Great Canadian Skyline Thread II

[MonkeyRonin]

http://www.blogto.com/arts/2017/09/td-centre-giant-light-show/

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by rousseau

Okay, I'll bite: what definition of "ground level refinement" could you possibly be using in your universe where Vancouver and Calgary have a superior pedestrian street level experience to Toronto?

Back here on earth:

1. Montreal (obviously)
2. Toronto (obviously)
3. Quebec City (obviously)
4. Vancouver
5. Victoria
6. Ottawa
7. Who cares?
8. Who cares?
9. Who cares?
10. Who cares?

This may not be what we are discussing, but I do think that Calgary for some is kind of the prototype of a skyscraper-dominated new city in western North America done (reasonably) right.

That's probably why its downtown gets a decent amount of love on here.

Most cities on the western half of this continent that are much larger than Calgary don't have downtowns that are anywhere close to being as vibrant.

[Calgarian]

For street level, Calgary has a long way to go, Vancouver and Victoria beat it easily. I haven't been to Toronto, Montreal or Quebec City in a long time (or never for QC) so I can't compare, but I assume they are way better as well. I found Ottawa actually feels a lot like Calgary on the street level (except there are far more monuments and historical things that we have here for obvious reasons), there are places where it is very good, but there are a lot of office towers with very bland street presence. Edmonton is similar, but less vibrant on the street than Ottawa and Calgary. Winnipeg is a city I should check out one day, but there is nothing to get me there, so I doubt I'll be there any time soon.

Originally Posted by Acajack

This may not be what we are discussing, but I do think that Calgary for some is kind of the prototype of a skyscraper-dominated new city in western North America done (reasonably) right.

That's probably why its downtown gets a decent amount of love on here.

Most cities on the western half of this continent that are much larger than Calgary don't have downtowns that are anywhere close to being as vibrant.

Calgary has some streets / areas that are really coming along nicely, but the majority of our downtown is office towers that are closed outside of 9-5, so the retail and vibrancy suffers. What I hope is that some of the office buildings that are vacant from the recession (Which ATB financial says is now oficially over) take the time to renovate and add more retail that is open to the street. Most retail in our downtown is on the +15 level and most of it closes by 4PM.

[B.ike]

took this one over the weekend:


DSC05462

[Calgarian]

Originally Posted by MonkeyRonin

http://www.blogto.com/arts/2017/09/td-centre-giant-light-show/

Toronto definitely wins for night lighting of it's skyline.

[Calgarian]

Is that the accidental beach?

[Martin Mtl]

Why it any kind of Mies' anniversary to have his moto illuminated on the TD center towers ? That's pretty cool.

[Calgarian]

Originally Posted by Martin Mtl

Why it any kind of Mies' anniversary to have his moto illuminated on the TD center towers ? That's pretty cool.

haha, I didn't even notice that!

[jmt18325]

Originally Posted by rousseau

Have a look around here: https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.2832682,-..._oUTRy6KT7vil5sQc8d9A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Gastown is Vancouver's one genuinely nice streetscape and pedestrian experience. Ottawa has nothing to rival it, which is why I'd put Vancouver over Ottawa.

That's true - I've been to Vancouver more than Ottawa, but in Vancouver, there was always a set itinerary. I didn't spend more than a few minutes in Gastown.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by rousseau

Have a look around here: https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.2832682,-..._oUTRy6KT7vil5sQc8d9A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Gastown is Vancouver's one genuinely nice streetscape and pedestrian experience. Ottawa has nothing to rival it, which is why I'd put Vancouver over Ottawa.

I don't feel adamant about it but you don't think the Byward Market, and the Château Laurier-Parliament Hill-Confederation Square district right around the corner, rivals Gastown?

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Calgarian

For street level, Calgary has a long way to go, Vancouver and Victoria beat it easily. I haven't been to Toronto, Montreal or Quebec City in a long time (or never for QC) so I can't compare, but I assume they are way better as well. I found Ottawa actually feels a lot like Calgary on the street level (except there are far more monuments and historical things that we have here for obvious reasons), there are places where it is very good, but there are a lot of office towers with very bland street presence. Edmonton is similar, but less vibrant on the street than Ottawa and Calgary. Winnipeg is a city I should check out one day, but there is nothing to get me there, so I doubt I'll be there any time soon.



Calgary has some streets / areas that are really coming along nicely, but the majority of our downtown is office towers that are closed outside of 9-5, so the retail and vibrancy suffers. What I hope is that some of the office buildings that are vacant from the recession (Which ATB financial says is now oficially over) take the time to renovate and add more retail that is open to the street. Most retail in our downtown is on the +15 level and most of it closes by 4PM.

I know it's a reflection of the era they were built, but I find that most of Calgary's downtown streets are too wide (from an urbanistic perspective anyway).

[rousseau]

Originally Posted by Acajack

I don't feel adamant about it but you don't think the Byward Market, and the Château Laurier-Parliament Hill-Confederation Square district right around the corner, rivals Gastown?

Not really. I think the Byward Market is pretty nice, but the building stock isn't that universally great, and the streets are too wide. If we're going to be aesthetically prickly about it, a lot of it is kinda choppy and unsatisfying by comparison to Gastown, which has real urban heft.

This is informed by my own biases, obviously. I've visited Ottawa dozens of times over the years, but I've never warmed to it. The streetscapes and the residential stock just don't do anything for me (on the other hand, I've always found the people I've met from Ottawa to be generally congenial and pleasant).

[B.ike]

Originally Posted by Calgarian

Is that the accidental beach?

yup

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally Posted by rousseau

Okay, I'll bite: what definition of "ground level refinement" could you possibly be using in your universe where Vancouver and Calgary have a superior pedestrian street level experience to Toronto?

Back here on earth:

1. Montreal (obviously)
2. Toronto (obviously)
3. Quebec City (obviously)
4. Vancouver
5. Victoria
6. Ottawa
7. Who cares?
8. Who cares?
9. Who cares?
10. Who cares?

It's his opinion. If you want insight into his decision making than look no further than his highlighting of water features. Toronto is a dense, overpowering concrete jungle that also struggle to keep the few public and privately owned water features functioning for one full season. It's neither lush or pretty from many angles.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by rousseau

Not really. I think the Byward Market is pretty nice, but the building stock isn't that universally great, and the streets are too wide. If we're going to be aesthetically prickly about it, a lot of it is kinda choppy and unsatisfying by comparison to Gastown, which has real urban heft.

This is informed by my own biases, obviously. I've visited Ottawa dozens of times over the years, but I've never warmed to it. The streetscapes and the residential stock just don't do anything for me (on the other hand, I've always found the people I've met from Ottawa to be generally congenial and pleasant).

I don't necessarily disagree.

Outside of the market and the parliamentary precinct, most of Ottawa doesn't look very capital-esque. It's a fairly plain but prosperous non-blighted North American city.

Oh, there are of course the manicured greenspaces along the Rideau Canal and the river that are quite pretty, but that's not really "urban".

The best neighbourhoods and streets in Ottawa that are locally renowned (Westboro, the Glebe, Beechwood, etc.) are all decent urban areas but there isn't anything special or unique about them. Rideau St. is a total mess but hopefully will see better days soon.

[rousseau]

Opinions are like, well, you know.

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper

Toronto is a dense, overpowering concrete jungle...

Whatever Toronto is, it is decidedly, objectively not this.

[Calgarian]

Originally Posted by Acajack

I know it's a reflection of the era they were built, but I find that most of Calgary's downtown streets are too wide (from an urbanistic perspective anyway).

Calgary's streets are super wide, we have 5 lanes in several places. This is a city that has grown around driving though, and without geographical constraints, there was no pressure to tighten up so to speak. Narrow sidewalks is my biggest complain here, cars were given total priority up until about 15 years ago.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by rousseau

Opinions are like, well, you know.



Whatever Toronto is, it is decidedly, objectively not this.

Not compared to Taipei anyway.

[Martin Mtl]

Pont Jacques-Cartier,Montréal by nicole forget on flickr

[Martin Mtl]

Looking East by wilkie coco on flickr