Ugly Canada 2 (Only architecture, planning and design faux pas) - Page 101

stevanford1 · #1 Posted **May 9, 2019, 4:36 PM**

So, what city (besides Laval) has the ugliest architecture? Mississauga? Vaughan? Longueuil? Edmonton? The tourist area of Niagara Falls? (pictured here)

rousseau · #2 Posted **May 9, 2019, 6:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevanford1

Downtown Niagara?

Two points of clarification:
1. It's always "Niagara Falls," never just "Niagara," which, when used, refers to the entire region.
2. That's not downtown, that's the tourist area.

stevanford1 · #3 Posted **May 9, 2019, 11:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by rousseau

Two points of clarification:
1. It's always "Niagara Falls," never just "Niagara," which, when used, refers to the entire region.
2. That's not downtown, that's the tourist area.

Sorry, fixed

TorontoDrew · #4 Posted **May 10, 2019, 3:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevanford1

So, what city (besides Laval) has the ugliest architecture? Mississauga? Vaughan? Longueuil? Edmonton? The tourist area of Niagara Falls? (pictured here)

As tacky and ugly some of the hotels are in Niagara Falls, On. The area also has some of the most interesting architecture in the country, so for that reason I would not include it in your list.

Early Spring in Niagara Falls by Jack Tome, on Flickr

Old Niagara Falls by Jack Tome, on Flickr

Old Toronto Hydro, Niagara Falls by Brian Desrosiers Photography, on Flickr

stevanford1 · #5 Posted **May 13, 2019, 4:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TorontoDrew

As tacky and ugly some of the hotels are in Niagara Falls, On. The area also has some of the most interesting architecture in the country, so for that reason I would not include it in your list.

Early Spring in Niagara Falls by Jack Tome, on Flickr

Old Niagara Falls by Jack Tome, on Flickr

Old Toronto Hydro, Niagara Falls by Brian Desrosiers Photography, on Flickr

Yeah you’re right, a lot of the buildings in Niagara On The Lake and Clifton Hill including ones you mentioned should be enough to take it off the ugly list, to replace DT Niagara I propose Waterloo be added to the list.

_Citizen_Dane_ · #6 Posted **May 13, 2019, 6:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevanford1

Yeah you’re right, a lot of the buildings in Niagara On The Lake and Clifton Hill including ones you mentioned should be enough to take it off the ugly list, to replace DT Niagara I propose Waterloo be added to the list.

I propose we don’t even have a list, because how do you declare an entire city ugly? To me anyways, deciding that a whole place is an architecturally devoid hellhole based on maybe two dozen really bad buildings is extremely disingenuous. The whole list is basically void, because with the exception of Vaughan and Mississauga (since they’re practically new growth), Edmonton, Waterloo, Longueuil and Niagara, all feature areas of great urban form and design that more than balance out the bad.

stevanford1 · #7 Posted **May 10, 2019, 8:23 PM**

From Alberta, a literal Garage Mahal

Marty_Mcfly · #8 Posted **May 9, 2019, 5:22 PM**

What do you think is in that left tower?

esquire · #9 Posted **May 10, 2019, 3:38 PM**

^ Gorgeous. Oh for the days when utilities designed buildings like the one in that last picture!

TorontoDrew · #10 Posted **May 10, 2019, 4:14 PM**

Right? The 50's came along and ruined everything.

This one is near me on Carlaw.

source: https://leslievillehistory.files.wordpress.com

source: https://www.thestar.com

esquire · #11 Posted **May 10, 2019, 4:21 PM**

^ Here's one of my favourites from your neck of the woods... but I fear we are getting too far away from this thread's intent

Architype · #12 Posted **May 11, 2019, 1:17 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

^ Here's one of my favourites from your neck of the woods... but I fear we are getting too far away from this thread's intent

It's like a temple for the age of industry.

itom 987 · #13 Posted **May 13, 2019, 10:44 PM**

What's wrong with Strathcona House? It tried to be different from all the other crap that was built in the '60s and '70s. It is not a poster boy for bad architecture.

stevanford1 · #14 Posted **May 13, 2019, 10:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by itom 987

What's wrong with Strathcona House? It tried to be different from all the other crap that was built in the '60s and '70s. It is not a poster boy for bad architecture.

You are correct, that prize would go to its neighbor, The Manhatten.

_Citizen_Dane_ · #15 Posted **May 13, 2019, 11:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by itom 987

What's wrong with Strathcona House? It tried to be different from all the other crap that was built in the '60s and '70s. It is not a poster boy for bad architecture.

I completely agree, its a pretty good local example of late 60’s modernism. It needs a good power washing for sure, but its inoffensive. And I’d hardly call its lobby “disco ball inspired,” excluding those weird chromed decorations. Looks to be just covered in standard mid-century era mosaic tile work.

*Edit* On second glance, it seems those "disco balls" are simply Christmas baubles, given there's also garland above the elevators.

stevanford1 · #16 Posted **May 13, 2019, 11:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by _Citizen_Dane_

I completely agree, its a pretty good local example of late 60’s modernism. It needs a good power washing for sure, but its inoffensive. And I’d hardly call its lobby “disco ball inspired,” excluding those weird chromed decorations. Looks to be just covered in standard mid-century era mosaic tile work.

*Edit* On second glance, it seems those "disco balls" are simply Christmas baubles, given there's also garland above the elevators.

Oh, thanks for pointing that out. I still am not the biggest fan of The Strathcona House but I see your point and agree it is a pretty good example of late 60’s modernism. Just not really to my taste that`s all.

TorontoDrew · #17 Posted **May 14, 2019, 8:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by itom 987

What's wrong with Strathcona House? It tried to be different from all the other crap that was built in the '60s and '70s. It is not a poster boy for bad architecture.

It sure beats the Strathcona Hotel in Toronto's core.
source: https://www.emporis.com

niwell · #18 Posted **May 14, 2019, 4:25 PM**

Yeah I actually like Strathcona House quite a bit - the worst part is the parking lot out front. These designs should have a loop to enter with a minor exit to the parking garage at the side and the rest aboveground as landscaping.

Example: https://goo.gl/maps/TTrA3Aua6UyXZ4nN9

Now Airdrie... that's a horrible place. Even in comparison to Milton it's "downtown" is severely undersized.

esquire · #19 Posted **May 14, 2019, 4:26 PM**

Strathcona's fine in my books. Even the Manhattan has some redeeming po-mo features.

Neither can hold a candle to Peregrine Point on the other side of the valley... it's just the worst.

stevanford1 · #20 Posted **May 14, 2019, 5:17 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

Strathcona's fine in my books. Even the Manhattan has some redeeming po-mo features.

Neither can hold a candle to Peregrine Point on the other side of the valley... it's just the worst.

Peregrines Point is probably the third worst high-rise in Canada outside of Clockzilla and Mississauga City Hall

.