[Halifax] NFB Building | 15 m | 7 fl | U/C

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by someone123

The Heritage Advisory Committee has voted unanimously to support this project.

It would be great if construction for this could get started this year.

Great!

[someone123]

Andy Fillmore posted before/after photos of this on his twitter account: https://twitter.com/FillmoreNorth

The description says this development is now approved.

[Empire]

Originally Posted by someone123

Andy Fillmore posted before/after photos of this on his twitter account: https://twitter.com/FillmoreNorth

The description says this development is now approved.

I hope that the rendering is incorrect or that they don't proceed if it is correct.

The rendering shows a cheap precast fake façade with all of the lintels, keystone arches, cornices, granite base and column detail destroyed.

[Drybrain]

Originally Posted by Empire

I hope that the rendering is incorrect or that they don't proceed if it is correct.

The rendering shows a cheap precast fake façade with all of the lintels, keystone arches, cornices, granite base and column detail destroyed.

I think it's just a lazy rendering. If you look at the neighbouring buildings, none of the detail on their facades is depicted either.

The is the report to the heritage committee, in which they actually discuss the necessity of retaining and where necessary restoring all the cornices, lintels, sills, , pilasters, columns, and window treatments. It's pretty detailed, and it seems pretty good to me on a quick read.

[Keith P.]

Surely someone must have a stray Cat D7 that isn't being used that can knock this thing down in the middle of the night???

[eastcoastal]

Originally Posted by Empire

I hope that the rendering is incorrect or that they don't proceed if it is correct.

The rendering shows a cheap precast fake façade with all of the lintels, keystone arches, cornices, granite base and column detail destroyed.

I think this is a case of lame-Sketchup-work.

[Waye Mason]

Originally Posted by eastcoastal

I think this is a case of lame-Sketchup-work.

This. I mean, its a 16 unit building, so you can't expect a picasso for the rendering.

The whole facade is being retained, though some large sandstone blocks are so deteriorated they need to be replaced. The mansard roof is a modern interpretation on the original roof, with the same symmetry but modern different window treatments. I think it will look pretty good.

[pblaauw]

Originally Posted by someone123

Andy Fillmore posted before/after photos of this on his twitter account: https://twitter.com/FillmoreNorth

The description says this development is now approved.

Is that a skateboard jump above the top-middle window?

[JET]

Originally Posted by Waye Mason

This. I mean, its a 16 unit building, so you can't expect a picasso for the rendering.

The whole facade is being retained, though some large sandstone blocks are so deteriorated they need to be replaced. The mansard roof is a modern interpretation on the original roof, with the same symmetry but modern different window treatments. I think it will look pretty good.

At one point in time the exterior had been painted, including the details. Then it was sandblasted to remove the paint, this did incredible damage to the sandstone. It will look great if some is replaced.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by JET

At one point in time the exterior had been painted, including the details. Then it was sandblasted to remove the paint, this did incredible damage to the sandstone. It will look great if some is replaced.

So this thing won't even be the original facade, but a replica? What are we preserving here, an idea or a memory of what was there? Certainly we are not preserving an actual building. What a waste. This block has been a cancer on Barrington forever and we finally have an opportunity to do something with it. Instead we are keeping the disease.

[Drybrain]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

So this thing won't even be the original facade, but a replica? What are we preserving here, an idea or a memory of what was there? Certainly we are not preserving an actual building. What a waste. This block has been a cancer on Barrington forever and we finally have an opportunity to do something with it. Instead we are keeping the disease.

C'mon, Keith, you know that's not the case. A few deteriorated bits will be replaced, and the vast majority will be the original material, refurbished. The report to the heritage committee I linked to above indicates as much.

I don't really get how creating a 16-unit apartment building with a commercial storefront, while improving the street-facing appearance, constitutes "keeping the disease." But we know by now that we disagree on this project!

[JET]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

So this thing won't even be the original facade, but a replica? What are we preserving here, an idea or a memory of what was there? Certainly we are not preserving an actual building. What a waste. This block has been a cancer on Barrington forever and we finally have an opportunity to do something with it. Instead we are keeping the disease.

Even a replica facade adds to the streetscape. All of the facade on Summer Gardens was replicated, and it looks very good. I like the NFB buiding, I remember the day of the fire. I look forward to this being restored.

[Empire]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

So this thing won't even be the original facade, but a replica? What are we preserving here, an idea or a memory of what was there? Certainly we are not preserving an actual building. What a waste. This block has been a cancer on Barrington forever and we finally have an opportunity to do something with it. Instead we are keeping the disease.

The disease you are really trying to reference is called "vinyl-concrete-alitis" and affects 90% of new construction in HRM. It generally wipes out quality and replaces it with cheap non-descript garbage.

The cure is a knowledgeable design review process with authority, plus bans on vinyl and concrete cladding.

[Keith P.]

Vinyl isn't what we are talking about here. This is a site that has been a scar on Barrington for over 20 years. Part of the reason was the slavish and irrational desire to maintain this ugly facade. A modern, new design would suit this area just fine. Instead we are going to get stuck with a replica of something that should have had an appointment with the wrecking ball 20 years ago. Shameful.

[Drybrain]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Vinyl isn't what we are talking about here. This is a site that has been a scar on Barrington for over 20 years. Part of the reason was the slavish and irrational desire to maintain this ugly facade. A modern, new design would suit this area just fine. Instead we are going to get stuck with a replica of something that should have had an appointment with the wrecking ball 20 years ago. Shameful.

It's not a replica, not a replica, not a replica...read the heritage committee report.

Okay, not arguing anymore.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Vinyl isn't what we are talking about here. This is a site that has been a scar on Barrington for over 20 years. Part of the reason was the slavish and irrational desire to maintain this ugly facade. A modern, new design would suit this area just fine. Instead we are going to get stuck with a replica of something that should have had an appointment with the wrecking ball 20 years ago. Shameful.

OK folks... move along... nothing to see here... this horse is already dead...



Hey Keith.... bear with it, it'll look good when it's done. Trust me...

That said, though I am a proponent of this project, the humour of your D7 comments has not escaped me...

[pblaauw]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

So this thing won't even be the original facade, but a replica? What are we preserving here, an idea or a memory of what was there? Certainly we are not preserving an actual building. What a waste. This block has been a cancer on Barrington forever and we finally have an opportunity to do something with it. Instead we are keeping the disease.

Letting it continue to sit there and deteriorate would be "keeping the disease". Using it as part of a new building is making things better. It's nice to see the revival (slow as it may be) of Barrington continue.

[Waye Mason]

Obviously, KP, the parts that are NOT THERE ANYMORE will be replicas or replacements or equivalents. The facade is being retained and restored.

[Empire]

Originally Posted by Waye Mason

Obviously, KP, the parts that are NOT THERE ANYMORE will be replicas or replacements or equivalents. The facade is being retained and restored.

It's too bad the original cupola isn't being rebuilt.

Page 9
http://www.halifax.ca/boardscom/hac/...hacnfbjl24.PDF

[RyeJay]

edit.