The Metro Vancouver Retail Thread

[officedweller]

From Vancouver Market.ca:

Plans for the Pacific Centre expansion, and a couple of better resolution images.

The interface with the Four Seasons is very poor/non-existent.


http://www.vancouvermarket.ca/2016/08/03/pacific-centre-expansion-to-include-31600-sf-of-new-space/


http://www.vancouvermarket.ca/2016/08/03/pacific-centre-expansion-to-include-31600-sf-of-new-space/


http://www.vancouvermarket.ca/2016/08/03/pacific-centre-expansion-to-include-31600-sf-of-new-space/


http://www.vancouvermarket.ca/2016/08/03/pacific-centre-expansion-to-include-31600-sf-of-new-space/

[LeftCoaster]

Originally Posted by officedweller

The interface with the Four Seasons is very poor/non-existent.

It's almost like something else is still in the works for the 40 year old four seasons.

[trofirhen]

The new rectangular repacement for the rotunda lives in a world of its own and connects with no one. It would have been nice if it could somehow have been an "extension" of Four Seasons.
I can't and wouldn't say how it should be; that can be for architects and designers here who know more than I do, but surely something much better : there are all sorts of geometric forms.
Thirdly, this building proposal has a "severed off" look to it, as if it doesn't really belong to the Pacific Centre integrally. It's kind of "storefront" without even the urban street wall.

[jollyburger]

Anyone expecting Harry Rosen to move into this space on the second floor based on the mannequins in the window?

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

It's almost like something else is still in the works for the 40 year old four seasons.

Say it ain't so...

[s211]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

It's almost like something else is still in the works for the 40 year old four seasons.

Don't tease, please.

[theKB]

Has the four seasons even renewed their lease yet, or will they even renew it? The building is due for a massive overhaul.

[jlousa]

Four seasons is due for a major lobby upgrade. There are a few other hotels planning upgrades as well. Don't envy anyone that invests in hotels.

[theKB]

Originally Posted by jlousa

Four seasons is due for a major lobby upgrade. There are a few other hotels planning upgrades as well. Don't envy anyone that invests in hotels.

The "reno's" they did on the restaurant a little while ago were laughable. Refinishing the floor and some new paint on the ceiling. I just wonder if they will attempt to integrate some more retail into the lobby.

[retro_orange]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

It's almost like something else is still in the works for the 40 year old four seasons.

Yeah that's one building i would love to see imploded.

[connect2source]

Thanks so much for this officedweller! The higher-res images looks world's better than the previous ones. I actually don't mind the look of this and have noted the cues, especially the timber- like overhang on the upper floor which resembles the 7th floor of the Nordstrom building on the Howe St side.

As far as the Four Seasons, this embarrassing Vancouver property bears little resemblance to their properties around the world. Now that their Toronto locations, which was the most like ours, has been replaced, I have no doubt they'll soon depart this location rather than gutting it. Likely the only thing keeping Four Seasons in this building is the unbeatable location.

I'd also be surprised if Harry Rosen took the new retail space as they just spent some hefty sums renovating their space down the hall.

[NewfBC]

Originally Posted by trofirhen

The new rectangular repacement for the rotunda lives in a world of its own and connects with no one. It would have been nice if it could somehow have been an "extension" of Four Seasons.
I can't and wouldn't say how it should be; that can be for architects and designers here who know more than I do, but surely something much better : there are all sorts of geometric forms.
Thirdly, this building proposal has a "severed off" look to it, as if it doesn't really belong to the Pacific Centre integrally. It's kind of "storefront" without even the urban street wall.

Remember... this is from the same people who brought us the Nordstrom building.

Ron.

[dreambrother808]

It does look truly out of place. Perhaps the actual built form will be redeeming but the fact that people are complaining about its lack of architectural harmony should not be surprising to anyone.

A render should present the best case scenario and hide flaws but these pics seem to be oblivious of what a gussied up barn this really is.

This is a highly prominent corner. Is this really the best CF could do?

[connect2source]

Originally Posted by dreambrother808

It does look truly out of place. Perhaps the actual built form will be redeeming but the fact that people are complaining about its lack of architectural harmony should not be surprising to anyone.

A render should present the best case scenario and hide flaws but these pics seem to be oblivious of what a gussied up barn this really is.

This is a highly prominent corner. Is this really the best CF could do?

Agrees but any sense of architectural harmony was lost in the 80's when the hideous dome was built which was a horrid mis-match.. modernism-meets-english conservatory.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by connect2source

Thanks so much for this officedweller! The higher-res images looks world's better than the previous ones. I actually don't mind the look of this and have noted the cues, especially the timber- like overhang on the upper floor which resembles the 7th floor of the Nordstrom building on the Howe St side.

As far as the Four Seasons, this embarrassing Vancouver property bears little resemblance to their properties around the world. Now that their Toronto locations, which was the most like ours, has been replaced, I have no doubt they'll soon depart this location rather than gutting it. Likely the only thing keeping Four Seasons in this building is the unbeatable location.

I'd also be surprised if Harry Rosen took the new retail space as they just spent some hefty sums renovating their space down the hall.

Yeah, it definitely resembles the 725 Granville / Nordstrom.

One of the stories suggested the Four Seasons would be renovated (reclad?).

Cadillac Fairview says it is also in discussions with the adjacent Four Seasons Hotel to perform extensive aesthetic upgrades to the hotel exterior.

http://dailyhive.com/vancouver/pacific-centre-rotunda-dome-expansion

So as Leftcoaster mentioned, it's probably designed to tie in to future Four Seasons renovations.
But all the various parts of the mall seem to have their own style/design. i.e. Hot Renfrew will be all by itself and the Granville stretch at H&M is different too.

They also trashed the modernist aspect more recently when they inserted Micheal Kors into the base of 701 West Georgia.
Strange how the rendering restores the façade of 701 West Georgia to all black-brown.

ALSO - looking at the plans, the only access to the restaurant is an elevator from Howe Street (no stair or elevator access from the mall side, either).
So.... unless this is a relocation of Yew Restaurant with future Four Seasons access from the rear, access seems really limited.

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by connect2source

Agrees but any sense of architectural harmony was lost in the 80's when the hideous dome was built which was a horrid mis-match.. modernism-meets-english conservatory.

That's rather true!! I just wish Vancouver could learn to add a touch of "sleek" where it really matters; high-profile sites like this one.

[connect2source]

Originally Posted by officedweller

They also trashed the modernist aspect more recently when they inserted Micheal Kors into the base of 701 West Georgia. Strange how the rendering restores the façade of 701 West Georgia to all black-brown

Thanks for the insight officedweller! Pacific Centre is an absolute hodgepodge now, hopefully the lower section of the updated Four Seasons will tie in nicely with the new corner structure, it would be great to have some cohesive vision moving forward as to bring back some sense of harmony to the entire complex.

The Michael Kors change also really bugged me as well. Not only did the base level go from brown to clear / white, the grid also no longer lines up as the ground level windows are now wider than the rest of the building.

Same thing is happening with Eaton Centre in Toronto. First the Yonge St. facade was given a rather ugly update in about 2000 in an attempt to make it more street friendly, then the Yonge and Dundas corner was re-done, albeit fairly well but now all is lost with the new Nordstrom facade taking the first three floors of the former Eaton's / Sears while leaving the remaining 4 floors in the of the old facade, really quite the mess and arguably worse than PC.

Seems CF doesn't really care about preserving any semblance of architectural integrity but rather takes a short term view with some 'of the moment' designs which don't seem to age well.

[officedweller]

Post on the addition at Price Tags:

https://pricetags.wordpress.com/2016/08/05/space-and-place-at-pacific-centre/

[officedweller]

From Michael Geller's blog:


http://gellersworldtravel.blogspot.ca/

[Vin]

^^^ Ripping off something from the 60s and pretending to be avant garde is all I can say.