Zibi Ottawa Ontario | U/C

[UrbOttawa]

Linebox posted on their instagram a while back that they're working on a Zibi project - block 210 by the looks of it. Nice to see one of the better local studios in the mix with all these Toronto architects.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by UrbOttawa

Linebox posted on their instagram a while back that they're working on a Zibi project - block 210 by the looks of it. Nice to see one of the better local studios in the mix with all these Toronto architects.

Nice! So we should start seeing some activity on Albert Island. Glad to see that most of the focus is along Booth and Eddy to create a continuous urban built form from Ottawa to Gatineau. I wish the NCC could do the same along their land. Too many wind swept monuments and parks.

[UrbOttawa]

The vertical metal slats look pretty good in person, especially with the sun catching them at sunset. They're not quite as polished as some of the renderings portrayed - they're more of a matte/satin finish


https://i.imgur.com/FCBsPKt.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/UCpzbOR.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/gIK7CS2.jpg


Not zibi, but this one across the street is almost finished


https://i.imgur.com/xoSOMvw.jpg

[J.OT13]

Thanks for posting. That Zibi office tower should look great.

The other one in Hull turned out better than the rendering, I think, but the mid-century block behind looked far better with the red spandrels. Now it just fades in h]the background. There was a thread for that one, but I'm not sure how to find it.

[J.OT13]

From Rodney Wilts. That's some good looking brick. Almost looks like it dates back to the early 20th Century.




https://twitter.com/RodneyWilts/status/1369975409283043330

[Harley613]

Some pics from last night. The new lighting on the Hydro Quebec generator station is absolutely gorgeous. They are doing a bang up job of making it look dam good.

Photo_6553616_DJI_16_jpg_4062345_0_202131719450_photo_original by harley613, on Flickr

Photo_6553608_DJI_8_jpg_4491949_0_202131719242_photo_original by harley613, on Flickr

Photo_6553605_DJI_5_jpg_4345308_0_202131719134_photo_original by harley613, on Flickr

Photo_6553610_DJI_10_jpg_4495207_0_202131719320_photo_original by harley613, on Flickr

Zibi by harley613, on Flickr

Photo_6553624_DJI_24_jpg_4274372_0_2021317191024_photo_original by harley613, on Flickr

[phil235]

Originally Posted by Harley613

Some pics from last night. The new lighting on the Hydro Quebec generator station is absolutely gorgeous. They are doing a bang up job of making it look dam good.

"Dam good". Very well played!

Amazing shots.

[J.OT13]

Some amazing shots Harley. Ottawa seems so much larger from angles like these. Those clusters of towers around Dow's Lake, Tunney's and Westboro will continue to grow over the next 5 years while LeBreton will slowly emerge.

[Marshsparrow]

Too bad you have this gorgeous development and then an arrival in a barren wasteland that is Lebreton.

[skisail_ott]

Originally Posted by Harley613

The new lighting on the Hydro Quebec generator station is absolutely gorgeous.

Beautiful shots - thanks for sharing. Just want to point out that while that generating station is in Quebec, it’s owned by Portage Power, a subsidiary of Ottawa Hydro.

See:

https://hydroottawa.com/en/news-releases...c-acquire-remaining-hydroelectric-assets

https://portagepower.com/hydroelectric/chaudiere-falls/

[J.OT13]

Rodney Wilts
@RodneyWilts

Start of construction coming soon
@zibiCanada
- whaddya think?


12:53 PM · Mar 19, 2021·Twitter Web App

https://twitter.com/RodneyWilts/status/1372954415586541568

[J.OT13]

Zip Line Ottawa tower.


https://twitter.com/RodneyWilts/status/1374070467162734595

[OTSkyline]

Is the zipline a go for this summer?

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by OTSkyline

Is the zipline a go for this summer?

Supposed to be this spring.

[drizzo_613]

Went for a walk around zibi last night. Heres a couple photos taken with S20 FE. Files were compressed by accident so will upload higher res photos later along with the rest of the collection.

[J.OT13]

Those are some great shots! Should be interesting to have those large green industrial pieces on the right of the first pic as points on interest around the development.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by kevinbottawa

I've been taking in as much as I can about this Wharf DC project in Washington DC. I love the vision these developers and public officials have for their waterfront. I hope Zibi and Lebreton are this successful, but I'm not 100% optimistic.

• Video Link

Finally started the video. Funny how they talk about DC's iconic skyline, when they really have no skyline. All these new buildings, while high quality, are all the same height.

Putting that aside, there are some very interesting parallels with Ottawa, where both have great potential on the waterfront, but neither have ever been considered waterfront cities.

In the DC project, the hotel space (pending with Zibi, but I imagine it will be limited to the old Board Mill, as per the plans) and the music hall are great additions. Although Zibi will have unique attractions like the zip-line, there are no cultural attractions yet confirmed. They also have piers bringing people on the water, which I don't think are included here.

I do worry about the waterfront at Zibi. It seems to continue the old Ottawa adage that the waterfront is for parks only; there doesn't actually seem to have many, if any, waterfront cafes and restaurants.

Based on the events that have been held at Zibi over the last few years, I'm sure they will continue to try and host summer events like outdoor concerts and beer fests. Cirque du Soleil type events will no longer have space.

One place where Zibi has an edge, IMO, is diversity of built-forms and architecture. While the DC project is a series of blocks of the same height, general size and design, Zibi has a variety of heights and sizes, along with some historic industrial architecture thrown into the mix.

I might have more comments when I finish the video.

[kevinbottawa]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Finally started the video. Funny how they talk about DC's iconic skyline, when they really have no skyline. All these new buildings, while high quality, are all the same height.

Putting that aside, there are some very interesting parallels with Ottawa, where both have great potential on the waterfront, but neither have ever been considered waterfront cities.

In the DC project, the hotel space (pending with Zibi, but I imagine it will be limited to the old Board Mill, as per the plans) and the music hall are great additions. Although Zibi will have unique attractions like the zip-line, there are no cultural attractions yet confirmed. They also have piers bringing people on the water, which I don't think are included here.

I do worry about the waterfront at Zibi. It seems to continue the old Ottawa adage that the waterfront is for parks only; there doesn't actually seem to have many, if any, waterfront cafes and restaurants.

Based on the events that have been held at Zibi over the last few years, I'm sure they will continue to try and host summer events like outdoor concerts and beer fests. Cirque du Soleil type events will no longer have space.

One place where Zibi has an edge, IMO, is diversity of built-forms and architecture. While the DC project is a series of blocks of the same height, general size and design, Zibi has a variety of heights and sizes, along with some historic industrial architecture thrown into the mix.

I might have more comments when I finish the video.

The advantages of the DC project are where I have concerns about Zibi. Because of the diversity of the food offerings, the music venue, the pier (which doubles as an outdoor event space), and how music is infused into every part of the development, the DC project really seems to be very alive with high foot traffic. I don't know if Zibi will ever attract visitors on the level of the DC project. It also seems to be more pedestrian friendly whereas we have Booth Street running through Zibi. Even when you look at Dream's track record with the Distillery District, it's a great looking space, but every time I go there it's dead.

[J.OT13]

I agree on a lot of your points. I'm skeptical they can get Booth to a point where it becomes a pleasant experience (though it already has, and continues to improve so far). I do hope plans evolve to further turn the site towards the water and add patios and food options. Some sort if a pier would also be welcome. Flooding might be an issue, but it could be removable for winter and spring. I'm pretty confident they'll be able to keep the site alive with smaller scale music and shows by teaming up with many of our local festivals as they've done so far. Dream may not be great at that at the Distillery District, but Jeff Weinstein seems very motivated to do so.

[J.OT13]

Building the Wharf all at once probably helped, but I realize that's not realistic. If we could establish a region wide bike and or scooter share program could help. I would love a water taxi to serve Zibi, Hull, Pointe-Gatineau, the Market, LeBreton, up the Canal* to Lansdowne and Dow's Lake.

The Gatineau Tram, if built, will help, but it would be great to have more options, especially one that would highlight our waterways.

*option to go up and down the locks, or transfee.

Finaly finished the video, and I'd say the Wharf project should serve as an inspiration.