Claridge Icon [505 Preston St] | 143m | 45 fl | Completed - Page 99

OTownandDown · #**1961** Posted **Nov 23, 2020, 2:43 PM**

The biggest disappointment with these balcony rails isn't that they're not custom, but they're fundamentally different in overall design.

The renderings show the rails extending on the outside of the slab edges, concealing all the slab edges. Now you have all these exposed pieces of concrete.

The renderings also show a coating or covering on the undersides, and I'm not seeing any coatings, just exposed concrete.

The whole thing produces a very jarring result.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harley613

I just haven't seen any progress on those Alibaba Buy-One-Get-One-Free balcony panes. I like to imagine they are fitting out the interiors while they try to figure out how to make the balconies work without buying the actual custom glass they promised in their renders and applications that were approved by the city.

Edit:

Just look at this balcony travesty a couple of days ago:
[IMG]

20201119_143200 by harley613, on Flickr[/IMG]

OTownandDown · #**1962** Posted **Nov 23, 2020, 2:49 PM**

A tutorial on what white paint and proper railings can do:

Before:

After:

J.OT13 · #**1963** Posted **Nov 23, 2020, 3:03 PM**

Highly disappointing. This is supposed to be their icon. They literally named it "Icon". It's their headquarters. It's the most prominent modern building in the city and will probably be in the top 5 for decades to come. They should have gone all out for this one at least.

As much as I hate waste, I hope they give up on the crappy railings, remove them and order proper custom railings that capture the original rendering. Take the hit and start over. My hope is that Malhotra halted work seeing how shitty it looks and asked the contractor to start over and that now, they are just waiting for those custom railings.

bartlebooth · #**1964** Posted **Nov 23, 2020, 3:15 PM**

Claridge just can't make good buildings. It's not in their DNA. They don't have the expertise, will, vision, etc.... Sure, they can hire a notable architect but there is a zero percent chance they will be able to execute. I shudder every time I see an announcement that they've acquired land or are submitting an application to the city, especially in a central neighbourhood. It just means another bad building will soon be going up.

AuxTown · #**1965** Posted **Nov 23, 2020, 3:40 PM**

In the grand scheme of things, this will not take much to remedy. I Hope they have the vision to realize this building IS a reference point for their company and any missteps (this is a big one) will scare away customers and architects for years to come. Can they reuse the existing balcony glass and railings on another project? Would look great on a building with straight edges.

RogueNacho · #**1966** Posted **Nov 23, 2020, 3:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by J.OT13

My hope is that Malhotra halted work seeing how shitty it looks and asked the contractor to start over...

I really really wish this were the case but the balcony glass is 2/3rds of the way up the tower now. If it were a decision to scrap and start over, it would have been made much earlier when the glass was first installed on the first few floors no?

Amsterdam · #**1967** Posted **Nov 23, 2020, 6:28 PM**

I am an out-of-town owner who purchased on renderings and must admit, it is sad how Pontarini’s vision turned into a towering eye sore (from at least three of the sides).

Looking on the bright side - even though the final build is way too ugly to ever live in, I think the location will provide positive rental income so I am enjoying my lemonade from time zones away.

J.OT13 · #**1968** Posted **Nov 23, 2020, 7:17 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amsterdam

I am an out-of-town owner who purchased on renderings and must admit, it is sad how Pontarini’s vision turned into a towering eye sore (from at least three of the sides).

Looking on the bright side - even though the final build is way too ugly to ever live in, I think the location will provide positive rental income so I am enjoying my lemonade from time zones away.

Thanks for providing an outside perspective. It confirms we're not all crazy.

Despite the disappointing execution, no doubt you will still benefit from the purchase, if it's ever completed...

SidetrackedSue · #**1969** Posted **Nov 23, 2020, 7:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amsterdam

I am an out-of-town owner who purchased on renderings and must admit, it is sad how Pontarini’s vision turned into a towering eye sore...

I live in an eyesore and the big advantage to my home vs the Metropol which I have always thought of as a beautiful building is the people in the Metropol have my building in their view!

Moral of the story, live in the eyesore and you won't have to see it!

Multi-modal · #**1970** Posted **Nov 23, 2020, 7:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harley613

Just look at this balcony travesty a couple of days ago:
[IMG]

20201119_143200 by harley613, on Flickr[/IMG]

So it looks like the only complete balcony is the 3rd one up, on the right. Maybe an unpopular opinion, but that one doesn't look that bad. Curved glass would have vastly improved things, but... meh.

Amsterdam · #**1971** Posted **Nov 23, 2020, 7:58 PM**

Actually, I hope they continue to take their time since leverage is your friend when you purchase a pre-construction.

I purchased end 2017 prices so will always feel half warm toward Claridge, still find it unfortunate that the city allows Claridge to deviate so much from the promised original visual impact.

Kitchissippi · #**1972** Posted **Nov 23, 2020, 8:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Multi-modal

So it looks like the only complete balcony is the 3rd one up, on the right. Maybe an unpopular opinion, but that one doesn't look that bad. Curved glass would have vastly improved things, but... meh.

That's not a normal balcony, that's the strange one with the thick slab