Landmark on Robson | Completed

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

Doesn’t the colour etc have to get approved by the city? And therefore it would be public?

Yes, and no. The colour will have been approved, but it isn't necessarily in anything you can readily see. Remember the surprise at the artwork on The Charleson?

Here the colours are known (and visible). Underneath the black protective film the metal will be silver coloured, and I don't think the glazing is tinted (just the usual natural iron seafoam). I'm just suggesting that until those wraps are off, when I look at the building I don't really have a sense of what it'll look like. (I assume it'll be like the renders in the end, although I think that underplays the bronze details of the sunshades).


[changing city blog]

[jollyburger]

The sofits to the balconies are finished with a timber effect aluminum panel "that has a warm colour when viewed from the street"

https://vancouver.ca/files/cov/1488-...ndices-d-e.pdf

[FarmerHaight]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

The sofits to the balconies are finished with a timber effect aluminum panel "that has a warm colour when viewed from the street"

https://vancouver.ca/files/cov/1488-...ndices-d-e.pdf

I have been watching them install the sofits for months now. They are a really nice touch over and above the normal stucco/concrete afterthought.

[SFUVancouver]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

Doesn’t the colour etc have to get approved by the city? And therefore it would be public?

The Wall Centre colour fiasco remains a cautionary tale.

[Zepfancouver]

Today. Some peel-off the West Tower, the blue window protective film is keeping us from seeing the true affect of the color scheme.

[Coldrsx]

These are handsome towers and a very nice addition to the skyline.

[vanman]

Yeah I have to agree. They turned out way nicer than expected.

[FarmerHaight]

Can't wait for the sidewalks to open up. The neighbourhood racoons got to them yesterday before any pedestrians have had the chance.

[Klazu]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

These are handsome towers and a very nice addition to the skyline.

They look fine but are completely invisible as part of the skyline unlike the previous hotel. Very stubby buildings.

[GenWhy?]

Originally Posted by Klazu

They look fine but are completely invisible as part of the skyline unlike the previous hotel. Very stubby buildings.

Very much not invisible in the West End and Downtown. The public realm - on all sides of the building - is looking very beautiful.

Really enjoying the treatment of the lane as the finishes have been not disappointing.

[FarmerHaight]

Originally Posted by GenWhy?

Really enjoying the treatment of the lane as the finishes have been not disappointing.

If the podium residents actually utilize their balconies the laneway will become a very lively place.

I am assuming the laneway will be repaved once heavy construction is completed, but do we know if there will be a sidewalk on the north side of the lane, similar to the blocks on either side of this one?

[Vin]

Originally Posted by Klazu

They look fine but are completely invisible as part of the skyline unlike the previous hotel. Very stubby buildings.

Agree. Not much contribution to the overall skyline vista of downtown.

I need to say that the cladding looks rather nice, but the overall facade looks like a suburban condo, rather than a big-city/downtown mixed-use building that it should be.

It has rather low ceilings for the podium.

This development that spans an entire block should have a middle through-way to the alley with commercial units lining it. The alley area could have a little public-plaza/alfresco dining spaces. Alas, it isn't meant to be since every air space needs to be sold off for max profit due to the low building heights.

[Jimbo604]

Have any stores opened yet?

[GenWhy?]

Originally Posted by Jimbo604

Have any stores opened yet?

They just finished the sidewalk pour the other week. Doesn't look like Tenant Improvement work has even started yet, which is not a good sign, but maybe tenants are just dragging their feet. The office component and once residents move in should help all local businesses in the area

[GenWhy?]

Originally Posted by FarmerHaight

If the podium residents actually utilize their balconies the laneway will become a very lively place.

I am assuming the laneway will be repaved once heavy construction is completed, but do we know if there will be a sidewalk on the north side of the lane, similar to the blocks on either side of this one?

It oddly doesn't look like enough of a setback was provided for a narrow "sidewalk" or path on the west side of the lane. Could be due to this having not been a rezoning (if I recall). I assume, due to the construction damage, the lane would be re-paved.

[GenWhy?]

Originally Posted by Vin

Agree. Not much contribution to the overall skyline vista of downtown.

I need to say that the cladding looks rather nice, but the overall facade looks like a suburban condo, rather than a big-city/downtown mixed-use building that it should be.

It has rather low ceilings for the podium.

This development that spans an entire block should have a middle through-way to the alley with commercial units lining it. The alley area could have a little public-plaza/alfresco dining spaces. Alas, it isn't meant to be since every air space needs to be sold off for max profit due to the low building heights.

The grades along the lane and street here unfortunately do not provide the building's public realm or internal circulation any favours.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by GenWhy?

The grades along the lane and street here unfortunately do not provide the building's public realm or internal circulation any favours.

Yes, but with a bit of creativity they can make the public realm way better. Terracing the pavements to create small but usable plazas/patios can enhance the overall feel.

[GenWhy?]

Originally Posted by Vin

Yes, but with a bit of creativity they can make the public realm way better. Terracing the pavements to create small but usable plazas/patios can enhance the overall feel.

Agreed that it could be done and might have been done... as a Rezoning. Walking by it today the two opposite end of the building's main floor elevations are almost off by 3-storeys. You'd end up with a lot of lost commercial FSR to enable patio space on private property.

[FarmerHaight]

Originally Posted by GenWhy?

Agreed that it could be done and might have been done... as a Rezoning. Walking by it today the two opposite end of the building's main floor elevations are almost off by 3-storeys. You'd end up with a lot of lost commercial FSR to enable patio space on private property.

The terrain may end up being a blessing in disguise. It is well know that the modern approach to CRUs (mainly, build them large enough enough for a bank branch or a chain restaurant) is not amenable to small, local retailers and restaurants. Perhaps the grade forced the developer to build small enough to avoid the same-old tenant mix (bank, Starbucks or Blendz, Subway or A&W, etc.)?

(BTW, this is pure conjecture without consulting floor plans or having any idea of the $ per sqft.)

[BodomReaper]

Originally Posted by FarmerHaight

The terrain may end up being a blessing in disguise. It is well know that the modern approach to CRUs (mainly, build them large enough enough for a bank branch or a chain restaurant) is not amenable to small, local retailers and restaurants. Perhaps the grade forced the developer to build small enough to avoid the same-old tenant mix (bank, Starbucks or Blendz, Subway or A&W, etc.)?

(BTW, this is pure conjecture without consulting floor plans or having any idea of the $ per sqft.)

The modern 'mixed-use' retail approach is actually pitiful 900-1300 sq. ft. CRUs with no anchor tenants and no back-of-house space. Typically dropped onto a high street where there was better commercial space before.

This project will be similar, thought at least some of the units will have mezzanines. Decent chance we get a whole block of bubble tea shops and physios, when it could and should have been one of the best blocks for retail/entertainment in the city (still with towers above). But city hall made the developer prioritize shoving a bunch of social housing into the podium instead - so downtown residents don't even get to enjoy the 1/2 blocks fronting high streets for commercial life. We get the leftover space comprising around 1/3rd of the 1/2 block. This is one of the worst offenders in treating "retail frontage" as a box-checking exercise, instead of looking at the actual functionality of the space and ensuring provision of appropriate quantity + quality. A whole block of Robson, and the retail experience just never entered the equation.

Developers are ok perpetuating the myth of retail spaces being too big - so they can get away with slinging urbanity-killing garbage to strata investors. You can barely fit an A&W in a typical 1200 sq. ft. unit (remember that's the size of a condo!), let alone a bakery or any independent F&B establishment that actually makes things on-site.