The Ugly Canada Thread

[Daveography]

^ Just follow the lanes; use the right lane to go right, left lane for left, otherwise drive between the lines, stop on red and proceed on green. The rules and general concepts of driving are unchanged. I don't even drive and nothing about this seems complex to me.

Not saying it's not ugly (it is especially for reasons previously stated), but if anyone has trouble navigating this they shouldn't be driving.

[niwell]

There are certainly valid reasons for that interchange design. However Calgary seems notorious for trying out what seems like EVERY innovative interchange design without solid rationale. It is easier as a driver when you know what you are likely to expect at a major junction, particularly if it's a part of the city you don't frequent much.

[WhipperSnapper]

Yeah it probably doesn't look as straightforward from ground level Look at the sidewalk!

I don't get the point either. You still have signalled intersections. Does it save on land? Maybe costs not having to build more bridges or longer spans. Trying to think of a 401 interchange with an avenue.

[O-tacular]

How's this for an ugly corner house?

[SignalHillHiker]

Did you say ugly corner house?







And one of the most unfortunate things we've ever done in the city - built projects that are one-floor at street level. They should've been four floors at street level, and like 8 floors from the back side.

Front (top), Back (bottom).





Yes, that pathway directly beside the houses is paved because it would too low-class to leave it gravel, and too high-class to actually do anything with it.

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

Did you say ugly corner house?

Why? Couldn't they pick a matching material or at least have some crossover between sides? Like have a bit of brick and clapboard together instead of one or the other. The contrast is jarring.

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

Did you say ugly corner house?

I actually kinda like this one. It's possibly the cutest ugly building I've seen on here.

[SignalHillHiker]

It's always reminded me of Rotface, one of the minor bosses in World of Warcraft.

[SignalHillHiker]

Originally Posted by O-tacular

Why? Couldn't they pick a matching material or at least have some crossover between sides? Like have a bit of brick and clapboard together instead of one or the other. The contrast is jarring.

My guess is the clapboard side is in a protected heritage zone while the front side isn't.

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

It's always reminded me of Rotface, one of the minor bosses in World of Warcraft.

Lol! I can see that.

[HomeInMyShoes]

Has anyone else been noticing the octopuses on the power poles in SHH's posts in this thread? You'd swear St. John's had an electric trolley system still running.

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by HomeInMyShoes

Has anyone else been noticing the octopuses on the power poles in SHH's posts in this thread? You'd swear St. John's had an electric trolley system still running.

It's almost as bad as those power poles in Mexico.

[lio45]

Originally Posted by O-tacular

I actually kinda like this one. It's possibly the cutest ugly building I've seen on here.

It could easily be made to look nice, that's for sure.

Anything that's centenarian and has a genuine half-hex bay window has the potential to look fine with reasonably minor changes.

[FFX-ME]

It's cute seeing pictures of St John's in this thread, like that city has an ugly side.

[milomilo]

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper

Yeah it probably doesn't look as straightforward from ground level Look at the sidewalk!

I don't get the point either. You still have signalled intersections. Does it save on land? Maybe costs not having to build more bridges or longer spans. Trying to think of a 401 interchange with an avenue.

It reduces the number of signal phases from 3 to 2, so traffic should flow better, and the number of conflict points is also reduced which should reduce collisions, in theory. This isn't a brand new design, it's been used a lot in the states:

Diverging diamond interchange

I'll reserve judgement until it's built, but to me it looks like a better design than a traditional diamond and shouldn't be any more confusing than a SPUI if it's signed well and the lane markings are well maintained. As for pedestrians, it's not really any worse for them than a diamond or at grade crossing of Macleod, but my opinion is we should rather provide separate, well thought out, crossings for pedestrians on more direct routes between destinations, than forcing them to follow roadways. Calgary isn't very good at doing this, however.

[Nathan]

^There's a diverging diamond being built as part of the Regina Bypass project as well. IIRC, that section is supposed to be up and running next year.

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally Posted by O-tacular

Why? Couldn't they pick a matching material or at least have some crossover between sides? Like have a bit of brick and clapboard together instead of one or the other. The contrast is jarring.

This drives me crazy with Toronto infill developments right now. You cheap out by using stucco on the sides and rear but, why can't you pick a colour that matches the front facade?

[vid]

[BrannyMuffin]

Originally Posted by vid

Why are the windows so small?

[FrAnKs]

Now in our memories as a very bad dream.