was more just tongue in check stating the usual commie-slab apartment style that is loathed around here. Stalinopia was probably incorrect and it should have just been sixtiesslabopia instead. Stalinopia just rolled off my tongue better.

isaidso · #**8963** Posted **Sep 27, 2018, 10:58 AM**

Quote:

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.

Agree. Canada has a knack for building whole swaths of city that just leave you speechless. 1-2 astonishingly depressing buildings is fixable but what do you do when it's block after block of it? One could bulldoze the whole thing but they'd probably just build something that's just as nauseating.

ExcaliburKid · #**8964** Posted **Sep 27, 2018, 2:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by suburbanite

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

Interesting, I've never seen that image before, a shame it had to be halted and demoed

Thanks

Doug · #**8965** Posted **Sep 28, 2018, 3:24 AM**

Quote:

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.

Oliver is kind of strange. It is very much of its time: late 60's and early 70's. Not much changed for about 25 years following, and what has gone up since is not only ugly but bizarre (ex. RailTown and the Venetian).

In that view, I can see the building where I lived from birth to 4 months of age and another where I lived from 20-21.

Vixx · #**8966** Posted **Sep 28, 2018, 3:53 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug

Oliver is kind of strange. It is very much of its time: late 60's and early 70's. Not much changed for about 25 years following, and what has gone up since is not only ugly but bizarre (ex. RailTown and the Venetian).

In that view, I can see the building where I lived from birth to 4 months of age and another where I lived from 20-21.

This is pretty spot on.

It's not a rough area by any means, it's just an area that hasn't really progressed beyond the time it was built out and has stalled ever since. There's a couple nice stretches in that sea of mediocrity but beyond that it's very bland. I think overtime there will be some infills replacing old detached homes and once that stretch of Jasper Avenue starts to come to fruition (Emerald Tower, GM Motor lands etc.) there will be some momentum going and new construction will start to take grip in Oliver.

With that being said, there's more pressing areas in Edmonton that should/will be focused on first for various reasons.

Spocket · #**8967** Posted **Sep 28, 2018, 6:10 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by headhorse

so much of what people think of as soviet architecture was just the state providing cheap housing because so many people lived with poor or no housing, most of it was never supposed to be super permanent. a lot of of times when people mention "soviet ruin" they're also thinking of post soviet images from eastern european countries - but that decay is related to capitalism not communism. all of the more permanent buildings are beautiful. not to mention that none of it is worse than any 4 storey bunker in the suburbs that people will drop hundreds of thousands of dollars on

How in the world is it the result of capitalism? Capitalism didn't build the buildings. Capitalism didn't build shoddy construction and leave it to ruin.
Communism did. I can't understand how after over a century and a hundred million people murdered, there are still people that can find a way to blame capitalism for the evils of communism.

Spocket · #**8968** Posted **Sep 28, 2018, 6:15 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by headhorse

so much of what people think of as soviet architecture was just the state providing cheap housing because so many people lived with poor or no housing, most of it was never supposed to be super permanent. a lot of of times when people mention "soviet ruin" they're also thinking of post soviet images from eastern european countries - but that decay is related to capitalism not communism. all of the more permanent buildings are beautiful. not to mention that none of it is worse than any 4 storey bunker in the suburbs that people will drop hundreds of thousands of dollars on

If you say so.

Martin Mtl · #**8969** Posted **Sep 28, 2018, 1:28 PM**

Credit photo: @hugo.gshots on Instagram

Montréal by Diane Larocque on Flickr

TorontoDrew · #**8970** Posted **Sep 28, 2018, 2:22 PM**

[IMG]

Great Gulf Monde Condominiums by A Great Capture, on Flickr[/IMG]

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Untitled by A Great Capture, on Flickr[/IMG]

TorontoDrew · #**8971** Posted **Sep 28, 2018, 3:35 PM**

[IMG]

Untitled by Markus Hill, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]

Observers by Markus Hill, on Flickr[/IMG]

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Toronto by Markus Hill, on Flickr[/IMG]

headhorse · #**8972** Posted **Sep 28, 2018, 4:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spocket

How in the world is it the result of capitalism? Capitalism didn't build the buildings. Capitalism didn't build shoddy construction and leave it to ruin.
Communism did. I can't understand how after over a century and a hundred million people murdered, there are still people that can find a way to blame capitalism for the evils of communism.

... the buildings were left to degrade after the collapse of the soviet union because all of the supposed benefits of capitalism left most of those countries bankrupt. the pictures of "soviet ruin" you see are from after the fall, hence the "soviet" and "ruin".

also, that black book of communism number has been completely disregarded by every historian worth a damn. think for yourself bud, lets see some real research.