Ugly Canada 2 (Only architecture, planning and design faux pas)

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by SkahHigh

RIP Montreal Police's minivans:

SPVM 12-3 Police minivan rear view Montreal, Quebec Canada 01202013 ©Ian A. McCord by Ian A. McCord, sur Flickr

Getting replaced by these babies:


https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...nterceptor.jpg

Hopefully the wonderfully colourful term "panier à salade" (paddy wagon) won't fall into disuse as a result.

[MonctonRad]

Salad basket???

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Salad basket???

It's a slang term from 18th or 19th century France that is still used both over there and here.

The idea is that the original prisoner transports in France were rudimentary slatted wagons or trucks. Kind of like an oversized version of a slatted basket you'd use to dry salad. Plus the prisoners would be tossed into there willy-nilly like salad, and get bounced around like salad as well when the thing was going down bumpy roads.

[Rollerstud98]

Originally Posted by esquire

What difference does it make? They're just lights on top of cop cars.

Behind the times with those massive non LED light bars. They look ridiculous to have 10” tall light bars. They’re also ugly and in Canada.

[stevanford1]

The latest version of the Chateau Laurier expansion, like all the others is a horrendous F U to the original structure.

[MonctonRad]

Why????

I've always appreciated the Gothic/medieval theme of the parliamentary district. Why destroy it?????

[stevanford1]

Originally Posted by O-tacular

More ugliness on the way! This time thankfully it's a smaller infill.



I don't think there's a single redeeming piece of architecture in that entire block.

Dear god that’s awful, the stupid orange things under that giant slab of windows and spandral are just offensive. It’s like modernism and pomo’s horrendously awful looking child!

[niwell]

Taken out of context I don't think the Chateau Laurier expansion is that bad, and it's certainly an improvement over previous iterations. But yeah, context. This is one of the more iconic structures in our capital in a very prominent location and that should stand for something.

[stevanford1]

Originally Posted by niwell

Taken out of context I don't think the Chateau Laurier expansion is that bad, and it's certainly an improvement over previous iterations. But yeah, context. This is one of the more iconic structures in our capital in a very prominent location and that should stand for something.

I would actually quite like the modern part if it wasn’t it’s own structure, but bolting it to a gothic building is offensively ugly.

[stevanford1]

Originally Posted by O-tacular

Some good news and bad news for Calgary. The good news: Sasso and Vetro will soon be all but blotted out from sight when approaching the Beltline and DT from the south. The bad news: it's with this!!!

I hate the way the balconies are arranged, I hate the bunkerlike podium, I hate the stupid hats on top of the buildings. In short I hate everything about these buildings and think they are as bad, if not worse than Sasso and Vetro .

[TorontoDrew]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Why????

I've always appreciated the Gothic/medieval theme of the parliamentary district. Why destroy it?????

There is no reason why they can't continue on with the theme. I mean it's French Gothic Revival which in itself is just a replica of a design from centuries before. I see nothing wrong with adding onto a structure if it keeps in style and scale with the original building.

[_Citizen_Dane_]

Originally Posted by stevanford1

The latest version of the Chateau Laurier expansion, like all the others is a horrendous F U to the original structure.

They sure are persistent.

I’ve been following this expansion plan for quite awhile now, and as an Edmontonian its like watching history repeat itself. The same thing happened here in the late 1940’s with our railway hotel, the MacDonald. They built a mismatched modernist annex, that like the Laurier’s, would have been alright by itself, but completely detracted from the original building with its grafted on appearance.

If they do somehow get a development permit, I’d doubt the expansion would last even half a century. Edmonton’s only stood for 34 years before it was torn down.

[SkahHigh]

Originally Posted by Rollerstud98

Behind the times with those massive non LED light bars. They look ridiculous to have 10” tall light bars. They’re also ugly and in Canada.

Toronto still hasn't gotten rid of them yet.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4utw_S9lrew

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by stevanford1

I hate the way the balconies are arranged, I hate the bunkerlike podium, I hate the stupid hats on top of the buildings. In short I hate everything about these buildings and think they are as bad, if not worse than Sasso and Vetro .

In addition to being a fortress the podium is also a massive 5 story parking garage. More angles of it:

Like a shitty Minas Tirith:


View of the river all but obliterated:


Great human scale:






And in case there was any question about how bad the facade will be here is a helpful diagram that attempts to hide the fact that fully 50% of it will be spandrel:

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by _Citizen_Dane_

They sure are persistent.

I’ve been following this expansion plan for quite awhile now, and as an Edmontonian its like watching history repeat itself. The same thing happened here in the late 1940’s with our railway hotel, the MacDonald. They built a mismatched modernist annex, that like the Laurier’s, would have been alright by itself, but completely detracted from the original building with its grafted on appearance.

If they do somehow get a development permit, I’d doubt the expansion would last even half a century. Edmonton’s only stood for 34 years before it was torn down.

Ottawa should send them back to the drawing board or outright refuse a permit.

[stevanford1]

Originally Posted by O-tacular

In addition to being a fortress the podium is also a massive 5 story parking garage. More angles of it:

Like a shitty Minas Tirith:


View of the river all but obliterated:


Great human scale:






And in case there was any question about how bad the faced will be here is a helpful diagram that attempts to hide the fact that fully 50% of it will be spandrel:

Out of the frying pan and into the fire. God I hate those buildings the more I look at them, they will look absolutely abysmal when completed!

[_Citizen_Dane_]

Originally Posted by O-tacular

Ottawa should send them back to the drawing board or outright refuse a permit.

This has got to be the sixth or seventh revision now, and each time the design's only been tweaked slightly. I honestly wonder if the developers are just trying to wear down the public into not caring.

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by stevanford1

Out of the frying pan and into the fire. God I hate those buildings the more I look at them, they will look absolutely abysmal when completed!

To make matters worse they will occupy virtually the entire view of downtown when approaching from the south.

It will take up the entire area where there are trees:

https://www.google.com/maps/@51.0337...7i13312!8i6656

https://www.google.com/maps/@51.0349...7i13312!8i6656

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by _Citizen_Dane_

This has got to be the sixth or seventh revision now, and each time the design's only been tweaked slightly. I honestly wonder if the developers are just trying to wear down the public into not caring.

It's like a form of architectural / urban design rape.

[J.OT13]

For the Château Laurier addition, it's pretty much a done deal. The City approved the addition three designs ago (June 2018) on the condition they brought a few revisions to massing and materials. City Staff are now recommending it be approved and Parks Canada (responsible for the neighboring Rideau Canal) seemed satisfied with the submission earlier this spring.