800 replies to this topic

[G-Man]

You know I had not seen that angle yet. That makes me really like this project. I love the metal deck posts.

[sebberry]

It does look good from that angle.  Just wish it could have been "more". 

[amor de cosmos]

I also would be curious to see what Frank Gehry would do with that site.

probably something with big titanium panels similar to his new sunset blvd project


http://la.curbed.com...8150_sunset.php

or the bilbao museum, walt disney concert hall, etc. or maybe this building in prague


https://commons.wiki...y:Dancing_House

maybe i'll photoshop the last one just to see how it looks

[Hotel Mike]

One very cool change being undertaken involves the raising of the ground level windows in the older part of the building. What is currently just a narrow horizontal window will be expanded to full size. That should present a much improved streetscape.

[western]

I know the second design is approved, but is there any chance it can be redesigned before construction begins? 

 

When will that day come when we get something innovative; like the hotel in Prague???

[Fernwoodian]

^ Just to note I think the renderings above don't reflect the design that was ultimately approved the other night.

[Mike K.]

Those are the only renderings made available on their website. It's too bad if they're not depicting what was approved

[aastra]

Good call by Fernwoodian. Check out pages 40-56 of the agenda. The top floor is different and there's a big overhanging element that I'm not really getting.

Edited by aastra, 12 September 2015 - 02:22 PM.

[sebberry]

I know the second design is approved, but is there any chance it can be redesigned before construction begins? 

 

When will that day come when we get something innovative; like the hotel in Prague???

 

Welcome to the forum, western!

 

I doubt there will be many changes made to the approved design. 

[sebberry]

I'll be honest... I'm not really seeing much of an improvement to what's there now. 

 

Pam Madoff on CFAX the other day responded to the question "how much taller will this building be than the one that's there now" with "it's twice the height allowed by the old town guidelines."

 

That's a good way to fuel the fear mongering, when in reality this is the difference:

 

 

 

 

 

[Mike K.]

Wow. That's quite the difference.

[aastra]

In Victoria revisions to original designs almost always seem to go in the wrong direction.

 

[aastra]

 

"it's twice the height allowed by the old town guidelines."

 

Scary stuff. Why not say "It's the same height as the 1890s building that occupied this same spot"? Maybe because people would inevitably ask, why the heck are the old town guidelines so out of whack with the actual historic built form of the old town? Many (most?) of the old town's finest historic buildings would have been in violation of the modern old town guidelines!

 

This is what I'm talking about when I say people aren't really interested in historic Victoria or preserving/restoring the old days, etc.

 

 

pic from http://www.wayfarers...gues/42-339.jpg

 

edit looking back in 2018: clarified some things

Edited by aastra, 25 September 2018 - 04:28 PM.

[western]

^ Just to note I think the renderings above don't reflect the design that was ultimately approved the other night.

 

That is very good news. I really hope it changes.

Edited by western, 12 September 2015 - 02:48 PM.

[western]

I personally like the new rendering on the right. It looks less bland when seen from the harbour...But basically no improvement at all.

 

In Victoria revisions to original designs almost always seem to go in the wrong direction.

 

 

I'll be honest... I'm not really seeing much of an improvement to what's there now. 

 

Pam Madoff on CFAX the other day responded to the question "how much taller will this building be than the one that's there now" with "it's twice the height allowed by the old town guidelines."

 

That's a good way to fuel the fear mongering, when in reality this is the difference:

 

 

Customs.JPG

[Fernwoodian]

I'd love to see the financials on this project... Retaining the heritage facades while digging down for underground parking can't be cheap.... not to mention fixing all the spalling limestone. The masonry contractors must be salivating over this job!

[Rob Randall]

Think of what an amazing place that would be to live if you had one of the units facing the harbour. Never a dull moment.

[amor de cosmos]

There wasn’t much opposition to the development plans, though some had objected to its height and some of its design elements.

Helps said she understood the concerns some had about losing the look or feel of Old Town, but she argued while that heritage charm is part of Victoria’s fabric, it’s people that enliven a space.

“This development is part of the harbour — a complement to the Empress [Hotel] and the parliament buildings — and it’s an anchor to downtown,” she said. “We do need to preserve heritage, as it is part of what makes Victoria special, but if we want Victoria to continue to be special into the 21st century, we need people living and working downtown.

“So a sensitive redevelopment with a little bit of extra heights? I’m OK with that.”

http://www.timescolo...roved-1.2057287

ps- is it custom house or customs house? even the wikipedia page doesn't make it clear

[Mike K.]

It's Customs House.

Ps, didn't we just prove that the heritage building that once stood on the site of the 1950's addition was the same height as the new proposal?

[johnk]

I don't think its a great design, kind of uninspired, but I will take a living building over a shell anytime. Thanks for the images of past and present. Doesn't anyone ever call out Madoff on her simply untrue malarkey?