Public Realm in Canadian Cities - Developments - Page 21

Kilgore Trout · #**401** Posted **Oct 16, 2020, 7:57 PM**

Here's a small neighbourhood project that has made a big difference. Montreal recently took a two-block stretch of Fairmount Avenue in Mile End and turned it into a new public space. One block consists of widened sidewalks in front of a row of businesses, the other consists of a plaza in front of an elementary school and social housing.

Some before-and-after photos – note that trees, flowers and shrubs had not yet been planted in the second after photo.

Source

Source

More photos and renderings here.

LeftCoaster · #**402** Posted **Oct 16, 2020, 8:43 PM**

Wow, what a transformation.

I'm sure it wasn't cheap, but more of those are definitely in order!

Chadillaccc · #**403** Posted **Oct 16, 2020, 9:49 PM**

That's fantastic, small change creating a big difference to the public realm. However, I feel like the tiny grassy areas are superfluous. Or maybe they're for dogs to pee? Would have been better to do fake grass, since natural grass will be completely dead in a few months from said pee.

Edit: never mind, I see the grassy areas are turned into little gardens, very cool.

Kilgore Trout · #**404** Posted **Oct 16, 2020, 11:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

That's fantastic, small change creating a big difference to the public realm. However, I feel like the tiny grassy areas are superfluous. Or maybe they're for dogs to pee? Would have been better to do fake grass, since natural grass will be completely dead in a few months from said pee.

Edit: never mind, I see the grassy areas are turned into little gardens, very cool.

Yeah, what looks like grass in the photos in actually just weeds, they were fully planted in September with trees and various perennials.

esquire · #**405** Posted **Oct 17, 2020, 3:47 PM**

Is it just me or does Quebec seem exceptionally good at pulling this sort of thing off? It's one home run after another coming out of that province. The McGill College concept in Montreal looks fantastic.

JHikka · #**406** Posted **Oct 17, 2020, 3:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

Is it just me or does Quebec seem exceptionally good at pulling this sort of thing off? It's one home run after another coming out of that province. The McGill College concept in Montreal looks fantastic.

The McGill College concept and this project on Fairmount aren't overly far from each other. Rather than saying Quebec, i'd say that the Ville de Montreal is exceptionally good at pulling this sort of thing off. When they want to.

esquire · #**407** Posted **Oct 17, 2020, 3:56 PM**

^ Montreal is good at it, but we've seen some high quality design out of Quebec City lately too. And from my own experience visiting the province, it does seem to me that their approach to this type of thing is better than what you'd typically see in Western Canada. (Obviously there are some exceptions and there are some great "public realms" in Western Canada too... just that on average, Quebec does a really good job.)

Martin Mtl · #**408** Posted **Oct 17, 2020, 4:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JHikka

The McGill College concept and this project on Fairmount aren't overly far from each other. Rather than saying Quebec, i'd say that the Ville de Montreal is exceptionally good at pulling this sort of thing off. When they want to.

The McGill College project is on another level though, the result of an international landscaping competition. It will be one of the most spectacular new public places in Montreal. We have to be patient though... it will be finished only in 2025 because they have to wait for the McGill REM station to be finished and operational before they begin works.

MolsonExport · #**409** Posted **Oct 17, 2020, 4:09 PM**

Way to go, QC

Chadillaccc · #**410** Posted **Oct 17, 2020, 6:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

^ Montreal is good at it, but we've seen some high quality design out of Quebec City lately too. And from my own experience visiting the province, it does seem to me that their approach to this type of thing is better than what you'd typically see in Western Canada. (Obviously there are some exceptions and there are some great "public realms" in Western Canada too... just that on average, Quebec does a really good job.)

They also have extremely good "urban bones" to work with. Already thee most pedestrian friendly on the continent, because of how old it is. That plays a lot into how easy it is for smaller interventions to make a big difference.

Kilgore Trout · #**411** Posted **Oct 18, 2020, 4:46 PM**

Here's a few more photos of Place Fairmount taken yesterday.

Source

Maldive · #**412** Posted **Oct 18, 2020, 5:18 PM**

While this may have been said somewhere in this thread, I'd just like to thank Quebec for blessing Toronto's 'much-criticized/now changing by the hour' public realm... with the genius of Claude Cormier.

Scores of completed and future projects in The Six (doesn't get better than 'Doggy Fountain'). Not sure if it's in his family dna, breathing Quebec air, or his education at the University of Toronto (and Guelph and Harvard)

.

Here's a taste of his latest (for Block 8 West Don Lands - 90m - 26s - Dream - COBE Architects - u/c)

posted by AlbertC from Claude Cormier's website

Kilgore Trout · #**413** Posted **Oct 18, 2020, 11:12 PM**

Claude Cormier does great work. Beyond the fun fountain, his design for Berczy Park is very straightforward, yet it's a huge improvement over the bland space that was there before.

Earlier people were asking why Quebec does so well at public spaces, and I think part of the answer is Cormier and his influence. In Montreal, he redesigned Victoria Square, Place d'Armes, Place d'Youville, Dorchester Square and Place du Canada among others. His spaces are usually simple but thoughtful, with good use of material and an effective configuration that is visually interesting but uncluttered.

Peggerino · #**414** Posted **Oct 18, 2020, 11:43 PM**

Not totally related to this but there's a show on TVO called Life Sized City that's pretty much all about public realm in cities (and other city themes) if anyone is interested. They did an episode on Montreal which was great in which the host interviewed local players in urban planning and design. Tonight I think they're showing an episode based around Hamilton. The host is pretty cool and it does a good job showing this kind of stuff from cities around the world. Definitely recommend!

Maldive · #**415** Posted **Oct 19, 2020, 12:06 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peggerino

Not totally related to this but there's a show on TVO called Life Sized City that's pretty much all about public realm in cities (and other city themes) if anyone is interested. They did an episode on Montreal which was great in which the host interviewed local players in urban planning and design. Tonight I think they're showing an episode based around Hamilton. The host is pretty cool and it does a good job showing this kind of stuff from cities around the world. Definitely recommend!

Not sure how they would fill an episode on the public realm in Hamilton. Other than (a still in progress I think) touch-up of Gore Park, the only significant addition to the public realm I can think of is a new park next to a huge (shuttered) night club near John and King William. Visited the park recently with my Tibetan Spaniel who loved climbing the spongy half-globes and sniffing the splash pad. The park is now also home to a smallish tent city (joining others downtown). You'd have to be a cyborg to not see/feel the city tears.

Martin Mtl · #**416** Posted **Oct 19, 2020, 12:09 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kilgore Trout

Claude Cormier does great work. Beyond the fun fountain, his design for Berczy Park is very straightforward, yet it's a huge improvement over the bland space that was there before.

Earlier people were asking why Quebec does so well at public spaces, and I think part of the answer is Cormier and his influence. In Montreal, he redesigned Victoria Square, Place d'Armes, Place d'Youville, Dorchester Square and Place du Canada among others. His spaces are usually simple but thoughtful, with good use of material and an effective configuration that is visually interesting but uncluttered.

Cormier is also famous for his LGBT balls in the Village, and the pink forest at the Montréal Convention Center, not to mention his sugar beach (Toronto) and Old Port beach in Montreal.

Maldive · #**417** Posted **Oct 19, 2020, 3:05 AM**

Those permanent recliners/lawn chairs in Place Fairmount are a sweet touch. Have they been done elsewhere? Or are they one of those "duh, why didn't I think of that" moments? Either way I need to lie down now.

dreambrother808 · #**418** Posted **Oct 19, 2020, 3:45 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maldive

Those permanent recliners/lawn chairs in Place Fairmount are a sweet touch. Have they been done elsewhere? Or are they one of those "duh, why didn't I think of that" moments? Either way I need to lie down now.

The Olympic Village seawall in Vancouver has some, if they’re still there.

city guy · #**419** Posted **Oct 19, 2020, 4:08 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by dreambrother808

The Olympic Village seawall in Vancouver has some, if they’re still there.

and they've been used along the riverfront park in New Westminster

TorontoDrew · #**420** Posted **Oct 19, 2020, 1:28 PM**

This is just a 2 min walk from me.

Posted on urbantoronto.ca

Pierre Poussin’s ‘Brick Obelisk' in Leslieville

Captured by Forum contributor skycandy, this view shows the new 9.2 metre-high, three-sided pyramid, featuring a weathering steel exterior with etchings from local maps that represent the city in 1851, 1899, 1923, 1960, and 2016, illuminated by an internal LED lighting system.