Winnipeg Construction X

[kent_eh]

Originally Posted by esquire

Oh that's great. What a super addition to that strip. I agree that it won't win any architectural awards but that doesn't matter,

Given some of the projects that *have* won architecture awards in this city, I think it's a net positive that they aren't trying to go in that direction...

[WinCitySparky]

Originally Posted by kent_eh

Given some of the projects that *have* won architecture awards in this city, I think it's a net positive that they aren't trying to go in that direction...

lmao true story!

[EdwardTH]

Originally Posted by Frenchie General

My opinion is that it will not have a "positive effect" on the streetscape of Sherbrook and that a location like this deserves better. Also, the examples of nice buildings you are citing aren't really of comparable scale and I would argue several of these are actually crap design as well (not as bad as the Sherbrook proposal though)

Sorry but we absolutely need residential infill to just get built more than we need fancy shiny buildings. There are sooo many vibrant cities around the world that have very plain, boring or even ugly buildings, but no one notices that because of all the life and activity down at street level.

Tokyo is maybe the most shining example, it is chock full of extremely plain, uninspired 6-10 storey buildings, but all together they create a very rich and vibrant city. The architecture doesn't make it a great city, all the little hole-in-the-wall shops and bustling little alleys do. I spent some time in Portugal last summer, outside of the historical areas it was similar. Extremely dull, plain apartment buildings, but high density and lots of activity on the sidewalks so the overall impression is very vibrant and welcoming.

I promise you nobody notices or cares how dull a building is when there is life and human activity going on in/around it, that's what we need the most right now. We seem to have a classic case of not seeing the forest for the trees.

[Sheepish]

It's just ugly. Period. Does nothing for the streetscape except cheapen it.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by EdwardTH

Sorry but we absolutely need residential infill to just get built more than we need fancy shiny buildings. There are sooo many vibrant cities around the world that have very plain, boring or even ugly buildings, but no one notices that because of all the life and activity down at street level.

Tokyo is maybe the most shining example, it is chock full of extremely plain, uninspired 6-10 storey buildings, but all together they create a very rich and vibrant city. The architecture doesn't make it a great city, all the little hole-in-the-wall shops and bustling little alleys do. I spent some time in Portugal last summer, outside of the historical areas it was similar. Extremely dull, plain apartment buildings, but high density and lots of activity on the sidewalks so the overall impression is very vibrant and welcoming.

I promise you nobody notices or cares how dull a building is when there is life and human activity going on in/around it, that's what we need the most right now. We seem to have a classic case of not seeing the forest for the trees.

Tokyo is a great example. Many if not most Asian megacities fall into this category too. Sure you get the architectural landmarks, but most people live in fairly drab looking walkup apartment buildings and the like. No one dwells too much on that, though... no one comes back from Hong Kong and says "great city, lively place, but man, those apartment buildings are just too ugly..."

[trueviking]

Originally Posted by 1ajs

Mitzi's is for sale

https://www.winnipegcommercialrealtors.ca/listing/30848135/250-St-Mary-Ave-Winnipeg-MB-R3C-0M5

Shit.

[trueviking]

I don’t really buy the argument that we shouldn’t expect a minimum level of design effort and building quality on our urban neighbourhood streets because the highest density city on the planet also has lots of ugly buildings. If we had 1/1000th the street vibrancy of Tokyo or Hong Kong, maybe that would hold.

It doesn’t have to be one or the other. Just put in some effort.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by trueviking

I don’t really buy the argument that we shouldn’t expect a minimum level of design effort and building quality because the highest density city on the planet also has lots of ugly buildings.

There are minimums. I'd argue that in this case they were achieved, though. It's a pretty good building in terms of its overall function and how it meets the street.

An example of something that would fail to meet minimum standards is a building with a parking lot out front interrupting the streetscape, for example. That's not an issue here. The built form is pretty good regardless of what one thinks of the cladding.

[Kris22]

Okay even tho I agree the Sherbrooke building is bland, there are actually quite a few positives when it comes to design. It's built to the street, parking is totally hidden, it's divided into vertical sections to make it appear less monolithic, the roofline is uneven which also gives the impression of separate sections, the ground level is brick, the canopies give it a more human scale at street level, and there is room for street-front patios. I'd say the urban design minimums have been met.

What makes it ugly is that it's two-tone grey siding which will likely look drab and cheap, and there is no dimension to the building. (Had the light grey sections been set back a couple feet this would've helped break the facade up, but then you're losing square footage inside. I'm also a big fan of those corner windows where the whole corner of a building is two windows meeting at 90 degrees, it instantly classes a building up IMO, and would've improved a boring building like this).

Honestly I'm fine with the odd boring building if it contributes enough other positives to the urban streetscape, which I think this building will. That being said I would not want a whole street lined with these, but I doubt that would ever happen considering how slow development happens in wpg.

[Atrial78]

Anecdotal experience here, but I recently helped a family member move in to an apartment in Osborne Village. We had a tough time finding an available place (and they had a good budget too). The apartment manager said vacancy is very low. Anyways, we drove around Osborne, Corydon, and the Exchange and I have to say all the areas looked quite vibrant and had lots of people walking around even at night.

I wonder if the population growth is really causing the vacancy rates to drop in the city? If so, I imagine we may see a lot more construction in the city. I know people like skyscrapers, but I actually think cities with significant mid-rise are beautiful and vibrant (ie. Paris, DC). Would be great to get a lot more mid-rise in Osborne, Corydon, and the Exchange. I think this would eventually spill over into Downtown too.

[esquire]

^ I don't think anyone here is saying that population growth should be mainly or exclusively accommodated in skyscrapers. But a few skyscrapers wouldn't hurt

[pegster]

Paragon has built, or is building, a number of new buildings in the Village. While I'm glad new construction is happening in the area, nearly all of them (255 Bell, 530 River, plus their two under construction projects on Scott and Wardlaw) are drab white and grey boxes. I know it all costs money, but some colour, some natural textures, anything, would be so appreciated.

[1ajs]

rip vulcan ironworks 1877 2023

a major peac of western canadian industrial archectural history has been tragicaly lost this am

my heart is crushed

truely upsetting

[EdwardTH]

Originally Posted by trueviking

I don’t really buy the argument that we shouldn’t expect a minimum level of design effort and building quality on our urban neighbourhood streets because the highest density city on the planet also has lots of ugly buildings. If we had 1/1000th the street vibrancy of Tokyo or Hong Kong, maybe that would hold.

It doesn’t have to be one or the other. Just put in some effort.

Point taken and yes, we should still strive for the best architecture possible. But my point was absolutely not unique to Tokyo or Hong Kong. Like I said, Porto and Braga seemed similar outside of the historical areas - dull commie block apartments everywhere but you don't even notice them because down at street level it's an urbanist's dream.

[trueviking]

Originally Posted by 1ajs

rip vulcan ironworks 1877 2023

a major peac of western canadian industrial archectural history has been tragicaly lost this am

my heart is crushed

truely upsetting

shit. Is that what was on fire....that's sad.

[1ajs]

Originally Posted by trueviking

shit. Is that what was on fire....that's sad.

Beyond sad

[BAKGUY]

Originally Posted by 1ajs

rip vulcan ironworks 1877 2023

a major peac of western canadian industrial archectural history has been tragicaly lost this am

my heart is crushed

truely upsetting

Disappointing, disgusting., Despicable.
The firebug/arsonist/criminal feels they have nothing in their life so burn everything down to match their empty life.
We as a society keep losing history, sometimes by accident but seldom.
So many fires lately.
It is so sad, so often, over & over again repeatedly.
Like with shampooing..Rinse, lather,repeat.
Our laws favour the criminal.

[post_man]

Originally Posted by BAKGUY

Disappointing, disgusting., Despicable.
The firebug/arsonist/criminal feels they have nothing in their life so burn everything down to match their empty life.
We as a society keep losing history, sometimes by accident but seldom.
So many fires lately.
It is so sad, so often, over & over again repeatedly.
Like with shampooing..Rinse, lather,repeat.
Our laws favour the criminal.

I feel like decades of neglecting a historic building is also a part of the problem. Looking at street view, even back in 2009 the property looked like shit and the bare minimum of upkeep was being done for the operation of the businesses inside. No attempts at conservation.

By the last Google drive-by, the majority of the building was properly derelict, as it continued a trend of being increasingly undesirable for occupancy after each tenant left. Only the Sutherland end of the block was being maintained, by Merit Iron.

I don't know what the cause of today's fire was, but occupied and maintained buildings are less likely to be destroyed by arson. Both because of occupancy increasing the security and response time, and because it ensures up-to-date fire safety measures.

So yes, arsonists are definitely a problem and ultimately are the ones setting fires on purpose, but derelict buildings being targets for arson are a symptom of something else wrong with the City.

[EdwardTH]

Yeah, I mean fuck the arsonists but let's be honest, people doing that stuff are generally not folks who had much of a chance for a regular productive life. Meanwhile there are people privileged enough to own beautiful heritage buildings who are willingly letting those buildings crumble as we speak. Every day I have to walk by the Osborne-River/Courtyard building and see it covered in plywood and graffiti, I'm worried about that building if the deadbeat POS owner doesn't sell eventually.

[BAKGUY]

Originally Posted by EdwardTH

Yeah, I mean fuck the arsonists but let's be honest, people doing that stuff are generally not folks who had much of a chance for a regular productive life. Meanwhile there are people privileged enough to own beautiful heritage buildings who are willingly letting those buildings crumble as we speak. Every day I have to walk by the Osborne-River/Courtyard building and see it covered in plywood and graffiti, I'm worried about that building if the deadbeat POS owner doesn't sell eventually.

Yes. I agree.
POS is far too kind of a reference lol
What is or is not going on with the McKim Courtyard building? Osborne is a hod pog of some activity & pockets of none.
Also, What about the Body Building?
Prominent on a major corner, void of any life even at street level.
Force negligent owners to sell.
Then, St Charles Hotel, stripped of its beauty left to rot by a repugnant shyster lawyer owner (KEN ZAIFMAN) 15 years now.Rotting inside as he hoped for to build a cement lot.That destroys the entrance to The Exchange on Albert street.
Even on major principle arteries you can see decay & it is scaring both potential
Business persons & residential applicants to avoid those areas & move on.
Winnipeg is growing faster than it has in decades but one would never know based on some city centre major thoroughfares.
The Decay is not even subtle these days. Like Detroit 2 decades past.