Canadian City Proposals

[WhipperSnapper]

I don't know how high with those large outdoor spaces. $2000 is far too low.

[Metro-One]

Originally Posted by O-tacular

Nice proposal! How come Kelowna can build triplets that aren't identical and Calgary can't?

The identical twin and triplet tower for better or worse has long been Calgary’s calling card.

Here is yet another office proposal for downtown Kelowna.

It’s a little haphazard but I like it for its Japanese style narrow but relatively tall form and various style of spaces. It will add good texture and variety to the larger towers going up.

Originally Posted by JayMi

Here is another interesting application dropped off for Downtown. Curious what you guys think about this unique architectural 9 storey building form.

http://apps.kelowna.ca/CityPage/DevApps/Z22-0002%20DP22-0003%20DVP22-0004%20Clement%20Ave%20535.pdf

[IMG][/IMG]

[esquire]

^ It's obviously busy and I can see it being polarizing, but I do like the form in general. A smaller building like this could compliment a larger, more monolithic project nearby.

[csbvan]

It's busy, definitely a design that needs refinement, but I like the idea of single-lot, taller buildings. Everything is always lot consolidation in Canada.

[WhipperSnapper]

Please tell me the brick facade is a facadectomy.

I'm still looking for the kitchen sink. I know it's somewhere.

[J.OT13]

That Kelowna proposal looks like a child's Lego project.

[gentlepuppies]

Originally Posted by mcminsen

More images of the 1700 Alberni proposal in Vancouver from the Dailyhive article.













source: https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/1700-alberni-street-vancouver-towers-redesigned-bosa-heatherwick

wow, this doesn't feel very West Coast. The bespoke quality detailing, which would've been impressive just for a boutique store, is a surprise to see anywhere outside of central London or Manhattan at such a large scale

[WhipperSnapper]

I don't feel Manhattan or the little I know of London high rise residential architecture. It feels more Spanish or Italian.

Rich people buy homes everywhere. This is probably easier to pull off in a cheaper location than the most expensive real estate in the world. It's pretty incredible the quality design and execution you see for boutique build in otherwise poor countries.

[Arrdeeharharharbour]

Fred and Wilma Flintstone retire to a condo... I like it.

[biguc]

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper

I don't feel Manhattan or the little I know of London high rise residential architecture. It feels more Spanish or Italian.

Rich people buy homes everywhere. This is probably easier to pull off in a cheaper location than the most expensive real estate in the world. It's pretty incredible the quality design and execution you see for boutique build in otherwise poor countries.

Probably the nicest materials on newer, run of the mill buildings I've seen were in supposedly dirt-poor southern Italy.

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.121834,1...lg9v2iiEYxS3A!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e2

There's something to be said for having a local abundance of long-established tile makers, brickworks, and the skilled workers to deal with them. Even with piles of money, sometimes you just have to build with what you can get.

[Coldrsx]

Reminds me of what the offspring would like look if these two had a wee one.

[MonkeyRonin]

Originally Posted by biguc

Probably the nicest materials on newer, run of the mill buildings I've seen were in supposedly dirt-poor southern Italy.

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.121834,1...lg9v2iiEYxS3A!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e2

There's something to be said for having a local abundance of long-established tile makers, brickworks, and the skilled workers to deal with them. Even with piles of money, sometimes you just have to build with what you can get.

Having high-skilled local trades & industries is a huge part of it, as is the culture of a place. But also, I find that either upper-tier developing or lower-tier developed countries tend to be at an advantage when it comes to construction: because labour, material, and land costs are lower, but there’s still a large enough pool of people in the middle class and above to fund interesting projects. Who, compared to upper-middle income people in a place like Canada, probably actually have more comparative disposable income - at least when it comes to housing.

Places like Mexico, Argentina, and Vietnam have some of the most exciting architecture at the moment - in no small part because architects in those countries have enough relative affluence (and less regulatory oversight) to realize their own independent, unadulterated visions. Canadian architects & designers in comparison can barely afford to rent their own apartments. Only the truly elite here have any autonomy over our architecture.

[vanman]

Originally Posted by MonkeyRonin

Having high-skilled local trades & industries is a huge part of it, as is the culture of a place. But also, I find that either upper-tier developing or lower-tier developed countries tend to be at an advantage when it comes to construction: because labour, material, and land costs are lower, but there’s still a large enough pool of people in the middle class and above to fund interesting projects. Who, compared to upper-middle income people in a place like Canada, probably actually have more comparative disposable income - at least when it comes to housing.

Places like Mexico, Argentina, and Vietnam have some of the most exciting architecture at the moment - in no small part because architects in those countries have enough relative affluence (and less regulatory oversight) to realize their own independent, unadulterated visions. Canadian architects & designers in comparison can barely afford to rent their own apartments. Only the truly elite here have any autonomy over our architecture.

This is very true in my personal experience. Compare Bali, Vietnam or Thailand to the architecture in Japan for example and you can see clearly where architectural creativity is unbridled and where it is suppressed.

[WhipperSnapper]

I add that I believe Canadian architects do better on the international stage. I don't think Hariri Pontarini of Toronto, for example, would have the freedom and opportunity here as they did with the stunning temple in Chile. Chile's recent portfolio may be the most impressive in all the Americas.

[biguc]

Those are all good points.

I'd also suggest that Canada puts more of its housing money into tasteless single family homes than any of these more middle-income countries.

[WhipperSnapper]

I don't think its fair to blame single family homes for our architectural standard for high rises residential.

[suburbanite]

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper

I don't think its fair to blame single family homes for our architectural standard for high rises residential.

Well you could maybe argue that if high net worth individuals are significantly more likely to live in a SFH, there's less money available to fund adventurous high-rise projects with quality materials. You can have tasteful designs on a budget, but a higher-end buyer profile makes everything easier.

[WhipperSnapper]

The middle live in single family homes in post war neighbourhoods outside of Canada too. A 15 to 20 million dollar estate in Toronto can be purchased for $2 million in Latin America. It doesn't make any common sense that high net worth individuals (local and foreign) are only interested in condo apartments.

Consumers ultimately drive design. Where the investment is coming from may have more to do with our standards than the costs of business in Canada.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper

The middle live in single family homes in post war neighbourhoods outside of Canada too. A 15 to 20 million dollar estate in Toronto can be purchased for $2 million in Latin America. It doesn't make any common sense that high net worth individuals (local and foreign) are only interested in condo apartments.

Agreed. I'm sure the ultra high net worth gang will take an apartment/condo/townhouse in London or New York, but anywhere else, why would they bother? Let's be realistic here.

[WhipperSnapper]

London's iceberg homes are a prime example how far the super rich will go to live in a house over a penthouse with sunlight and views in every room.