Jump to content

      



























Photo

[Saanich] Tuscany Village mixed-use | Built - completed in 2007


  • Please log in to reply
218 replies to this topic

#61 Baro

Baro
  • Member
  • 4,317 posts

Posted 25 August 2007 - 03:52 PM

After coming home from Prague this is one of the first things I noticed. After being in a city where even a low-middle income apartment building is more lovingly designed and artistic than anything in Victoria, I see the progress made on this "project" and I think a little part of me died....

Actually, after 20 days of being in a city little bigger than Victoria but at 1.1 million people with 3 subway lines, trams on every other street that run at least every 2-5 min, every single neighbourhood being a true mix of people and classes, happy couples with babies and dogs defying north-american wisdom about raising a familly in "the city", a single city block having everything from a sleek black glass office building, crazy 30's cubist apartment building, and a nearly 1,000 year old still-used city hall tower all living next to each other without any offending, threatening, or overshadowing each other... it's enough to almost just want to give up on North America. We really don't know what the hell we're doing over here in terms of cities.
"beats greezy have baked donut-dough"

#62 aastra

aastra
  • Member
  • 20,650 posts

Posted 27 August 2007 - 09:10 AM

It's actually not difficult. We just have to stop overthinking everything and let our cities be spontaneous again. Why do the old sections of North American cities tend to be pleasant and interesting? Because they were allowed to be what they were. You didn't have anti-urban groups trying to insert gaping public spaces and suburban esthetics into urban areas.

The best parts of Victoria -- the best things about it -- would never be allowed today.

#63 Baro

Baro
  • Member
  • 4,317 posts

Posted 27 August 2007 - 10:28 AM

Why do the same people who harp on and on about old town and tourism and preservation fight tooth and nail against any development that contains any of the same urban elements of old town? It actually boggles my mind.
"beats greezy have baked donut-dough"

#64 Holden West

Holden West

    Va va voom!

  • Member
  • 9,058 posts

Posted 27 August 2007 - 10:32 AM

I guess they only like the superficial aspects but not the overall form--the gingerbread detailing etc. Look at the controversy over the municipal building in James Bay earlier this year.
"Beaver, ahoy!""The bridge is like a magnet, attracting both pedestrians and over 30,000 vehicles daily who enjoy the views of Victoria's harbour. The skyline may change, but "Big Blue" as some call it, will always be there."
-City of Victoria website, 2009

#65 ressen

ressen
  • Member
  • 539 posts

Posted 27 August 2007 - 06:38 PM







Tuscany Village in your back yard.

#66 aastra

aastra
  • Member
  • 20,650 posts

Posted 27 August 2007 - 06:51 PM

I think this project affords us something of a sneak peek at what Town & Country will ultimately look like.

#67 Nparker

Nparker
  • Member
  • 40,404 posts

Posted 27 August 2007 - 07:57 PM

I think this project affords us something of a sneak peek at what Town & Country will ultimately look like.


Be afraid, be VERY afraid.

#68 m0nkyman

m0nkyman
  • Member
  • 729 posts

Posted 27 August 2007 - 08:31 PM

Mommy, make the bad buildings go away!!!

#69 Caramia

Caramia
  • Member
  • 3,835 posts

Posted 28 August 2007 - 11:02 AM

Poor little monky, it was just a bad dream.
Nowadays most people die of a sort of creeping common sense, and discover when it is too late that the only things one never regrets are one's mistakes.
Oscar Wilde (1854 - 1900), The Picture of Dorian Gray, 1891

#70 hungryryno

hungryryno
  • Member
  • 79 posts

Posted 28 August 2007 - 02:33 PM

Does anyone know what restaurant will be replacing Milestone's?

I have heard Earl's but am hoping it will be something different! No student can afford to eat at Earl's. I had lunch at the Downtown location not too long ago, ordered a drink and a salad, and cam out $30 lighter.... too expensive and way too trandy for me now!

#71 G-Man

G-Man

    Senior Case Officer

  • Moderator
  • 13,800 posts

Posted 03 September 2007 - 06:55 PM

For your viewing pleasure, even more Tuscany Village shots. Including shots of the beautiful Piazza sure to be on the list of must see tourist destinations while in Victoria.




















Visit my blog at: https://www.sidewalkingvictoria.com 

 

It has a whole new look!

 


#72 Holden West

Holden West

    Va va voom!

  • Member
  • 9,058 posts

Posted 03 September 2007 - 07:13 PM



The fancy file roofs, which are so prominent in the renderings, are practically invisible from any angle.

They would have been far better off ditching the roof and going with a roof-top garden with a few glassed-in penthouses like the roof of the old Bay building or even the Vogue or Monaco Lofts renovations.
"Beaver, ahoy!""The bridge is like a magnet, attracting both pedestrians and over 30,000 vehicles daily who enjoy the views of Victoria's harbour. The skyline may change, but "Big Blue" as some call it, will always be there."
-City of Victoria website, 2009

#73 m0nkyman

m0nkyman
  • Member
  • 729 posts

Posted 03 September 2007 - 07:24 PM



#74 LJ

LJ
  • Member
  • 12,701 posts

Posted 03 September 2007 - 07:25 PM

I will bet that it will be a great success despite all the negativity expressed here.
Life's a journey......so roll down the window and enjoy the breeze.

#75 Rob Randall

Rob Randall
  • Member
  • 16,310 posts

Posted 03 September 2007 - 07:37 PM

For your viewing pleasure, even more Tuscany Village shots. Including shots of the beautiful Piazza sure to be on the list of must see tourist destinations while in Victoria.


Every time I see that tower it reminds me of Europe. Not of Italy, because I never saw a tower there that was shaped like that but of the Dacau Concentration Camp in Germany which had many guard towers like that. It sort of weirds me out.



http://www.picturetrail.com/rrww2

#76 Nparker

Nparker
  • Member
  • 40,404 posts

Posted 03 September 2007 - 08:03 PM

From the lastest ad campaign for the Hudson "Tuscany Village, one more reason to choose downtown - no erzatz heritage"

#77 Caramia

Caramia
  • Member
  • 3,835 posts

Posted 03 September 2007 - 10:36 PM

I think LJ is right.
Nowadays most people die of a sort of creeping common sense, and discover when it is too late that the only things one never regrets are one's mistakes.
Oscar Wilde (1854 - 1900), The Picture of Dorian Gray, 1891

#78 m0nkyman

m0nkyman
  • Member
  • 729 posts

Posted 03 September 2007 - 10:50 PM

LJ will be right for all the same reasons that Wal-Mart is the most successful retailer on the planet. :(

#79 aastra

aastra
  • Member
  • 20,650 posts

Posted 04 September 2007 - 09:34 AM

I like the middle right of this pic:



The space occupied by Blockbuster also seems to be okay.

I think Victorians will probably complain about the colours but otherwise they'll love it. Which is ironic, because the colours are probably the best thing about this development.

#80 aastra

aastra
  • Member
  • 20,650 posts

Posted 04 September 2007 - 09:43 AM

Maybe it's not right to criticize a project like this for its faux esthetic? There are countless old apartment blocks in Victoria (and everywhere) with faux Mediterranean or even faux English themes. You could actually applaud this project for showing a decent amount of commitment to the fantasy it's trying to conjure up (even if the commitment still wasn't nearly enough and even if the level of detail is still far too low and even if the layout is far too auto-oriented).

Saanich steadfastly refuses to develop its own intrinsic character, so perhaps this is the best it will ever be able to do?

You're not quite at the end of this discussion topic!

Use the page links at the lower-left to go to the next page to read additional posts.
 



0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users