The Great Canadian Skyscraper Thread - Page 3

Chadillaccc · #41 Posted **Sep 17, 2020, 2:45 AM**

From this evening's walk...

HomeInMyShoes · #42 Posted **Sep 17, 2020, 1:20 PM**

^Now there is a view I haven't seen much of. That is a great looking building there. I'm not overly enamoured by it from most of the looking down on views because it looks awkward, albeit interesting, but this view is really lovely.

esquire · #43 Posted **Sep 17, 2020, 2:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by HomeInMyShoes

^Now there is a view I haven't seen much of. That is a great looking building there. I'm not overly enamoured by it from most of the looking down on views because it looks awkward, albeit interesting, but this view is really lovely.

You are bang on... that is a great perspective of Telus Sky and a really nicely composed picture. It's the nicest picture I think I've seen of that building. Love it!

Chadillaccc · #44 Posted **Oct 27, 2020, 6:56 AM**

Videos of the north and south facades of Telus Sky now that 'Northern Lights' is online. Apparently the missing lights are being fixed, but there is a likelihood that there will always be a few burnt out.

• Video Link

Telus Sky, Calgary by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

TallBob · #45 Posted **Oct 27, 2020, 7:31 AM**

Very nice lighting! I just hope they fill up those buildings soon!

Chadillaccc · #46 Posted **Oct 27, 2020, 7:35 AM**

it's obviously not happening any time soon. But with tech, finance, and education, it will happen slowly and surely, as it has been for years.

kool maudit · #47 Posted **Oct 27, 2020, 11:29 AM**

Montreal's Sun Life Building is an interesting case. It is kind of a skyscraper that doesn't want to be a skyscraper. Built in sections, the structure layers neoclassical blocks in such a way as to maintain a horizontal orientation even as it stretches above 100m in height.

Had the early New York skyscrapers of Park Row ascended to Chrysler-like heights, their bases might have looked like the Sun Life.

It is a peer to the Singer Building or the old New York World Building, a skyscraper without pronounced verticality. But it has its own sort of dominance, it is a European square-fronting building from the steel-frame era, like the Edificio Espana in Madrid. Senate House in London has a similar presence, although its more minimal, deco style is a later form.

esquire · #48 Posted **Oct 27, 2020, 3:16 PM**

The Canada Life Building in Toronto has a similar orientation, but not quite as pronounced as Sun Life. What a fortress of a tower.

TorontoDrew · #49 Posted **Oct 27, 2020, 4:17 PM**

So does the 12 story Manulife Building on Bloor.

Manulife Building - morning by Vianney (Sam) Carriere, on Flickr

It's hard to see all 12 floors from the front.

Manulife - Corporate Head Office by Rick Blaxall, on Flickr

Maldive · #50 Posted **Oct 27, 2020, 7:00 PM**

I always think of the Canada Life, Sun Life etc. building typology as the "wedding cake".

Link

Of course the most over-the-top wedding cake is in Rome.

Link

TorontoDrew · #51 Posted **Oct 27, 2020, 7:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maldive

I always think of the Canada Life, Sun Life etc. building typology as the "wedding cake".

Link

Of course the most over-the-top wedding cake is in Rome.

Link

And the most over the top house in Toronto is this mess.

1016 Shaw St, 2015 by sssteve.o!, on Flickr

Acajack · #52 Posted **Oct 27, 2020, 7:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maldive

Of course the most over-the-top wedding cake is in Rome.

Link

Always thought it was modelled after a typewriter!

Romans (at least ones I know) actually hate it. They say it's an ugly fascist monument in the heart of Rome. (It's really located right next to all the imperial historical stuff.)

TorontoDrew · #53 Posted **Oct 27, 2020, 7:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

Always thought it was modelled after a typewriter!

Romans (at least ones I know) actually hate it. They say it's an ugly fascist monument in the heart of Rome. (It's really located right next to all the imperial historical stuff.)

I never really gave it much thought but they are right. I think I hate it to now. I had a cousin visit from London about 10 years ago. I took him on a tour of the city and the buildings he hated were these for almost the same reason. He saw them as a monument of wealth and greed. I guess he was right but he was also a bit of a bum back in England living off the system.

That being said I think The Royal bank Plaza deserves a place in this thread. She still looks great, at least to me.

Royal Bank Building, Toronto (III) by Andrés García, on Flickr

Martin Mtl · #54 Posted **Oct 27, 2020, 7:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TorontoDrew

I never really gave it much thought but they are right. I think I hate it to now. I had a cousin visit from London about 10 years ago. I took him on a tour of the city and the buildings he hated were these for almost the same reason. He saw them as a monument of wealth and greed. I guess he was right but he was also a bit of a bum back in England living off the system.

That being said I think The Royal bank Plaza deserves a place in this thread. She still looks great, at least to me.

Royal Bank Building, Toronto (III) by Andrés García, on Flickr

So ironic!

TorontoDrew · #55 Posted **Oct 27, 2020, 8:00 PM**

That it is. That's why I pointed it out first. But to some degree almost every skyscraper is symbol of wealth and power.

Acajack · #56 Posted **Oct 27, 2020, 8:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TorontoDrew

I never really gave it much thought but they are right. I think I hate it to now. I had a cousin visit from London about 10 years ago. I took him on a tour of the city and the buildings he hated were these for almost the same reason. He saw them as a monument of wealth and greed. I guess he was right but he was also a bit of a bum back in England living off the system.

So a lot of people will like or dislike a building based on what it represents, regardless of what it looks like.

Though Vittorio Emanuele II (wedding cake/typewriter) if it were reproduced exactly as is would be a masterpiece and jewel in any of our cities.

CivicBlues · #57 Posted **Oct 27, 2020, 8:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TorontoDrew

That it is. That's why I pointed it out first. But to some degree almost every skyscraper is symbol of wealth and power.

As is every building of note that has survived since antiquity. Even ones built ostensibly for religious purposes .

The Pyramids, Colosseum, St. Peter's, Alhambra, Grand Palace, Forbidden City, etc.

TorontoDrew · #58 Posted **Oct 27, 2020, 10:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

So a lot of people will like or dislike a building based on what it represents, regardless of what it looks like.

Though Vittorio Emanuele II (wedding cake/typewriter) if it were reproduced exactly as is would be a masterpiece and jewel in any of our cities.

Well its definitely a masterpiece. That one can't argue.

WhipperSnapper · #59 Posted **Oct 27, 2020, 10:49 PM**

Canada Life doesn't have the tiers of a wedding cake though. The Emmanuel monument doesn't either.

Andy6 · #60 Posted **Oct 27, 2020, 11:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kool maudit

Montreal's Sun Life Building is an interesting case. It is kind of a skyscraper that doesn't want to be a skyscraper. Built in sections, the structure layers neoclassical blocks in such a way as to maintain a horizontal orientation even as it stretches above 100m in height.

Had the early New York skyscrapers of Park Row ascended to Chrysler-like heights, their bases might have looked like the Sun Life.

It is a peer to the Singer Building or the old New York World Building, a skyscraper without pronounced verticality. But it has its own sort of dominance, it is a European square-fronting building from the steel-frame era, like the Edificio Espana in Madrid. Senate House in London has a similar presence, although its more minimal, deco style is a later form.

A skyscraper wouldn't make much sense for a life insurance company that is going to occupy most or all of the building with its many employees. Most big insurers had large-floorplate buildings a little outside the high-rent district of downtown. Same with Great-West Life and the old Monarch Life in Winnipeg, in addition to eastern companies mentioned here already.