Great Canadian Skyline Thread II

[Metro-One]

The take on Japanese cities is bang on, they are not pretty. Suburban areas look even worse.

This is due to far more than just the post war rebuild. Before the war the majority of Japanese cities consisted of wooden structures, which frequently experienced catastrophic fires (even without war) and were often replaced with new structures.

Japanese culture is obsessed with new (think of the cherry blossom festivals, young girl groups, etc…) and this cultural aspect makes its way into architecture and their urban built forms as well. Nearly all houses and most commercial buildings are built in a semi-temporary fashion. Lots of prefabricated structures are used.

For example Japanese don’t like buying and using existing houses. Nearly every time they buy a house for the plot of land, demolish the existing house and built their own new “clean” house.

That all said the best part of Japanese urban form is the fine grained commercial and entertainment districts. If Granville Street were in Japan, it would be lined with narrow 10 story tall buildings, each building housing about 10 or so independently owned and operated pubs, bars, clubs and restaurants. This strip would be anchored by a couple major multi level departments stores with direct urban rail transit access.

Instead in Canada you get only one or two levels of bland retail of the same bar or restaurant found everywhere, often owned by the same group.

[saffronleaf]

Originally Posted by Pavlov

It's so depressing comparing the urbanity of Canadian cities to Asian cities. Takamatsu has a metro population of what? 500,000?

Great photos though. Thanks for posting.

wow, a city of 500k looking like that. incredible.

nvm, looks more like 1m taking into account the surrounding area, but still. japan is awesome.

[G.S MTL]

[Martin Mtl]

Photo: https://www.instagram.com/_moon.raker_/


Photo: https://www.instagram.com/photographermontreal/

[MolsonExport]

hefty Montreal lookin good

[giallo]

Some Kelowna skyline pics from this morning.

[Rico Rommheim]

Wow, now Kelowna has got two skylines!

Hard to believe it's a city the size of Sherbrooke, which effectively had got no real skyline to speak of (by SSP standards).

[TheGreatestX]

I'm also impressed by the houses on the top of those hills, I really need to get out to Kelowna and explore

[Echoes]

Kelowna looks great.

[905er]

what Sherbrook lacks in skyline, it makes up for in heritage. Imagine the best of both cities merged together... that would be great!

[Denscity]

Originally Posted by 905er

what Sherbrook lacks in skyline, it makes up for in heritage. Imagine the best of both cities merged together... that would be great!

Sherbrooke has nearly a century head start on existence over Kelowna. But building styles are different. Im guessing a ton of brick in Sherbrooke. Lower but denser than Kelowna?

[itom 987]

Kelowna is making gains on Spokane's skyline.

[Denscity]

Originally Posted by itom 987

Kelowna is making gains on Spokane's skyline.

Height for sure numbers of buildings not quite yet.

[GreaterMontréal]

Originally Posted by Denscity

Sherbrooke has nearly a century head start on existence over Kelowna. But building styles are different. Im guessing a ton of brick in Sherbrooke. Lower but denser than Kelowna?

Sherbrooke's urban density is about twice that of Kelowna. The Sherbrooke metropolitan area is also about 1,500km² smaller.

Yes, tons of brick in Sherbrooke and not a lot of towers. The city also has its own highway system with the A-410 and A-610. The A-410 is being extended, but there is no plan to complete the ring road.

[Metro-One]

The praise and comparison for Kelowna’s skyline was just that, about the skyline, so those getting upset and needing to mention Sherbrook’s urban form / older stock of structures can relax, since no one claimed they were inferior to Kelowna.

Here is a rundown of current tower projects in Kelowna:

Originally Posted by Homerbush

By my count, there are currently 17! Towers either started/approved/or proposed for downtown right now. Am I missing any?:
Under construction:
Brooklyn
Bertram
The Block
One Water - west tower

Approved:
Water Street by the park x3
BC Housing on Bertram

Proposed:
Waterscapes 2 x4
Corner of Doyle and St. Paul
Westcorp Hotel (ever going to happen?)
UBCO Downtown campus x3 (not sure if these are approved yet or not)

[MolsonExport]

Kelowna has changed mightily from the time I lived there (1994)

[vanman]

Those Kelowna skyline pics really throw me off. I still have this mental image of Kelowna being a few 90s condos by the lake.

[Denscity]

Originally Posted by Rico Rommheim

Wow, now Kelowna has got two skylines!

Hard to believe it's a city the size of Sherbrooke, which effectively had got no real skyline to speak of (by SSP standards).

Sure wish the two skylines were put together.

[Metro-One]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

Kelowna has changed mightily from the time I lived there (1994)

When I was a kid going to Kelowna in the 90s it was seen pretty much as a larger rougher Penticton, while Kamloops was the “hub” of the interior, but has that perception ever changed.

The added bonus is while no longer interior top dog, Kamloops has also continued to grow and change.

Kelowna really has become BC’s third city. The further transformation over the next five years is going to be astounding.

[Prometheus]

Screen shots from:

• Video Link