Claridge Icon [505 Preston St] | 143m | 45 fl | Completed - Page 80

Multi-modal · #**1581** Posted **Mar 30, 2019, 4:35 PM**

I'll add to this "fun views of the Icon" party: I noticed the other day that if you sit on the east side of the Trillium Line and look up around Carling Station you'll see the top 10-15ish stories of the Icon. This makes the O-train trench a little less boring and gives the train more of a big-city vibe.

dhottawa729 · #**1582** Posted **Mar 30, 2019, 6:40 PM**

The building looks great but I’m a bit disappointed how subtle the balcony railings are. The glass is so transparent that the building looks more boxy than expected in the renderings. Maybe a thicker top rail would have made them stand out more.

waterloowarrior · #**1583** Posted **Mar 30, 2019, 6:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by dhottawa729

The building looks great but I’m a bit disappointed how subtle the balcony railings are. The glass is so transparent that the building looks more boxy than expected in the renderings. Maybe a thicker top rail would have made them stand out more.

I can't tell from the photo if that is the final product. I was hoping from some of the early renderings that there would be similar glazed balconies as One Bloor East in Toronto (same architect).

http://urbantoronto.ca/news/2015/10/...ulfs-one-bloor

ServiceGuy · #**1584** Posted **Mar 31, 2019, 7:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by rocketphish

The building looks great but I’m a bit disappointed how subtle the balcony railings are. The glass is so transparent that the building looks more boxy than expected in the renderings. Maybe a thicker top rail would have made them stand out more.

Top rails not yet installed but most likely silver to match the posts.

UrbOttawa · #**1585** Posted **Mar 31, 2019, 9:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by waterloowarrior

I can't tell from the photo if that is the final product. I was hoping from some of the early renderings that there would be similar glazed balconies as One Bloor East in Toronto (same architect).

http://urbantoronto.ca/news/2015/10/...ulfs-one-bloor

I vaguely remember seeing something a while ago from Claridge saying the architects had originally planned on using fritted or matte/satin glass for the balconies, but that they opted for clear glass due to feedback from buyers who wanted less obstructed views.

OTownandDown · #**1586** Posted **Apr 1, 2019, 1:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ServiceGuy

Top rails not yet installed but most likely silver to match the posts.

The railings in the photos look temporary to me. If they aren't, god help claridge because they just can't get anything right.

AuxTown · #**1587** Posted **Apr 1, 2019, 1:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by OTownandDown

The railings in the photos look temporary to me. If they aren't, god help claridge because they just can't get anything right.

I can't imagine that they would install temporary railings with glass....

They do look gawd awful in that photo looking straight up at them, looks like they had the owners installing their own railings in each unit. That semi-opaque glass would have looked cool but I guess you have to consider the opinions of the people shelling out 100's of thousands of dollars to live there

OTownandDown · #**1588** Posted **Apr 1, 2019, 6:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by O-Town Hockey

I can't imagine that they would install temporary railings with glass....

They do look gawd awful in that photo looking straight up at them, looks like they had the owners installing their own railings in each unit. That semi-opaque glass would have looked cool but I guess you have to consider the opinions of the people shelling out 100's of thousands of dollars to live there

Reasons if these are permanent, this is ridiculous:

1. To create curving balcony surfaces that are supposed to organically shift and move across the vertical portion of the building, you can't just leave slab edges exposed like that.

2. The balconies are not all uniform thickness, therefore not covering them looks gadawful.

3. Any sort of aesthetic sense would need to be completely thrown out the window. This thing will be just a giant concrete balcony slab when it's done, instead of an elegant looking building.

4. I can just picture the architect fuming at the owner for ruining the aesthetics of the building.

HighwayStar · #**1589** Posted **Apr 1, 2019, 6:54 PM**

Just to make sure we're on the same page...

Is the issue in question: "Are these the final balcony railings?":

I honestly can't imagine it to be true...

OTownandDown · #**1590** Posted **Apr 1, 2019, 7:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by HighwayStar

Just to make sure we're on the same page...

Is the issue in question: "Are these the final balcony railings?":

I honestly can't imagine it to be true...

Yes, that's the question.

Also the vertical posts are not vertical... unless those are single vertical pieces of tape? Also the railings don't always extend all the way back to the building?

Also, even for a standard, crappy balcony rail, these look especially bad, even if it were just on your everyday cheapo condo.

OTownandDown · #**1591** Posted **Apr 1, 2019, 7:17 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by OTownandDown

Yes, that's the question.

Also the vertical posts are not vertical... unless those are single vertical pieces of tape? Also the railings don't always extend all the way back to the building?

Also, even for a standard, crappy balcony rail, these look especially bad, even if it were just on your everyday cheapo condo.

Just to bring us back to what should be happening. Here's an example of a nice organic balcony with straight recessed rails. SOFFITS PAINTED WHITE. SO SIMPLE AND SO EFFECTIVE. But I can't imagine the special assessment for balcony slab edge repairs 30 years from now...

Aqua: Chicago

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...er_Chicago.jpg

This one is great, and simplified with just pickets, no glass.

http://archpaper.com/wp-content/uplo...07-MG_9523.jpg

One bloor before and after. Fritted glass is a nice touch, but probably expensive, yes. But sorry, you picked an organic looking balcony profile, you must then pay the price, or you'll end up looking stupid.
Before.. ok..I see what they're going for...:

AFTER...MUCH better...:

https://cdnphotos.rmcloud.com/toronto/C4349673.000

OTownandDown · #**1592** Posted **Apr 1, 2019, 7:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by OTownandDown

Yes, that's the question.

Also the vertical posts are not vertical... unless those are single vertical pieces of tape? Also the railings don't always extend all the way back to the building?

Also, even for a standard, crappy balcony rail, these look especially bad, even if it were just on your everyday cheapo condo.

This is what I mean when I say "DEMAND! BETTER!"
Before:

http://www.cgarchitect.com/content/p...seup_large.jpg

After:

https://i.imgur.com/H9vle6l.jpg?1

rocketphish · #**1593** Posted **Apr 1, 2019, 10:35 PM**

Maybe those aren't balcony railings at all, but some sort of temporary safety barrier?

HighwayStar · #**1594** Posted **Apr 1, 2019, 11:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by rocketphish

Maybe those aren't balcony railings at all, but some sort of temporary safety barrier?

Kinda tough to imagine as a "safety barrier"... but I am hoping something close to your point is true.

My first thought is Claridge is experimenting with different styles to find an optimal cost/benefit for them.

OTownandDown has posted exactly the types of designs I've envisioned and am hoping for.... but we're not quite Chicago... yet

Marshsparrow · #**1595** Posted **Apr 1, 2019, 11:47 PM**

Ottawa seriously needs an "intervention" as we continue to approve crap, have garbage built and one of the most depressing urban landscapes of any capital...

JHikka · #**1596** Posted **Apr 1, 2019, 11:52 PM**

Wow this thread took a turn. One page it was "woo new tallest we're so great!" to "ugh our design sucks".

We all knew this would happen going in.

waterloowarrior · #**1597** Posted **Apr 2, 2019, 12:12 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by hokiefans

I got pictures of the balcony railings yesterday. Lots of changes since we were last able to look! We saw installed windows above the platforms and on the 3rd floor overlooking Preston Street.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/WoxJEhxbfveyzyvM8

hope this works... reposting these from hokiefans

rocketphish · #**1598** Posted **Apr 2, 2019, 12:15 AM**

After seeing those images I'm afraid I have to change my tune. Sadly, those do now look to me like the final railing product.

On Edge · #**1599** Posted **Apr 2, 2019, 1:12 AM**

They look really low and flimsy!!

AuxTown · #**1600** Posted **Apr 2, 2019, 1:16 AM**

They look fine in the straight sections but on the curved balconies they leave something to be desired. Is it that much more expensive to do something like what is pictured?