Victoria Construction - #7

[vicdevelopments]

I don't mind this building. It's right by the hospital and the corner building there now is pretty old.

[aastra]

If they tear it down then they won't be allowed to maintain the minimal setback. They'll be required to introduce a much larger setback. That's Victoria for you. An endless war against the city's historic built form.

[vicdevelopments]

Originally Posted by aastra

If they tear it down then they won't be allowed to maintain the minimal setback. They'll be required to introduce a much larger setback. That's Victoria for you. An endless war against the city's historic built form.

That makes sense. I am still glad they are keeping the facade there's not many buildings like that left and it's got some art to it.

[aastra]

If the end result looks like a gussied-up version of the diner building with a newer building sort of offset behind it then I think it could actually look quite good.

[skylinegazer]

Originally Posted by aastra

If they tear it down then they won't be allowed to maintain the minimal setback. They'll be required to introduce a much larger setback. That's Victoria for you. An endless war against the city's historic built form.

The city wants to widen the road there. It's currently a pinch point because of the old Turner building.

Originally Posted by vicdevelopments

That makes sense. I am still glad they are keeping the facade there's not many buildings like that left and it's got some art to it.

Take a look at the new BackFit building at the top end of Cook St. It's a brand new building done in the same style as the old Turner building.

The design of the old Turner building could be used as inspiration for the new medical-office building. We don't need to keep every awkward old building we have an emotional attachment to.

[aastra]

I disagree with you. Victoria's track record re: preserving heritage is so abysmal, I'm really pleased with this 21st-century trend to actually dare to preserve things here and there (Janion, New England Hotel, a facade on Yates and another on lower Pandora).

In this case the diner building isn't just unique for the neighbourhood but for the entire city. Thus, it's exactly the sort of building that Victorians in eras past would have rolled over and replaced with a strip mall or a parking lot. Even though the entire interior is going to be remade, the building's basic form and presence will be preserved. Nobody ever seems to give a damn about such aspects, but I'd rank them right up there as two of the essential goals of preservation.

[aastra]

Adding levels to existing buildings has been controversial in recent decades, even though adding (or removing) floors was a routine thing right up until the 1940s or thereabouts (as demonstrated by historical photos of Victoria). So why are today's supposed defenders of heritage always up in arms about the addition of floors? It makes no sense.

From the pedestrian's perspective on the street the older building's historic/established presence remains the same. The street feel remains the same, which should be a top priority. Meanwhile, the property itself gets revitalized via the new construction and the repurposing. Why would anyone object to this?

It boggles my mind, and yet we've seen no end of opposition to doing exactly this with the Janion, Northern Junk, some buildings in Chinatown... When the supposed defenders of heritage would prefer to see an abandoned building remain abandoned or get demolished outright, you just know something isn't right.

I realize that some people don't like additions that span different eras or styles because of the potential for a "Frankenstein's monster" architectural effect. But I really think the concerns are overblown, and in Victoria's case I don't know if there's ever been a noteworthy example that should inspire any dread. If the new addition is set back on the top or unevenly weighted off to one side or around the back then the chances of creating some freakish chimera are pretty slim, I'd say.

[vicdevelopments]

I agree Aastra. The best example that turned out well is the Sussex office building. Originally it was proposed to remove the building and build the tower on street level. It was originally proposed one story taller too. The building almost didn't get built but when The ministry of The attorney General promised to lease the entire building B.C.B.C. went back to the city with a set back building tower one story less and to keep the facade of the original sussex hotel. It got approved and we now have a shorter Sussex office building. However I like how they kept the facade and made an open air mall area. I use to have photos of the giant steal support beams holding up the facade as they worked on the building. I remember being on the street when an american tourist took photos of it and he said it's weird how short the buildings were as there was a picture of the project. It's too bad that the CIBC building didnt keep the facade. It's also sad to have lost the Campbell building too.

Originally Posted by mr. snazzy pants

The city wants to widen the road there. It's currently a pinch point because of the old Turner building.



Take a look at the new BackFit building at the top end of Cook St. It's a brand new building done in the same style as the old Turner building.

The design of the old Turner building could be used as inspiration for the new medical-office building. We don't need to keep every awkward old building we have an emotional attachment to.

The backfit building looks really good. They did an awesome job to it. I remember going to the Bank of Montreal as a kid. I also had a dentist in the building beside it. I think it maybe a medical clinic now.

[vicdevelopments]

edit posted above

[Vin]

The city of London, and pretty much many other European cities, were almost entirely destroyed during the Second World War, and yet they could rebuild them to fit in with many of the original heritage buildings still standing. I wonder why Victoria can't do it without including Frankenstein monsters. Is it a North American handicap?

[vicdevelopments]

Originally Posted by Vin

The city of London, and pretty much many other European cities, were almost entirely destroyed during the Second World War, and yet they could rebuild them to fit in with many of the original heritage buildings still standing. I wonder why Victoria can't do it without including Frankenstein monsters. Is it a North American handicap?

I don't mind fake heritage facades but I think I'm the few who do. They did a lot of the Bay Center like that.

Here's the example of the Sussex building facade saved and the tower behind it.
sussex by steven roberts, on Flickr

The Rexall building was also proposed by West Bank and the Cathedral to have a 10 story office building behind the saved front facade but the city deemed it to tall so they ended up just building a one story building to match the height of the one story building. Even though there are modern towers around it.
rexall by steven roberts, on Flickr

Chard was lucky to have a pre zoned lot that was done in the 70's so he was able to build some height to his condo building. Being a lot he was ab;e to build right up to the sidewalk with no setbacks. It fits well in old town.
old town by steven roberts, on Flickr

[aastra]

I wonder why Victoria can't do it without including Frankenstein monsters.

Many of Victoria's postwar rules and regulations re: development end up eroding the city's historic built form instead of preserving it or emphasizing it. This needs to be fixed. If a large setback has no precedent then not only should a large setback not be required, a large setback shouldn't even be allowed at all. If a district's historic buildings have very tall ground floors then modern buildings in that district should also be required to have tall grounds floors, etc.

Note that the Frankenstein approach is providing Victoria with a beautifully restored Janion Building instead of a pile of rubble. A few years ago the voices that claimed the Janion couldn't be (or shouldn't be) saved were outnumbering the voices that wanted to rehabilitate it by a thousand to one. Victoria's normal procedure is to demolish outright, lest we forget.

Heck, if modern additions could have saved the Driard Hotel or the Permanent Loan Building or the Campbell Building then I'd be warming up my time machine right now and offering Dr. Frankenstein a big pile of money to go back and do the work.

[vicdevelopments]

Originally Posted by aastra

Heck, if modern additions could have saved the Driard Hotel or the Permanent Loan Building or the Campbell Building then I'd be warming up my time machine right now and offering Dr. Frankenstein a big pile of money to go back and do the work.

Those 3 buildings should have never been aloud to be torn down. It's so sad especially that which replaced them.

I have been meaning to do some photos from around town. I have 3 cameras but have been so lazy just using my cell phone instead. I will see if I can muster up some will power and go photo searching downtown.

[renthefinn]

That would be great. Please post them here, and vibrant victoria, if you haven't been there yet!

[vicdevelopments]

Originally Posted by renthefinn

That would be great. Please post them here, and vibrant victoria, if you haven't been there yet!

I took some photos today but my main camera isnt working as well as it should so the photos have a weird focus on them. None the less I'll post them here later tonight.

[vicdevelopments]

I spent a couple of hours taking photos today but my main camera took awful photos. The photos are all out of focus and hazy. I will retake the same photos tomorrow with my other camera. I'll take my best camera in to get fixed tomorrow. Hopefully the camera shop can fix it. It's an expensive camera. My backup camera is a sony a350 I also have a zome lens for this camera as well so it will take decent photos. Still not as good as my main camera when it's working properly.

[vicdevelopments]

I went up to Mt Tolmie to take some skyline shots but it was really smoggy. you could hardly make out individual buildings. I'll try again tomorrow.

[vicdevelopments]

They were tearing down St. Andrews School today. Kinda sad as I went to that school as a kid.
DSC07305 by steven roberts, on Flickr
I will see if I can take some pics tomorrow.

[excel]

12 cranes is a big number. I'll be heading over to Victoria soon, excited to see all the action.

[vicdevelopments]

Originally Posted by excel

12 cranes is a big number. I'll be heading over to Victoria soon, excited to see all the action.

When you do, take some pictures and post them here.