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

[stevanford1]

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

A lot of things from that era are like that here, even some bungalows, etc. You know how everyone after WWII was obsessed with the suburban lifestyle? Here that had an added layer - we just joined Canada, so they built a Little Canada neighbourhood, a showcase of how mainlanders lived - all the streets have names for Canadian politicians, provinces, and cities. It's not far from Elizabeth Towers.

Anyhow, the quirk here is that almost all of our suburbia until I believe the mid-1970s was built by a crown corporation and a significant number of the properties were marketed toward the upper class. Blue blood families were told it was embarrassing to live in a four-floor rowhouse with the kitchen in the basement and the servants' quarters in the attic - they should be living the North American dream in a bungalow or spacious apartment with all the modern amenities.

So, overall, identical to everywhere else at the time with that one exception. You can find generic-looking bungalows here with marble stairs inside, chandeliers, etc. It comes across as new money, but it was built for old money.

Ah I see, in Toronto we do it to replace McMansions. Still want all the Donald Trump interior design but don’t wanna live in suburbia? Buy a condo!

[Architype]

^ Elizabeth Towers was originally white precast concrete, and looked much better than it does now. The brick is shabbily uneven, dull, miscoloured, and looks terribly damaged. The interior just needs a Trump logo to make it complete.

[stevanford1]

Originally Posted by Architype

^ Elizabeth Towers was originally white precast concrete, and looked much better than it does now. The brick is shabbily uneven, dull, miscoloured, and looks terribly damaged. The interior just needs a Trump logo to make it complete.

That’s pretty accurate.

[stevanford1]

The lobby of the Beyond The Sea Condominiums remind me of a sea themed prom dance with a one million dollar budget.
http://urbantoronto.ca/sites/default...o-846-2581.jpg
http://urbantoronto.ca/sites/default...o-846-2580.jpg

[yaletown_fella]

I like Palace Pier lol. It was considered really cool to live there in the 90s.

[stevanford1]

Westlake Condos is an incredibly bland and ugly complex.
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-00jkxFdAc...oronto.com.jpg

The Metro just makes that picture.

[Proof Sheet]

Originally Posted by stevanford1

Vaughan has a lot of buildings I would say qualify for this thread, but the Balleria Condos are a perfect mix of depressing and tacky (I included pics of the inside because it’s kike a McMansion on steroids).

Exterior Pics
https://condos.ca/public/condo_build...1c7cb_5f17.png
http://mediatours.ca/upload/propertys/32625/333695.jpg
https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTAwMFgxNTAw/z/nggAAOSwfplcB5pE/$_35.JPG

Interior Pics
https://precondo.ca/wp-content/uploa...219.jpg?x78191
https://condos.ca/public/condo_listi...e741b_be73.jpg
https://condos.ca/public/condo_build...1c7d3_7b3c.png

Obligatory pillars.
https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MjA0WDMwMA==/z/kDcAAOSwVEFb8yhl/$_35.JPG

What kind of condo fees are they paying there for an area that they are unlikely to use very often.

It comes across as nouveau riche.

[stevanford1]

Originally Posted by Proof Sheet

What kind of condo fees are they paying there for an area that they are unlikely to use very often.

It comes across as nouveau riche.

I know right. The kicker is it’s right across the street from Canada’s Wonderland so I’m assuming the noise must be nightmarish.

[GeneralLeeTPHLS]

Originally Posted by stevanford1

I did not know that. My beef with Treviso is how the modern elements and the historical elements don’t quite come together. It’s also very out of scale,it takes up what is pretty much a whole block.

Historic? It had a heavier massing for sure by it's use of brick, but I think historic brings in a set of connotations that cannot be applied to this development. I suppose the streetwall effect could be interpreted as having a slight historic merit to it, but that's a general urban design principle more than anything. From what UT and others on this site have said, a fair amount of people are okay or like with this development. (Personally, I like this development by it's architecture, mostly because it's a rather mundane or passable design, but it contributes more to the area which is.....a somewhat rundown part of town.

The scale of this project is quite fair, I wish the podium was a bit shorter. But, trying to say this is out of context in the neighbourhood isn't a fair argument considering what is around the site itself. This area will urbanize and it'll be good to see densify IMO, although infrastructure upgrades will be necessary...and transportation stresses will mount.

[stevanford1]

Originally Posted by GeneralLeeTPHLS

Historic? It had a heavier massing for sure by it's use of brick, but I think historic brings in a set of connotations that cannot be applied to this development. I suppose the streetwall effect could be interpreted as having a slight historic merit to it, but that's a general urban design principle more than anything. From what UT and others on this site have said, a fair amount of people are okay or like with this development. (Personally, I like this development by it's architecture, mostly because it's a rather mundane or passable design, but it contributes more to the area which is.....a somewhat rundown part of town.

The scale of this project is quite fair, I wish the podium was a bit shorter. But, trying to say this is out of context in the neighbourhood isn't a fair argument considering what is around the site itself. This area will urbanize and it'll be good to see densify IMO, although infrastructure upgrades will be necessary...and transportation stresses will mount.

Ok to each his own I suppose, the historic thing was a mistake on my part. I mainly meant brickwork which was not historic. But for the rest of the deatails The Treviso looks relatively ugly to me. But I can see what you like about it

[stevanford1]

Chateau Royale in Hamilton is a gigantic eyesore.
http://www.hamilton-condominiums.ca/...le-feature.jpg

http://data.websitebox.com/data/user...amiltonjpg.jpg

[stevanford1]

There is also Tarjan Place up in Calgary, it looks like an elevated McMansion. https://myvipconcierge.ca/wp/wp-cont...0/Tarjan-1.jpg
https://t-ec.bstatic.com/images/hote.../160670001.jpg

[MolsonExport]

Those generic extended-stay hotels at every single highway intersection are a blight on the landscape. they all look the same, and they are everywhere.
The Miltonization of the universe continues unabated.

[stevanford1]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

Those generic extended-stay hotels at every single highway intersection are a blight on the landscape. they all look the same, and they are everywhere.
The Miltonization of the universe continues unabated.

Hilton Garden Inns are the worst offender, they all look like this.
https://a1.r9cdn.net/rimg/himg/1a/21...=350&crop=true

[SignalHillHiker]

We've managed to avoid most of those because we don't need towers that height in suburbia. I think the closest (excluding an actual hotel or two that's not coming to mind) is this:

[SignalHillHiker]

Originally Posted by stevanford1

Hilton Garden Inns are the worst offender, they all look like this.
https://a1.r9cdn.net/rimg/himg/1a/21...=350&crop=true

Ooh I think we can out-ugly that. Sandman. It's literally in the middle of a highway off-ramp.

[stevanford1]

Here’s some ugly suburban Burlington Hotels.
https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Unn...b2eed5ea?hl=en

They also have a Sandman Hotel right on the ramp.
https://www.google.ca/maps/place/345...28012e2c?hl=en

If you scroll around you’ll find yourself at an ugly retail complex complete with multiple chain restaurants and a big box Cineplex. Than if you really wanna get a feel for the ugliness of the area, they also have a giant factory district down the street. It’s existence is mainly for tourists who need to rest on the way up to Niagara and Toronto. They just built a Courtyard Marriott hotel up by those soulless office buildings which looks grey and soulless.
http://triaxis.ca/wp-content/uploads...7-1024x576.jpg

And it’s so odd and jarring too, one minute you’re in a giant retail plaza with hotels and office buildings as far as they eye can see the next minute your in a factory district.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

Ooh I think we can out-ugly that. Sandman. It's literally in the middle of a highway off-ramp.

If you look quickly it seems like someone used the entire building for target practice with buckshot.

[stevanford1]

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

Ooh I think we can out-ugly that. Sandman. It's literally in the middle of a highway off-ramp.

There is also one of those in Burlington (see post I made above).

[stevanford1]

Vaughan also has its fair share of bland hotels,
https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Unn...d1d4138c?hl=en