Public Realm in Canadian Cities - Developments - Page 44

Rico Rommheim · #**861** Posted **Jul 7, 2022, 1:43 PM**

I took a quick stroll around the new stargate a coupke weeks ago. A festival was being set up so a big metal man thingy was also within.

All and all I really like the new stargate. The public space around it is simple and clean. I like it.

Quickie by Foofoo MacShoe, on Flickr

Acajack · #**862** Posted **Jul 13, 2022, 6:56 PM**

Another pretty neat suspended public art installation unveiled in Montreal. This one is on the new pedestrianized section of Ave. du Mont-Royal in the Plateau.

I'd say it's worth clicking my link!

https://www.silo57.ca/2022/07/11/photos-...nouvelle-uvre-suspendue-completement-wow

Martin Mtl · #**863** Posted **Jul 17, 2022, 2:50 AM**

Montreal - Square Viger by NIP Paysage (my pics)

Rico Rommheim · #**864** Posted **Jul 17, 2022, 1:32 PM**

Wow. Really not impressed with the "new" Viger square. They should have completely gotten rid of these awful concrete structures and started from scratch.

I'll reserve my final judgemement when I visit it in situ this week .

Martin Mtl · #**865** Posted **Jul 17, 2022, 3:41 PM**

I wasn't sure neither before I saw it for myself. The quality of the execution and materials are truly impressive (with real granit for a change). The concrete pergolas have plants on their roof that will eventually grow (they have just been planted), as intended when they were created back then. For now, the trees are all young so we'll have to wait for the square to be greener but it will. The fountains and water bassins are amazing and have great success with people.

They kept some of the brutalist design from the 70's, but with time and vegetation, it can work (see London's Barbican). I think we have to stop demolishing stuff created by artists and try instead to make it work as it was intended. Square Viger was abandoned, but now it will be a true gathering spot with the CHUM just across the street.

The true centerpiece of the square will be Mastodo, the giant dynamic water sculpture conceived by Daudelin. It is being restored and will be back in the fall.

Martin Mtl · #**866** Posted **Jul 27, 2022, 7:39 PM**

The brand new Theatre de Verdure in Parc Lafontaine (Le Plateau, in Monreal). A absolute beauty!

MrTransit · #**867** Posted **Jul 27, 2022, 7:42 PM**

Been waiting for this one for awhile! That end of Lafontaine has been pretty ugly the past couple years, but it turned out amazing. Nice to see the pond filled in again.

Al Ski · #**868** Posted **Jul 28, 2022, 8:38 AM**

I'm so glad this has reopened.

Beautiful space in a gorgeous park.

Martin Mtl · #**869** Posted **Aug 4, 2022, 12:34 PM**

Interesting thread by Toronto arborist Todd Irvine on what his city could learn from Montreal to fight urban heat

Al Ski · #**870** Posted **Aug 5, 2022, 8:04 AM**

[QUOTE=Martin Mtl;9693475]Interesting thread by Toronto arborist Todd Irvine on what his city could learn from Montreal to fight urban heat

Don't worry, I'm sure Toronto has at least 2 or 3 of these ongoing as 'pilot projects'.

Toronto loves Pilot Projects. Everything is a pilot project.

Anything that is considered a no-brainer in any other place? - pilot project!

They'll pilot project everything into the ground.

Then they'll adopt some half-assed version of the pilot project, 5 years later..

This isn't open to dispute. This is how it works in Toronto.

Torontonians are well accustomed to everything being a pilot project.

someone123 · #**871** Posted **Aug 9, 2022, 4:27 PM**

Part of Halifax waterfront boardwalk that was recently expanded:

Source

A new portion is going to be overhauled by the Cunard development:

Source

Martin Mtl · #**872** Posted **Aug 10, 2022, 9:26 AM**

Montreal's Quartier des Spectacles by JF Savaria on Facebook

esquire · #**873** Posted **Aug 10, 2022, 2:44 PM**

^ Very, very impressive. The lights add a certain something to an already exceptional urban environment.

Maldive · #**874** Posted **Aug 10, 2022, 4:46 PM**

Love Park | 3m | 1s | City of Toronto | Claude Cormier + Associés l u/c

Some very neat photos from Claude’s Instagram. The zen of laying little red tiles.

PatM

PatM

Bird’s eye view of progress from 3 weeks ago.

BJT

WaterfrontToronto

Lower Don Lands Redevelopment | Waterfront Toronto l u/c

As future “public realm” projects go, this is likely one the biggest on the continent @ $1.25 Billion+ (308 acres including flood protection/new river valley, habitats, transit/vehicle and pedestrian bridges, parks and a sculpture trail). Future construction/development in the area has been projected at over $5 Billion.

1. Good article from Bloomberg’s CityLab headlined “Is This the Future of Urban Resilience?”:

CityLab

2. Aerial video from last May with pop-up info on “what’s where” in the huge transformation.
https://youtu.be/QDHUlL4lApo
Link

Nwalsh

The Cherry Street North twins from last month.

globalexpress

C-C-C
Commissioners Street bridge.

Nwalsh

100 year-old seeds began sprouting up all over the new river valley. Due to the expected fluctuating water levels in the new river valley, many of the plants were potted and moved to locations like Tommy Thompson Park.

WaterfrontToronto

The Don River is expected to be “unplugged” in spring 2024, to follow its new serpentine route to the harbour.

samne · #**875** Posted **Aug 10, 2022, 6:28 PM**

Lower Don is a completely transformative project. I don’t think people in the city know the scale or that it’s even occurring.

Thanks for the update.

Maldive · #**876** Posted **Aug 10, 2022, 7:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by samne

Lower Don is a completely transformative project. I don’t think people in the city know the scale or that it’s even occurring.

Thanks for the update.

Yup other than wind-surfers, Island residents, (likely some office workers/residents high up in the nose-bleed part of south core) and doggie families headed for the (amazing) leash-free area of Cherry Beach... likely 98% of city doesn't have a clue.

Kilgore Trout · #**877** Posted **Aug 10, 2022, 9:20 PM**

Thanks for the Toronto update. The Love Park concept is pretty cheesy but Claude Cormier is an excellent landscape architect so I'm sure it will end up being very nice.

The Lower Don project is astonishing...

zoomer · #**878** Posted **Aug 11, 2022, 2:30 AM**

Thanks all for the great pictures and insights into Montreal, Halifax and Toronto - public realm is really where the magic happens and are the true people draws. We need these projects to revitalize and re-energize our downtowns with the current challenges they’re facing.

Lower Don - what’s the scale of this development compared to the Expo 86 lands?

JHikka · #**879** Posted **Aug 11, 2022, 2:42 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by zoomer

Lower Don - what’s the scale of this development compared to the Expo 86 lands?

I'm not 100% certain but very quick googling leads to Expo 86 in Vancouver covering 70 hectares with Lower Don Lands covering ~120 hectares. It's a sizable area very close to downtown and future transit connections.

esquire · #**880** Posted **Aug 11, 2022, 2:34 PM**

^ When you put it in those terms it's certainly eyebrow raising...