They tore down the bus shelter, so it's basically just a parking lot now. People are still going in/out of the safe injection site building though so I'm not sure what's going on with that.
They've left the demolition area fenced for now, which keeps out the denizens that were previously there. Although I'm wondering if they'll just move to the park when it opens.
I saw a few people comment on DPAIs insta about whether it was cancelled or not, but they haven't responded...
Though if you go to the DWNTWN BIA site, it's still listed, but when you click more information, it's been removed from realtor.ca
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Hamilton Downtown. Huge tabletop skyline fan. Typically viewing the city from the street, not a helicopter. Cycling, transit and active transportation advocate 🚲🚍🚋
In their most recent instagram post, DPAI clarified that the project is currently for sale. I guess this means its moreso on hold rather than cancelled?
In their most recent instagram post, DPAI clarified that the project is currently for sale. I guess this means its moreso on hold rather than cancelled?
They messaged me. Essentially the property is for sale, and DPAI designed the condo building and is selling the design as well.
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Hamilton Downtown. Huge tabletop skyline fan. Typically viewing the city from the street, not a helicopter. Cycling, transit and active transportation advocate 🚲🚍🚋
Interesting, so this site must have sold. I wonder who the developer is, the company listed is clearly just a holding company. The holding company is Hi-Rose (Rebecca) Inc., I wonder if that's code for "Highrise Rosehaven (Rebecca) Incorporated"? So Rosehaven with a sequel to Kiwi Condos? The architect lines up with this.
I loved the previous concept but it seemed cost-prohibitive to build. It would've been nice to incorporate some of the arch. elements from the previous concept at least. Oh well.
This new version is definitely a downgrade, but I can see it getting built much easier. It's very interesting how it's essentially the same massing, but without being rounded off on the corners and missing the rooftop setbacks.
__________________ Opinions expressed here are solely my own and do not represent those of my employer.
Another crappy example of boring modular design - that's all our city has to offer it seems..
it's as I said before - their gameplan
"ok guys we need a box!"
"it needs some slight angles too!"
"don't forget mismatched windows!"
"oh and picture frame accents too!"
you can pretty much tick all these boxes on every single development. That is architecture in hamilton - not cool elegant shapes or craftsmanship - just wonky boxes with weird windows and odd jutouts and pictureframe elements. And various shades between white and black.
This is such a disappointment. It's almost an affront to look at.
I want to see more renderings (couldn't make it to DRP this afternoon unfortunately) before I completely make up my mind on the architecture here but overall I like it and see potential.
Some specifics:
- I like the white framing look, actually. It has an elegance to my eye. It will depend what kind of materials they use to pull it off.
- I counted 31 storeys so they've either reduced the slab-to-slab height to fit in that extra storey, or that storey is in fact the mechanical penthouse. If it is the mechanical penthouse, I like that they've continued the design right up to the very top of the tower.
- I wish the white framing on the tower didn't have a five storey "bite" taken out of it. Again, I think the white framing element could be very elegant if done well, but that bite in my opinion takes away from that possibility.
- Why does the tower have a section that is extruded by like 2 meters running up the side? Again, simplify. I don't think that extrusion is particularly complimentary to the elegant design theme of this tower.
- The massing in general could be more pleasing. The podium-upon-a-podium thing usually doesn't work out well. And this one looks to be more like podium-upon-a-podium-upon-a-podium. I do like the five storey streetwall though (looks like that is right at lot line essentially) - perfect scale in my opinion.
- I don't know about the competing aesthetic of the brown/grey vertical strips on the podium. I think it would look better if the first four floors above-grade just used the white framing aesthetic. It might also be worthwhile testing replacing the vertical grey/brown strips (above the fifth floor) with the white framing aesthetic, but in a different colour. A deep black or something contrasting would look nice and separate the massing.
- I don't like the horizontal grey strips between some of the white frames. Why are they there? What purpose do they serve?
- The tower aesthetic gets kinda clunky on the corners where there are big white vertical strips. The corners of the white framing on the 2-5th floors looks a bit more coherent to my eye.
- Need to see how much spandrel we're getting here and whether the developer will opt for mid-height mullions which will just unnecessarily clutter the glazing.
- I am not sold on the grade level design, but I can't see much about it in the rendering, so I'll wait for better info on it. It doesn't look like it fits the rest of the aesthetic, nor does it look to be very nice to walk by.
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It also reminds me of Art Shoppe condos in Toronto, which in general, I like. Although, I do find the podium of Art Shoppe to be too tall, the tower too short, and perhaps the floorplate a bit too big as well.
Coming from the Ripple design it's a bit disappointing but then when I think about it, this is still way better than most anything already "existing" downtown so I can't really complain.Will definitely be unique to our skyline. I look forward to more in-depth renders & info!
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