Great Canadian Skyline Thread II

[Vin]

Originally Posted by MonkeyRonin

I don't see any commie blocks, just typical 1960s & 70s apartment towers built in the prevailing modernist style of the era.

There are a few "commie" blocks: but they still look nicer than the woodframe walkups.

https://www.google.com/maps/@49.2875173,...itch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656

https://www.google.com/maps/@49.2891921,...ud9SnLEAwqeWwz84mZOHQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

[csbvan]

Originally Posted by Vin

Yes, lots of ugly 60s buildings in the West End: one major area of downtown Vancouver most residents are resistant to redevelopments and certainly an ugly part of town. Since the 80s, only selected pockets of 3 commercial streets are allowed taller developments, meaning many developers just shun the area and head eleswhere, with many building in the suburb municipalities instead.

Yes, because you can't tear down the generally quite well designed mid-century rental and coop buildings, those buildings have seen major reinvestment in renovations, creating one of the most sought after rental markets in the city. With layers of character, 3 major retail streets, leafy and well landscaped streetscapes, Stanley Park and English Bay, I can't imagine why anyone would choose the West End over the vertical suburbia of Metrotown or Surrey Central with their pseudo-highway main streets, and (shockingly) decreasing rental stock...

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally Posted by _Citizen_Dane_

I was gonna say. Isn’t the epitome of a ‘commie block’, the Khrushchyovka, defined by its low squat proportions? Is being precast all it takes to be considered ‘Soviet’ these days?

Somewhat. Anything one considers as ugly has been considered Soviet for some time. Concrete is Brutalism or a subset of the broader Soviet one considers ugly. Many post 2000 era towers deemed as ugly have been called such.

[giallo]

Originally Posted by Vin

Yes, lots of ugly 60s buildings in the West End: one major area of downtown Vancouver most residents are resistant to redevelopments and certainly an ugly part of town. Since the 80s, only selected pockets of 3 commercial streets are allowed taller developments, meaning many developers just shun the area and head eleswhere, with many building in the suburb municipalities instead.

I guess we have different standards of ugly. I'd argue that the Westend is one of the more visually interesting neighbourhoods in Vancouver.

To each their own.

• Video Link

[Nouvellecosse]

"Visually interesting" things can ugly, beautiful, or anything in between.

[Denscity]

Originally Posted by giallo

I guess we have different standards of ugly. I'd argue that the Westend is one of the more visually interesting neighbourhoods in Vancouver.

To each their own.

• Video Link

This screen capture definitely isn't ugly wow!

[Nite]

Toronto

• Video Link

[Martin Mtl]

Montreal


Photo: https://www.instagram.com/adougl8/

[TorontoDrew]

Toronto Islands by Marcanadian, on Flickr

Toronto skyline by booledozer, on Flickr

Toronto skyline by booledozer, on Flickr

[WhipperSnapper]

new perspective (especially the first one) ... nice

Time and Space's The Esplanade frontage actually fits in really well.

[Arrdeeharharharbour]

When I took these pic in the summer of 2015 I was actually thinking of how much the view reminded me of the view out my window at the Hotel Sevilla in Havana. Too 'on the nose' for the commie definition? If I could easily lay my hands on the Havana pics I'd post them too.


IMG_20150801_202631 by AJ Forsythe, on Flickr

IMG_20150801_202653 by AJ Forsythe, on Flickr

IMG_20150801_202658 by AJ Forsythe, on Flickr

[TorontoDrew]

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper

new perspective (especially the first one) ... nice

Time and Space's The Esplanade frontage actually fits in really well.

I know right? I had no real opinion on that development because I always pictured it from the other side. But from the Esplanade it really works.

[Martin Mtl]

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

[Coldrsx]

https://twitter.com/leroyschulz/status/1499944168226914308

[TallBob]

Good Edmonton picture.... That angle makes it look much bigger than what it is!

[Coldrsx]

Or maybe it actually is...


https://twitter.com/ExploreEdmonton/stat...reads%2Fedmonton-skyline.23898%2Fpage-46

[WhipperSnapper]

The Pearl still looks ridiculously out of place. How did that come to pass? The ten storey condos beside it were conceived and developed not much earlier. (with The Pearl taking much longer to sell and construct). Are any 35 to 40 storey towers planned within a few blocks of the Pearl?

[Coldrsx]

That shot is a bit out of date. There are a couple of 20-25 storey towers planned within two blocks to help balance things.

Here is a recent shot and from the angle that better supports the height of The Pearl.


Avenuer on SRC
https://edmonton.skyrisecities.com/forum...perties-wallman-architects.24161/page-41

[HomeInMyShoes]

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper

The Pearl still looks ridiculously out of place. How did that come to pass? The ten storey condos beside it were conceived and developed not much earlier. (with The Pearl taking much longer to sell and construct). Are any 35 to 40 storey towers planned within a few blocks of the Pearl?

The ten story ones were prior to the City Centre Airport closure. There's a large pile of 10 to 16 story structures between 109th and 124th. There will be several buildings closer to the Pearl within the next five years.

The CNIB one is 35 stories and is pretty close. I also believe Greenlong Towers, if built, is going to make The Pearl look stubby.

[WhipperSnapper]

That new tower makes a difference (although its looks like a flattering angle)