CF Pacific Centre Developments

[Klazu]

Originally Posted by red-paladin

The notes of the UDP meeting show that James Cheng and the rest considered it, but the roof wouldn't bear the load as it wasn't designed for it.

Good to know they at least considered it, but I don't understand how the roof wouldn't bare the load of some grass and a small layer of soil? How is it going to hold against some heavy snow, God forbit it ever snows in Downtown...

I must agree that missed chances with the new building are:
- Public rooftop patio and/or garden (with public cafe or restaurant).
- Adding to Granville Street's neon lights.
- Walkable access from Robson Street.
- Any interaction with Robson Street, which will likely be converted into a pedestrian street in the future.
- Big retail windows facing any of the streets. Imagine how nice it would be if Nordström would have started an annual tradition of for example unveiling their Christmas Wonderland on such big retail windows...

Architecture wise I am okay with the new building, but there are so many missed chances to improve the liveliness and attractiveness of that area.

[officedweller]

WRT retail windows - there's a lot more vision glass fronting the building at grade - and we don't necessarily know what will be behind those panels - either displays or a view of the retail space. Obviously, some of it near the coners will be vestibule space.

Personally, I would have rather seen a return to a traditional store facade with entrances along the facade and display windows elsewhere (and at the corners). The current thinking seems to be that beacuse the entrances are at the corners, no one will walk along the facade - so why do we need window displays?

[Metro-One]

For me the biggest miss here is adding to the entertainment feel of Granville. Honestly, they should have at least installed a lighting feature akin to their Salt Lake City location. Such a disappointment there, especially when so many other locations along Granville are actually upping their lighting / signage game. This goes completely against the trend.

[Klazu]

A very similar project took place also in Berlin at one the most central square of in Downtown, Alexanderplatz, where the huge and horrible Galeria Kaufhof department store from the late 60s was renewed and modernized in 2007.

They for example removed impractical and useless stairs and gave the building a whole new and upscale look inside and outside. They used very high quality materials and today it's a very nice department and was my favorite place to shop in while I still lived in Berlin.




Source: Wikipedia

[Prometheus]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

How does one incorporate street front retail into a department store facade?

If that is the limit of vision and ingenuity within Vancouver's urban design/architecture community, then that explains a lot.

Originally Posted by Jebby

Quite easily, it's done in many over here in Europe. There usually are "boutiques" for the higher-end brands on the ground floor that have entrances from the street and from inside the department store.

Exactly. Even the Hudson's Bay has done it to an extent with its attractive Topman/Topshop entrance right across the street. You might even include Pacific Centre and its Michael Kors store front.

Such select entrances are not only practical, they are attractive. It's only common sense.

[officedweller]

For that Berlin building, I actually like the "before" more than the "after".

[trofirhen]

For streetfront retail, Paris has a plethora of examples. FYI (for those of you who have not shopped or visited there.)

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by officedweller

For that Berlin building, I actually like the "before" more than the "after".

I agree. Although the 60s version is definitely "Europe 60s" and although the new store has fantastic escalators and skylights etc, the new exterior has a heavy, over-solid look to it. The 60s building was lighter, airier, more upbeat.

[dreambrother808]

The "after" in that Berlin photo looks like a place to rent a storage locker.

As for our reno, I like the clean lines and how it relates to the TD tower. Is it fantastic? No, but that doesn't mean it isn't an acceptable, practical improvement. Maybe I'm getting old but you sometimes have to learn to relax and try to see these things from a variety of perspectives, rather than just your own fixated desires.

[Klazu]

In that black & white photo the Berlin building is still new, but it wasn't so clean and sleek after 40+ years. It was also highly impractical, so total renovation was needed. IMO the new building integrates nicely together with the other renovated and newly-built buildings around Alexanderplatz and the whole area will only improve with the future skyscrapers around it.


Panorama Alexanderplatz Brunnen by Jussi Vuorisalmi, on Flickr

But I guess that's enough about Berlin.

[s211]

Originally Posted by officedweller

For that Berlin building, I actually like the "before" more than the "after".

No kidding. Just looking at it, I can almost smell the optimism of the space age.

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by Klazu

A very similar project took place also in Berlin at one the most central square of in Downtown, Alexanderplatz, where the huge and horrible Galeria Kaufhof department store from the late 60s was renewed and modernized in 2007.

They for example removed impractical and useless stairs and gave the building a whole new and upscale look inside and outside. They used very high quality materials and today it's a very nice department and was my favorite place to shop in while I still lived in Berlin.

I always thought the exterior was hideous, but the interior was very nicely done. I don't think I've shopped there more than 2-3 times, I usually just shop on the Kudamm.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by Klazu

In that black & white photo the Berlin building is still new, but it wasn't so clean and sleek after 40+ years. It was also highly impractical, so total renovation was needed. IMO the new building integrates nicely together with the other renovated and newly-built buildings around Alexanderplatz and the whole area will only improve with the future skyscrapers around it.


Panorama Alexanderplatz Brunnen by Jussi Vuorisalmi, on Flickr

But I guess that's enough about Berlin.

Nice plaza -
note that it's not bordered by streets, so the stores can spill out onto the plaza?

[SpongeG]

will nordstrom even have "boutiques" if it's anything like their seattle store the boutiques are reserved for the upper floors and there aren't that many of them - their main floor is usually cosmetics, fragrances, mens shoes and menswear

[Dave2]

Originally Posted by s211

No kidding. Just looking at it, I can almost smell the optimism of the space age.

The smelll is actually Trabant exhaust.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostalgie

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Nice plaza -
note that it's not bordered by streets, so the stores can spill out onto the plaza?

The actual plaza doesn't touch any streets, on three side it's buildings and on the south-west side there's the streetcar tracks and then the train station behind it.

[cornholio]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

How does one incorporate street front retail into a department store facade?

Can we use some common sense when critiquing this please? I do agree it is boring on the whole but You either get a downtown flagship Nordstrom or street front retail on Granville, not both.

interactive wall?

doesnt have to be retail, just has to be interesting and a people magnet.

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by cornholio

interactive wall?

doesnt have to be retail, just has to be interesting and a people magnet.

Precisely. @LeftCoaster: the simplest way is to first think of window-shopping. i.e: a wall that attracts people and gives something to admire and / or be of interest to them, as opposed to just a blank stone or concrete wall.

I'm not trying to be snide, but just to give the most basic, understandable idea I can think of.

[officedweller]

Notice circulated around the office today:

DATE: November 27, 2012

ATTENTION: All Office Tenants – Pacific Centre

WHAT: Parkade Access & Egress Temporarily Closed

WHEN: Wednesday, November 28, 2012 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

IMPACT: As part of our redevelopment project for 725 Granville, previously known as the Sears building, we will be removing some large banner frames on the corner of Robson and Howe Streets.

The removal of these frames will impact access into the parkade entrance ramp on the Robson Street, on the corner of Howe Street. There will be traffic control personnel and signage indicating how users can access the parkade through other entrances.

[red-paladin]

Since there were no objections, and the previous title didn't refer to the project, I've changed the title.