303 replies to this topic

[Kapten Kapsell]

This article in the T-C has comments from the architect, James Cheng. The building was rotated 90 degrees to preserve harbour views for Humbolft Valley residents. See http://www.timescolo...site-1.20496749

[Nparker]

I am not surprised the JBNA is responsible for this eyesore. 

... The 87,037-square-foot building’s contemporary design will use brick and stone on its exterior, similar to the materials used to build the Empress Hotel. Those ideas came out of consultations with area residents, Cheng said. “All the residents said, ‘Don’t copy the Empress Hotel [in design]. That’s the grande old dame. It should look beautiful and we should complement it rather than copy it.’ That is exactly what we are doing.”...

http://www.timescolo...site-1.20496749

So poorly interpret the Empress' materials, throw in a dollop of bulkiness and a terrible street presence et "voila"!

[Jackerbie]

The buildings plans have been posted, but they do not include any other renderings [x]

 

Apparently the rose garden and pedestrians paths will be expanded all the way to Douglas Street as part of the final landscaping.

[Nparker]

The buildings plans have been posted, but they do not include any other renderings...

I noticed that. How ugly must it look from all other angles? 

[Jackerbie]

^ Based on the elevations and site plan, it's more of the same all the way around, with the exception of the inset circular lobby with surrounding driveway.

[Nparker]

^ Based on the elevations and site plan, it's more of the same all the way around, with the exception of the inset circular lobby with surrounding driveway.

It's sad that the creativity that allowed for the circular lobby couldn't have manifested itself onto the exterior public faces.

[aastra]

I had the same reaction. A glass Janion-esque curve on that corner of the building itself might have looked terrific.

 

I still think this place might look a fair bit better than was suggested by that first image.

Edited by aastra, 09 June 2017 - 08:41 PM.

[Nparker]

I had the same reaction. A glass Janion-esque curve on that corner of the building itself might have looked terrific.

It still could look terrific. This is a case where I think something superior needs to be demanded. How about some curves? More glass? And for goodness sake, get rid of the awful landscaping that creates a barrier between the sidewalk and the commercial spaces on the ground level. This isn't a teahouse in the middle of the Butchart Gardens.

[RFS]

I really just hate that weird roof line. It would look way better if everything were left the same but the lost the flat roof cap thing

[Bingo]

Hard to tell but it looks like the ground floor on the corner isn't engaging the sidewalk at all. I was hoping for some life there.

 

I predict that a design change will be needed once they discover the whole site is over a former mud flats and there is no bedrock within 100 ft* of the surface.

[Nparker]

I predict that a design change will be needed once they discover the whole site is over a former mud flats and there is no bedrock within 100 ft* of the surface.

I am pretty sure the soil conditions are well known, after all it was less than 30 years ago that the (partial) underground parking for the Conference Centre was built.

[kafkaesque]

I do lean towards Art Nouveau, so unsurprisingly I think that some non-straight lines would be good.  And the street level needs to be engaging, as aastra said.  It seems a bit forbidding, but maybe I am having flashbacks to classes in Elliot and the related trauma is influencing me...

[Gary H]

I think the new building can't come soon enough...

 

 

 

[Jackerbie]

CoV provided the first round of comments back in June, and with no updates on the Development Tracker since then I assume (and am sincerely hoping) that the developer is making significant changes to the plans. That said, the final "form and character" will be established in the Development Permit later on, not this Rezoning.

[Nparker]

Does anyone have some scoop on this? Development Tracker still shows it in limbo.
 

 

[Jackerbie]

Maybe the architect (James Cheng) is too busy with the redevelopment of the Plaza of Nations in Vancouver? He's a bit of a local celebrity in the architecture world.

[Nparker]

Maybe the architect (James Cheng) is too busy with the redevelopment of the Plaza of Nations in Vancouver? He's a bit of a local celebrity in the architecture world.

I can't imagine the project for the Empress property, at least what we have last seen, will win any awards.

[Jackerbie]

I can't imagine the project for the Empress property, at least what we have last seen, will win any awards.

 

The current proposal was even more underwhelming when I saw who the architect is. He did the Parc Residences and The Falls in Victoria, and his Vancouver credits are many.

[aastra]

It also seems odd to me that we've only ever seen that one angle.

[Nparker]

It also seems odd to me that we've only ever seen that one angle.

Imagine how bad all the other views must be if the only rendering we've seen is the best angle?