829 Carling Ave | 166m | 50f | Approved - Page 7

J.OT13 · #**121** Posted **May 10, 2023, 2:53 PM**

If that corner could be colourful. A work of art. Not just grey/white. I know I said this last time, but I am shocked that Hariri Pontarini's firm would still agree to work with Claridge after they absolutely butchered their Icon design.

And I love (

) how the rendering show Icon's original design and not the half-assed version.

YIMBY · #**122** Posted **May 10, 2023, 3:01 PM**

Although I don't think this is a downgrade from the original design, I would have really liked to see them maintain the original height. I think the original design was a little blocky/ awkward and the parking garage above would have made the streetscape less engaging. That said, Little Italy is building quite the skyline from different angles, and I think a 60(ish) story tower would really define it similarly to Burnaby in the Metro Vancouver area.

Looking at the renderings, I worry that the city might have something to say about the "dead" corner at Preston and Carling that is only cladding, which might change the design of the building again (fingers crossed that they don't get downgraded to flat panel fiber cement).

Hopefully, The Sky project goes up next door eventually to add some variation to the skyline in this area.

rumple-stilts · #**123** Posted **May 10, 2023, 3:22 PM**

Looking at the renderings, I worry that the city might have something to say about the "dead" corner at Preston and Carling that is only cladding,

While there are some improvements in the overall design detailing, creating this 'dead corner' at such a prominent intersection is bizarrely poorly handled.

OTSkyline · #**124** Posted **May 10, 2023, 5:19 PM**

Okay, instead of just complaining I thought I'd think of ways this design iteration could be improved.

I would suggest;
-Add an interesting roofline, like a diamond slope or 1/4 dome (think of L Tower in Toronto or Victoria sur le Parc in Montreal)
-Clad the entire tower in silver aluminum to match the corner elements. That way it looks more cohesive and elevated (like Forma in Toronto)

Harley613 · #**125** Posted **May 10, 2023, 5:27 PM**

The 'Dead Corner' could be really cool at night with some Green/White/Red LED lighting in the panel seams to match up with the Little Italy sign.

J.OT13 · #**126** Posted **May 10, 2023, 5:58 PM**

Height aside, the design is good. Maybe even better than the first one.

I agree, a little more work on the roof would be good. Corner needs some work as well. If art work along that corner is not realistic, maybe the panels could be one, or different colours. A strip of red, or red, white and green (Italy's flag colours), though that might look tacky. LEDs would be cool, but won't do anything in the day time.

Some Vancouver examples of colourful art on towers.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/charleso...own-vancouver-public-art-mural?auto=true

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/the-berk...t-vancouver-english-bay-douglas-coupland

This isn't limited to this project. We need more of this everywhere.

Boo Kay · #**127** Posted **May 10, 2023, 6:41 PM**

Personally, I love the corners. Such a strong framing device for the Preston entrance, and although they are quite severe the undulating chiseled effect moving upward is whimsical. It doesn’t need any additional dressing or accessories. C’est chic.

YIMBY · #**128** Posted **May 10, 2023, 7:02 PM**

Don't get me wrong, I love the corners too, the undulating forms as they snake down the side of the building are really a nice feature and would probably catch the light in a really unique way, for that reason, I hope they keep them.

I'd just prefer to see them wrap around into an awning above the commercial podium so that they don't abruptly stop at the corner and create a blank face.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harley613

The 'Dead Corner' could be really cool at night with some Green/White/Red LED lighting in the panel seams to match up with the Little Italy sign.

All that to say, I agree some sleek LED night lighting of the corners could really make it a stand-out building in the neighbourhood. Ottawa is so bad with exterior night lighting when it comes to new developments.

RideauRat · #**129** Posted **May 10, 2023, 7:40 PM**

the only positives Imo are:
different than usual design,
and it helps transitioning heights towards soho Italia.

Otherwise:
L heigh reduction, first of all.
I don't believe builders can execute this as shown, if not executed right could look like a 40 story pile of trash...

J.OT13 · #**130** Posted **May 10, 2023, 7:59 PM**

Waiting for the Planning Committee when Leiper tells Claridge point blank "you screwed up Icon, how do we know you'll get this one right?"

Harley613 · #**131** Posted **May 10, 2023, 8:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Waiting for the Planning Committee when Leiper tells Claridge point blank "you screwed up Icon, how do we know you'll get this one right?"

Does anyone in this city really notice we got Wish.com Icon besides us though, really?

J.OT13 · #**132** Posted **May 10, 2023, 8:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harley613

Does anyone in this city really notice we got Wish.com Icon besides us though, really?

I think it was during the 400 Albert debate a year or so ago. Leiper mentioned certain "projects' that had promised but ended up value engineered to death. I think he may have mentioned Icon by name that time.

Since then, anytime a high quality project is presented, he asks the developer and staff what are the guarantees the project will actually look like what's proposed and what safeguards are in place to guarantee that.

Don't think he ever got a satisfactory response.

kwoldtimer · #**133** Posted **May 10, 2023, 8:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harley613

The 'Dead Corner' could be really cool at night with some Green/White/Red LED lighting in the panel seams to match up with the Little Italy sign.

It would be a good location for a monumental work of art (paid for by the developer, of course).

Alex613 · #**134** Posted **May 10, 2023, 8:58 PM**

In one of the renderings, they have someone walking on the archway. Nice feature; made me laugh.

Harley613 · #**135** Posted **May 10, 2023, 9:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by J.OT13

I think it was during the 400 Albert debate a year or so ago. Leiper mentioned certain "projects' that had promised but ended up value engineered to death. I think he may have mentioned Icon by name that time.

Since then, anytime a high quality project is presented, he asks the developer and staff what are the guarantees the project will actually look like what's proposed and what safeguards are in place to guarantee that.

Don't think he ever got a satisfactory response.

Well that's good to hear! I'm glad someone at city hall is noticing Claridge's habits.

SidetrackedSue · #**136** Posted **May 11, 2023, 2:30 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex613

In one of the renderings, they have someone walking on the archway. Nice feature; made me laugh.

Made me look!

originalmuffins · #**137** Posted **May 29, 2023, 8:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harley613

While we are over here chopping 20 floors off our tallest proposals in a metro of 1.5 million+, Kitchener-Waterloo has this going on in a metro of around 650,000.

Icon would barely be a blip on the skyline of the average GTA transit node (dozens of them), and soon it would barely be a blip on the skyline of fricken' Kitchener.

I am still very mad with this proposal getting chopped and guttered like this. This was our shot at getting something with 60 floors and close to or at 200m since Trinity blueballed us. And then Claridge did the same.

Ridiculous. I hope the city suggests to them to raise the height again like they did Icon lol.

Ottawacurious · #**138** Posted **May 30, 2023, 1:29 PM**

In the images (link below), what is that round cylindrical building? Is that one 'guaranteed' to be that height to avoid the table top? I'd like to see this one to be the tallest of the three but maybe they don't want to block other views?? no idea about the politics amongst builders with all that stuff. Who owns that lot?

elevations

J.OT13 · #**139** Posted **May 30, 2023, 1:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ottawacurious

In the images (link below), what is that round cylindrical building? Is that one 'guaranteed' to be that height to avoid the table top? I'd like to see this one to be the tallest of the three but maybe they don't want to block other views?? no idea about the politics amongst builders with all that stuff. Who owns that lot?

elevations

Richcraft's "The Sky". It's approved however, this company likes to take its sweet time with all its projects. Good quality, but very slow process to go through its portfolio of proposed and approved projects. Only one or two on the go at a time. Here's the thread:

https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=204605&highlight=carling

rocketphish · #**140** Posted **May 30, 2023, 1:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ottawacurious

In the images (link below), what is that round cylindrical building? Is that one 'guaranteed' to be that height to avoid the table top? I'd like to see this one to be the tallest of the three but maybe they don't want to block other views?? no idea about the politics amongst builders with all that stuff. Who owns that lot?

elevations

The Sky:
https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=204605