[Maldive]

With all the economic doom and gloom this fall, I thought I would send a postcard to amuse my fellow skyscraper geeks.

I couldn't find the original "future skyline" thread started a year ago, so I'll start a new one that others can contribute to if they wish.


WHY THE NEW TORONTO WATERFRONT RENDER: last year I did a
future render of Toronto's waterfront skyline that was well-received, but
after looking at it recently, I realized it was little more than blobs of light "to
scale" ... so I decided to try again with an aim to create much more photo-realism
for each and every building that is joining the waterfront skyline.

The rather dramatic impact of Maple Leaf Square and ICE Condos from the
waterfront POV really fueled the desire to do this render (along with waaaay
too much spare time). I've included a couple of new proposals that will
likely be delayed by the economic situation, but they don't add much to the
render anyway. The lion's share of the projects included are well underway.


THE PROJECTS KEY: there's bound to be some mistakes but the
heights, locations and status are pretty accurate.


HIGH ANGLE PIC: I included this for forumers who don't know the city or what's hiding behind the waterfront skyline
they may already know (most photographed). This high angle render hints at the "big Toronto skyline"...
5 or 6 miles of built form running north from Lake Ontario
(mostly invisible BEHIND the waterfront skyline).


REALLY BIG WATERFRONT RENDER: there's a LINK below to a very large render if you want to critique individual buildings
(most additions were based on the actual elevations when available).

Feel free to spam as many forums and threads as you deem appropriate with the renders.

And let me know what you think. It was fun to do.

Cheers.

-
http://www.upside-down.ca/maldive/20-08MED.jpg

-
PROJECTS KEY:
http://www.upside-down.ca/maldive/20-08KEY.jpg

-
BEHIND THE WATERFRONT SKYLINE:
http://www.upside-down.ca/maldive/20-08HIGH.jpg

-
LINK TO LARGE RENDERING (http://www.upside-down.ca/maldive/20-08LARGE.jpg)

:cheers:

[Metro-One]

Very nice, that makes Toronto look 10 times better from the water.

[401_King]

amazing work Maldive! the link to the large rendering isnt working tho...did u forget Pier27?

lets see some others!

[koops65]

That looks fantastic Maldive! Well done!

[francely57]

^ When will Toronto look like that? 2015?




Here's Montreal's skyline, roughly the same between 1992 and 2012

There will be a ~140 m tall office tower to the left of Tour de la Bourse (black tower in the middle), but from this angle it won't really change anything
...other than that, there will be some short towers visible on the left side, in front of the CBD
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e24/francely57/UC/IMG_7413.jpg
(I took the photo on July 27, 2008)

[Dmajackson]

Thats awsome Maldive! :)

Now its time to sneak a sample of Halifax into this thread:

http://www.pbase.com/halifaxphoto/image/99280294/original.jpg

Thanks to "Someone 123" for the picture.

There is one major waterfront development out of this picture. It would be at the base (grey area) and includes a 12 storey wavey glass building and a smaller 5 storey glass hotel. Its called Salter Street Block for anyone wanting more information.

As for the ones in the picture (three in all); two of them (green point on left and double tower on right) are still parking lots, and one in the background (just to the left of the steeple) is excavating at the moment.

[Aylmer]

Ottawa's skyline hasn't really changed since 1962...

Here's to same old, same old!

:D

[Wooster]

Nice work. I've seen your aerial rendering floating around my office actually? People use it for reference.

[1ajs]

winnipegs skyline will have the canadian meuseam for human rights added to the skyline and the canad inns hotel over by the health sciences center

we may see some other mid rise buildings on the u of w's campus on the west side of downtown also

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/273/board11xv3.jpg
photo by trueviking

[ambiguoustraveller]

that rendering of Toronto is stunning! Will this actually be fulfilled?

[1ajs]

that rendering of Toronto is stunning! Will this actually be fulfilled?
indeed it s heres hoping

[Crazy4Calgary]

WOW!! Future Toronto looks STUNNING (even moreso than now, and its already SWEET!!):cool:

[Rico Rommheim]

Montreal skyline 2008
http://www.neuvel.net/image%20files/Pictures/Montreal/montreal_skyline.jpg

Montreal skyline 2020
http://www.neuvel.net/image%20files/Pictures/Montreal/montreal_skyline.jpg
http://www.neuvel.net/image%20files/Pictures/Montreal/montreal_skyline.jpg

[Greco Roman]

Montreal skyline 2008
http://www.neuvel.net/image%20files/Pictures/Montreal/montreal_skyline.jpg

Montreal skyline 2020
http://www.neuvel.net/image%20files/Pictures/Montreal/montreal_skyline.jpg
http://www.neuvel.net/image%20files/Pictures/Montreal/montreal_skyline.jpg

This shot gives Montreal's skyline a very American flavor to it; reminds me of a Cleveland or Minneapolis.

[Nite]

that rendering of Toronto is stunning! Will this actually be fulfilled?

about 75% is already under construction.

[Boreal]

I find it hard to truly appreciate the size, scope and scale of what's going on in Toronto, simply considering how vast it is. To me, it is almost unpalpable. Nonetheless, that image produced by Maldive is exceptional. Thanks for sharing.

[Wooster]

A couple of Calgary courtesy of CtrlAltDel

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/425/beforeaftercalgarygx5.jpg

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/2618/aerialsouthjq5.jpg

http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/2698/heavenlyer8.jpg

http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/6387/waterfrontfuturehl8.jpg

[Jamaican-Phoenix]

I really wish that someone could do a future Ottawa thread, but I guess it doesn't make much sense since all our buildings are the same height pretty much. :rolleyes: :haha:

[Metro-One]

The bow looks really nice, but i hate that stubby silver one in the heart of downtown (it looks to be the smaller of two twin towers) The taller one is nice, but why the fat cousin beside it? If it wasn't so wide it would be a lot better.

[trueviking]

^those toronto and calgary ones are awesome...


for winnipeg its kind of like playing 'where's waldo?'

http://img356.imageshack.us/img356/416/funskyline2uh9.jpg

[vanman]

Looks to me like Toronto and Calgary will see the most transformation by far. After Shangrila I'd say Vancouver won't be in the running for awhile.

[caltrane74]

That's amazing work Maldive....the realism in the first shot is unbelieveable.

http://www.upside-down.ca/maldive/20-08MED.jpg

[Maldive]

Sorry about the broken link for the LARGE RENDER

Here it is repaired - LARGE (http://www.upside-down.ca/maldive/20-08LARGE.jpg)

[Distill3d]

holy wow, i never realized how imposing the SkyDome was until now

[WhipperSnapper]

The first one made you famous ... this one will make you a God!!!

[Maldive]

^ just when I thought my career was in the dumper.... a promotion!

:notacrook:

Thanks!

FYI... for those who follow Toronto developments closely, some very large office projects like Richmond Adelaide 3, 151 Front Street West and BCE 3 that would impact this render, were left out on the assumption they wouldn't be starting any time soon courtesy of world economic meltdown (a couple of new proposals in the entertainment district were included for fun but no biggie).... the aim was a future skyline that was 90% accurate within the next 4 or 5 years... so certain condos not yet U/C made it into the render, when office projects did not.

[Maldive]

holy wow, i never realized how imposing the SkyDome was until now

Remember, you could stand a 30 storey building on SkyDome's field.... and close the roof.

[Spring2008]

Some of those towers in the Calgary pics are still only proposals and I presume the same thing for TO, but nonetheless both cities are BALLIN.

[Calgarian]

That's amazing work Maldive....the realism in the first shot is unbelieveable.

http://www.upside-down.ca/maldive/20-08MED.jpg

That rendering is intense! This will make Toronto the #3 in NA for sure and will give Chicago a good run for it's money. Is there a before for reference?

[Montréalais]

Montreal 2008:

http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/461/montreaaalllmb6.jpg

Montreal 2020:

http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/6428/montrealby2030copyui0.jpg

- Mackay + Mariott + 701 University + Griffintown + others

[Maldive]

Spring2008 Some of those towers in the Calgary pics are still only proposals and I presume the same thing for TO, but nonetheless both cities are BALLIN.

I added around 50 buildings and as the PROJECT KEY suggests, around 70% are under construction, 10-20% are slamdunks (great sales figures, and/or approved) and around 10% are "who knows". As I mentioned earlier, I left out some very tall office projects because of the economic down-turn... stuck mostly to what the waterfront will look like in the next 5-8 years.

The only really tall one (though approved long ago) with an iffy start date is Cityplace Signature.... however I think the building will still launch in the near term rather than be put on hold.

I think most surfers are missing the LINK below to the really BIG version. Have a look if you have a decent connection.

-
LINK TO LARGE RENDERING (http://www.upside-down.ca/maldive/20-08LARGE.jpg)

[Wooster]

Looks to me like Toronto and Calgary will see the most transformation by far. After Shangrila I'd say Vancouver won't be in the running for awhile.

Vancouver was the run away winner for the past 20 years. It wasn't even close. So congrats.

Now though you're right, Calgary and Toronto are undergoing transformative changes.

[WhipperSnapper]

The only really tall one (though approved long ago) with an iffy start date is Cityplace Signature.... however I think the building will still launch in the near term rather than be put on hold.


I wonder when the city will start building their 1200 units in and around Cityplace - block 32 and 36 really help to fill the gap

[Nite]

That rendering is intense! This will make Toronto the #3 in NA for sure and will give Chicago a good run for it's money. Is there a before for reference?

Here is a picture from a couple months ago.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3029/2900929780_08c1198e61_o.jpg

[raggedy13]

Beautiful job Maldive! Toronto's skyline will be amazing with all those additions.

I wish we had a Vancouverite with that kind of talent to provide us with a future skyline rendering for Vancouver. Unfortunately we've really been lacking in that department for awhile.

The best thing I can find for now is a recent pic posted by LeftCoaster with the future BC Place renovations/additions added into the skyline. Unfortunately it doesn't include any other future projects:

http://img359.imageshack.us/img359/1705/1865432ty8.jpg

[Wooster]

Are the lands on the north-east of false creek, opposite the olympic village slated to fill up with development anytime soon?

[Maldive]

I totally missed that BC Place reno... talk about turning a sow's ear into a silk purse. It looks terrific... future aerials will benefit greatly when the reno is complete. Bye bye carbuncle. Is it underway?

[vanman]

Vancouver was the run away winner for the past 20 years. It wasn't even close. So congrats.

True, but Vancouver has never had an office tower boom even close to anything like what is happening in Calgary right now. Hopefully with the housing correction + the extremely low commercial vacancies Vancouver will be able to squeeze a few office towers out within the next few years.

Are the lands on the north-east of false creek, opposite the olympic village slated to fill up with development anytime soon?

Yeah definitely, the city has been studying the area for the last while and I believe the plan is a mixture of condos / and up to 1.7 million sqft of commercial space along with a new waterfront art gallery.

[francely57]

Montreal 2008:

http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/461/montreaaalllmb6.jpg

Montreal 2020:

http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/6428/montrealby2030copyui0.jpg

- Mackay + Mariott + 701 University + Griffintown + others

Hum, forgot about most of these.

However, none of these buildings is under construction, and I think only the 2 rightmost towers will start before 2010.
- Marriott hotel, 29fl, 110m, across the street from Place Ville Marie
- 701 University, 33fl, ~140m, at the entrance of the CBD

[MolsonExport]

Maldive's renderings are the stuff of genius.

[Rico Rommheim]

Here's the evolution of the Montreal skyline, mid 80's---today



Circa 1983
http://www.travel-tidbits.com/tidbits/Montreal.jpg

Circa 2007
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e1/VuedeMontreal.jpg/800px-VuedeMontreal.jpg

Those on-montrealers who can tell me the changes get a treat....


Nevertheless there has been improvement since the 60's......
http://www.bilan.usherbrooke.ca/voutes/voute4/p641400-1.jpg

http://www.bilan.usherbrooke.ca/voutes/voute4/p611593-1.jpg

[agrant]

Yeah definitely, the city has been studying the area for the last while and I believe the plan is a mixture of condos / and up to 1.7 million sqft of commercial space along with a new waterfront art gallery.Yes, except for the area east of Abbott Street, which is supposed to become a park from what I've heard.

[Maldive]

I appreciate the props... thanks for the positive comments about the future render.

I realized that since I "built" so many images for all the projects underway along the Toronto waterfront... I had done much of the work needed for what might be the ultimate future rendering... specifically, one that could be actually be viewed in a decade from now, without the benefit of a helicopter.

Those who know Toronto may be familiar with the views looking north to the city from Cherry Beach (located southeast of downtown). My pooch and I visit doggy beach there a few times a week and I often photograph the evolving skyline from this POV.

There are hundreds of photographs taken from the (former?) Docks nightclub and as just as many from Wards Island but very few from the Cherry Beach area, which is right between those 2 vantage points because the water's edge is fenced off... you'd have to be in a boat near the eastern gap or climb a fence for a clear, unobstructed view.

What you see to the west is basically a compressed version of the future render I posted... everything from WaterPark City and Cityplace to the central waterfront... PLUS... you see the skyline from the lake to Bloor Street and beyond.

So a future a render from this POV would offer up most of what you see in this render + the tallest marquee projects underway in the city... Trump, Bay Adelaide completed, Aura, 4 Seasons and 1 Bloor East + substantial projects like Murano/Burano, Uptown, Casa, X, Pure/Clear Spirits and eventually the towers of the East Bayfront.

If you climbed a tree or stood on the deck of the defunct Tor/Rochester ferry you would see all the way to Quantum at Yonge and Eglinton.

All this to say... I've started a render from this "ultimate" POV because a) half the elements are already built and b) it isn't a fantasy render at all... 90% of it will be projects underway and the result be "viewable" in some fashion from an existing vantage point.

Stay tuned.

[WhipperSnapper]

^C'mon, there's no beach/park/fields in the Portlands. It's all one big cesspool from the lake shore to Lake Shore.

[caltrane74]

Maldive, your still amazing!!

[vanman]

Yes, except for the area east of Abbott Street, which is supposed to become a park from what I've heard.

They really don't need another park in that area. The seawall is right there and there are multiple parks/greenspace within walking distance. That land would be better utilized in some other form like office space.

[Maldive]

^C'mon, there's no beach/park/fields in the Portlands. It's all one big cesspool from the lake shore to Lake Shore.

You and I both know that the swath of polluted crap (now home to the world's largest film soundstage BTW) stands between the city and... an urban water's edge paradise unmatched in North America.

Or maybe you don't have a dog. Or a windsurfer. Or a para-surfer.......

http://k53.pbase.com/u32/gusmur/large/31427370.IMG00516.jpg

[G.S MTL]

With all the economic doom and gloom this fall, I thought I would send a postcard to amuse my fellow skyscraper geeks.

I couldn't find the original "future skyline" thread started a year ago, so I'll start a new one that others can contribute to if they wish.


WHY THE NEW TORONTO WATERFRONT RENDER: last year I did a
future render of Toronto's waterfront skyline that was well-received, but
after looking at it recently, I realized it was little more than blobs of light "to
scale" ... so I decided to try again with an aim to create much more photo-realism
for each and every building that is joining the waterfront skyline.

The rather dramatic impact of Maple Leaf Square and ICE Condos from the
waterfront POV really fueled the desire to do this render (along with waaaay
too much spare time). I've included a couple of new proposals that will
likely be delayed by the economic situation, but they don't add much to the
render anyway. The lion's share of the projects included are well underway.


THE PROJECTS KEY: there's bound to be some mistakes but the
heights, locations and status are pretty accurate.


HIGH ANGLE PIC: I included this for forumers who don't know the city or what's hiding behind the waterfront skyline
they may already know (most photographed). This high angle render hints at the "big Toronto skyline"...
5 or 6 miles of built form running north from Lake Ontario
(mostly invisible BEHIND the waterfront skyline).


REALLY BIG WATERFRONT RENDER: there's a LINK below to a very large render if you want to critique individual buildings
(most additions were based on the actual elevations when available).

Feel free to spam as many forums and threads as you deem appropriate with the renders.

And let me know what you think. It was fun to do.

Cheers.

-
http://www.upside-down.ca/maldive/20-08MED.jpg

-
PROJECTS KEY:
http://www.upside-down.ca/maldive/20-08KEY.jpg

-
BEHIND THE WATERFRONT SKYLINE:
http://www.upside-down.ca/maldive/20-08HIGH.jpg

-
LINK TO LARGE RENDERING (http://www.upside-down.ca/maldive/20-08LARGE.jpg)

:cheers:


did u draw these one by one? its pretty well done

[craner]

I love this stuff - thanks to all contributors.:tup:

[agrant]

They really don't need another park in that area. The seawall is right there and there are multiple parks/greenspace within walking distance. That land would be better utilized in some other form like office space.Hey, I'm just the messenger. Actually, there really aren't very many parks in the area worth the time. Andy Livingstone is mostly made up of artificial turf playing fields, I think they have a fence around it to keep people out. I can only think of Thornton Park, and the little area next to Science World. If it were up to me, I'd keep a third of the space, the area next to False Creek, as public space. The rest could be developed into tall enough buildings that could hide the Georgia Viaduct.

[Maldive]

did u draw these one by one?

Pretty much everything has been drawn from scratch. Even the main downtown cluster received some TLC to ensure a consistent "super-real HDR" kind of photorealism. I own a rights free photo that I used as the base "canvas" to ensure proper scale and location of existing buildings and new projects.... and then everything was added to that.

[Maldive]

Shameless bump.

Rest assured if you guys aren't interested in this stuff enough to keep the thread alive, you won't be seeing this stuff again... not a threat, just a promise. ;)

If you think I'm being petulant... try drawing something like this and watch the thread die in 2 days. Some kids think candy grows on trees.

[MonctonGoldenFlames]

Shameless bump.

Rest assured if you guys aren't interested in this stuff enough to keep the thread alive, you won't be seeing this stuff again... not a threat, just a promise. ;)

If you think I'm being petulant... try drawing something like this and watch the thread die in 2 days. Some kids think candy grows on trees.

well, with a gun to my head, i say thank you and great work on the renderings!

[Ramako]

Shameless bump.

Rest assured if you guys aren't interested in this stuff enough to keep the thread alive, you won't be seeing this stuff again... not a threat, just a promise. ;)

If you think I'm being petulant... try drawing something like this and watch the thread die in 2 days. Some kids think candy grows on trees.

You're being far too lenient. You should also forbid us from praising other future renderings; for they are false.

[Ramako]

Why does 335 King West look shorter than 300 Front Street when it's supposed to be 20 metres taller?

Also, from that particular angle, shouldn't the RBC Centre appear almost directly behind Simcoe Place rather than next to it?


/keepin' the thread alive

[caltrane74]

artistic licence.....

[koops65]

here is a future Kitchener skyline I submitted to the Waterloo Region photo section back in the spring:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2003/2329137583_43ae32118b_b.jpg

The Centre Block Proposal is still slowly moving forward, but there are no shovels in the ground yet...
Arrow Lofts are also still creeping forwards, but no signifigant changes to report...

[craner]

Please keep the thread alive !
I know Ctl-Alt-Del has a number of Calgary renderings we havn't seen here.
I also love the Montreal pictures from the 60's & 80's. Could we sneak "skyline progressions" (50's, 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's, present) into this thread, or would we need to start another ? (skylines past, present, and future).
Thanks again Maldive. :cheers:

[MolsonExport]

Maldive, your renderings are so good, they leave one breathless, and unable to summon the correct words.

[mylesmalley]

Is there a reason why it looks like all the development in Toronto's downtown is occurring to the west of the current cluster of towers? There doesn't seem to be much of anything being built towards the Don River.

[MrChills]

The Toronto Skyline looks sick!

It would be interesting to see a birds eye view of the GTA, and Horseshoe area to see all the development and swallowing of land over the years. It's amazing how much the area has been developed over the years and continues to sprawl out and up

[WhipperSnapper]

^^^yeah, the eastern waterfront is lacking transit connections, above that an established midrise community with an above average amount of heritage structure, and above that, a slum/wasteland by Canadian standards. Big changes a-happening in the eastern half but, hard to say if it will be that skyline altering. The big three re-development projects covering some 100 city blocks are mostly six to ten storeys.

[caltrane74]

Regent Park and St. Lawerence Market are the areas heading east towards the Don River. - Not zoned for High Rise, at least not yet.

Market Wharf (St. Lawerence Market) is the exception at the moment. - It's at the far right of the render Maldive did.

[Coldrsx]

Regent Park is moving to high-rise... and awesome at that in its rebirth!

when i was in Boston at Greenbuild, i had a great presentation from the Toronto Public Housing guys

http://www.regentparkplan.ca

[WhipperSnapper]

"high-rise" compared to Cityplace or Fort York Neighbourhood?

[Maldive]

Thanks for chiming in guys... "the squeaky wheel" theory... when I need a little lovin' after spending (wasting?) 3 hours on one friggin' building (Aura) as I did this past weekend for the "ultimate" rendering I alluded too... I stop and recite the mantra "do this for yourself and don't do it for the applause"... but I am clearly a needy, shameless attention-whore who needs the affirmation of others to continue the work... translation: the applause mitigates the ridiculous amount of time I spend doing these things instead of doing something useful with my career or life ;)

Why does 335 King West look shorter than 300 Front Street when it's supposed to be 20 metres taller?

Also, from that particular angle, shouldn't the RBC Centre appear almost directly behind Simcoe Place rather than next to it?

^No. I work from recent photographs so most rendered buildings are 90+% accurate in height and location according to the chosen POV. The pano assumes a head turning in both directions... since no-one's periphal visions could capture this in one glance. BTW, there's a reason no-one from Toronto has issues with "perceived heights" because... they know this a render of what the eye might see from this POV, not a flat collection of drawings on the same plane (such as the diagram page).

And we all know a building 1000 feet tall that sits blocks north of a 700 foot building, when viewed from grade/lake/human POVs... looks shorter than it is. Skylines aren't flat to scale... they have depth, and the perceived height of a building in a skyline is contingent on it's location/distance away from the naked eye.

You must know this "naked eye" concept... perhaps you don't know this POV of Toronto though. That's in fact why I did this render... because ICE (located just north of the Gardiner Expressway) looks so damn tall relative to the much taller FCP which is located 5 blocks north.

To answer your specific query... 335 King is north of 300 Front Street West... voila... looks shorter than if they were side by side.

P.S. on the eastern skyline issue.... the pano is ridiculously wide so it had to stop somewhere, so it stopped at Jarvis. In the future, the east of Jarvis waterfront will indeed be born though not as dramatic as west of downtown. The East Bayfront project (Jarvis all the way to Parliament) will have tallish "medium rise" built form with very tall clusters at key intersections Jarvis, Sherbourne and Parliament. Near Parliament, the 30 storey Pure Spirit will be joined by two taller towers called Clear Spirit (about to begin construction). Also... as Cal pointed out, the highrises of the $1 Billion Regent Park revitalization will duck into the waterfront east skyline despite being well north (not much in the way so you'll see 'em).

[WhipperSnapper]

Regent Park revitalization will duck into the waterfront east skyline despite being well north

True, the 24 storey "chimney" dominates as if it were 40 storeys

[Ramako]

Maldive, thanks for your answer..

I'm aware of the dynamic of skyline POV's and I'm also familiar with Toronto, from this and other perspectives, since I was born and raised there.

My specific inquiry with regards to 335 King West is that, even taking everything you've mentioned into consideration, it still seems too short. For example, 335 King would be closer to the lake than Festival Tower, which is on the north side of King, yet it appears to be the exact same height even though it would be 20 metres taller.

The reason I bring up the location of the RBC Centre is because I've been looking at this recent photo of the skyline:

http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/7636/29568446249045f398fcbpx3.jpg

Based on the position of buildings around the Skydome and the visibility of BA Centre, it looks as though this photo was taken from further east than the photo you used for your template. You can see that RBC is already half eclipsed by Simcoe Place. I'm assuming that if this same photo were taken from a slightly more westerly position (facing Skydome directly), that RBC would be even more hidden by Simcoe Place.

I know it's nitpicking, but you should take the fact that I'm staring at your renderings so much as a compliment.

[ExcaliburKid]

We need one of the Edmonton-Specials up here to show our "future skyline". AKA Microsoft Paint-over-generic-downtown-photo.

[Maldive]

Maldive, thanks for your answer..

I'm aware of the dynamic of skyline POV's and I'm also familiar with Toronto, from this and other perspectives, since I was born and raised there.

My specific inquiry with regards to 335 King West is that, even taking everything you've mentioned into consideration, it still seems too short. For example, 335 King would be closer to the lake than Festival Tower, which is on the north side of King, yet it appears to be the exact same height even though it would be 20 metres taller.

The reason I bring up the location of the RBC Centre is because I've been looking at this recent photo of the skyline:

http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/7636/29568446249045f398fcbpx3.jpg

Based on the position of buildings around the Skydome and the visibility of BA Centre, it looks as though this photo was taken from further east than the photo you used for your template. You can see that RBC is already half eclipsed by Simcoe Place. I'm assuming that if this same photo were taken from a slightly more westerly position (facing Skydome directly), that RBC would be even more hidden by Simcoe Place.

I know it's nitpicking, but you should take the fact that I'm staring at your renderings so much as a compliment.

Sorry ... didn't know you were from Toronto. Ignore all the POV crap comments. Perhaps this will be more useful

The pic you posted is useful. You'll note that RBC lines up perfectly a bit behind Simcoe Place, as it does in my render. This indeed was the starting/middle point of the render.

The key here is future "render" versus future "photo".

Working with a pano this wide that is not distorted, fish-eyed or otherwise weird as hell requires a certain conceit.. that is to say... it's fact meets future but not one confined to a single shot from a camera lens.

Since no-one could even see this vista in one glance... just as no camera pano could approximate this without "stitching"...let's approximate the "impact" if we were sitting in the lake, sipping martinis, occasionally turning our heads to west (and perhaps drifting a bit west courtesy of a warm mid-day breeze) and then turning our heads to the east and drifting back east.... I call this "scrolling" ;-)

So the east/west pov assumes some scrolling/drifting... but the north/south POV tries to accurate represent "perceived" scale (big buildings looking shorter than they are because they are well north of us ... and we've had a few martinis).

So it's a stitched pano with a bit of drift. Does that make sense? It's ultimately artistic license of course but a render like this communicates far more (which is my intent) than a distorted camera POV because every "slice" of the render is fairly well scaled and accurate from the general POV.

*In other words, you WILL be able to see any large slice of this pano, from a real POV, south of the waterfront, sometime in the future....

[Ramako]

^^

That explanation is more than suitable for me! Much appreciated.

[WhipperSnapper]

335 King is more vison than an actually proposal when it comes down to it. Mirvish ain't a Muzzo or Del Zotto and, even if he does manage to break ground, in all likelihood it won't be for anything near 170m tall.

[Maldive]

Damn, I like a bracing cold shower as much as the next surfer, (without a wetsuit), but I was trying to rinse the conditioner from my hair under a trickle of warm H2O... and zap... brrrrrrrr. :shrug:

[WhipperSnapper]

Shock to the system ... don't want to end up in Muzzo or Del Zotto's condition.

I just shave my head and call it a day

[Maldive]

Thought I'd keep this thread alive while I work on a mega-pano... for those who might be interested in the process. Everything is done in Photoshop.

I was able to purchase a huge rights-free daytime pano (thumbnail example below) of Toronto that goes all the way from Fort York to Jarvis (such as the pano I did for this thread) PLUS continues northeast all the way to Yonge & Eglinton (see Quantum identified).

I couldn't believe Yonge & Eglinton would be viewed but when I zoomed in... sure enough... it was Quantum (Minto)... elevation changes obviously help.

This pano angle is indeed the ultimate POV/angle that I alluded to earlier in the thread, same angle as Cherry Beach .. just further south of the Islands.. and serves as my guide to position and scale the new buildings I draw.

I've chosen to use a sunset into night approach which is one of the most beautiful times to view the skyline. This is a real sunset phenomenon just past "magic hour" in Toronto because the sun actually sets on a 45 degree angle from the western shore, thus buildings near the waterfront can appear lit like a typical night skyline shot (interior lights), while those well north of the water are "in between"... reflecting the sunset sky, with a hint of interior lights starting to be revealed.

Challenging to say the least.

As an example, I've included pieces of a few of the buildings I have drawn so far for the pano (various scales)... I'm sure most will be recognized... anyone know what the larger example on the left is?

http://www.upside-down.ca/maldive/tease.jpg

[Ramako]

Festival Tower?

Do you ever do any drawings for the diagram section?

[koops65]

I'm guessing Festival Tower...

[Maldive]

^^ Not even close... and if you think I'm using sloppy crayolas.. this scribble exactly matches the elevation, and the southeast face that you will see from the chosen POV.

I think you were seduced by the grid-like crown-element (very similar to Festival) and didn't look at the rest of the building. Festival Tower? No. You must think I suck at this!!

Enjoy, next guess (yes it's a tall one but rarely discussed). Under construction too.

[WhipperSnapper]

Yeah, the spit is best for panoramas from the east ... have an outdated :( framed pano up in the office

no clue on the building so just a guess ... crystal blu (because of the midtown theme)

[koops65]

U Condominiums?

[vegeta_skyline]

At first I thought Luna but the south face is not curved.
So i'll go with Burano now.

Can't wait to see this awesome render all finished!

[Ramako]

U Condos aren't under construction yet, so I'm going with Maple Leaf Square.

[Maldive]

^the winner is .... Burano. This trapezoidish shape is a pretty exact match of the model and the elevations... facing s/e.

[sparky212]

.Your torono rendering is the best:worship:hey meldive could you make a render of future london?

[Metro-One]

This thread is more of a "Toronto's future skyline." I want it to be more interesting, someone start including more Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal etc... renders please. The Toronto renders are beautiful, but lets see more Canadian cities!

[Rico Rommheim]

This thread is more of a "Toronto's future skyline." I want it to be more interesting, someone start including more Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal etc... renders please. The Toronto renders are beautiful, but lets see more Canadian cities!

several Montreal renders have been posted, though none at the maldivian caliber. Anyways if you want an accurate view of the future skylines of some cities I'm well acquainted with I'll be more than glad to help you :)


Montreal 2045
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3038/3090742464_c18ca8de16_o.jpg
By YONG JIA LIN :: http://www.flickr.com/photos/linayaya/

Quebec City 2400
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/images-10/yellow-field-8470-thumb.jpg
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/images-10/yellow-field-8470-thumb.jpg

[francely57]

Montreal 2045
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3038/3090742464_c18ca8de16_o.jpg
By YONG JIA LIN :: http://www.flickr.com/photos/linayaya/


...this image is almost accurate, but
1- it omits some 10 storey "towers" that will be built in the next 30 years :rolleyes:
2- the farmland in front will be a very popular and prosperous suburban neighbourhood

[touraccuracy]

A couple of Calgary courtesy of CtrlAltDel

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/2618/aerialsouthjq5.jpg

http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/6387/waterfrontfuturehl8.jpg

Anyone else find the Bow to be pretty damn ugly?

[WhipperSnapper]

^Nope; not even close. Just about anything in Eau Claire on the other hand ...

[Rico Rommheim]

...this image is almost accurate, but
1- it omits some 10 storey "towers" that will be built in the next 30 years :rolleyes:
2- the farmland in front will be a very popular and prosperous suburban neighbourhood

also, add a couple 10 lane super highways so Malek can drive around in his SUVs.

[O-tacular]

Anyone else find the Bow to be pretty damn ugly?

It should be noted that these are older renderings and that some of the projects within have changed. i.e. the grand has a different design now and the BMO building is on hold.

But, no I do not find the Bow to be damn ugly. A little squat perhaps, but a thousand times more interesting than anything else I've seen for a while.

[Metro-One]

Calgary will be looking good! I like the Bow!

[caltrane74]

I find the Bow in these renderings makes the Calgary skyline look lop sided.

If it were more centrally located, that would be better. But as the building goes, I think its fine. ( and above par for the course)

[sync]

Anyone else find the Bow to be pretty damn ugly?

nope.

[craner]

Anyone else find the Bow to be pretty damn ugly?

No - but I suppose I'm bias.
I really like the the "Future Calgary Skyline" render with the river in the foreground - I think it's going to look great. Thank Christ they didn't put the CP tracks along the river way back when.
I do agree we have to better on the Eau Claire site - I like waterfront though.:yes:

[Coldrsx]

as much as i might think it could have "fit in better", i have no doubt it will be a stunning building.

[touraccuracy]

i think i'm just not a fan of the perfectly flat top on it; seems too abrupt. hopefully they use good materials and maybe it'll look fine.

[agrant]

Anyone else find the Bow to be pretty damn ugly?Eh? Its a simple rectangle from that angle. The only issue I might have is the sheer mass of it compared to all the other buildings. The first years after it's built, it may look a little out of place. I'm sure any buildings that come after it will be designed with that in mind.

[Maldive]

http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/6387/waterfrontfuturehl8.jpg

This is a nice one of Calgary... reminds me a bit of Pittsburg on steroids.

Lately I've been trying to create renders from a "real" pov, that is to say future snaps that could be glimpsed without the benefit of a helicopter (like my high angle Toronto a while back) etc. Could something like this view of Calgary actually be viewed (zoomed or not) from a neighbouring foothill perhaps?

[wild wild west]

http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/6387/waterfrontfuturehl8.jpg

This is a nice one of Calgary... reminds me a bit of Pittsburg on steroids.

Lately I've been trying to create renders from a "real" pov, that is to say future snaps that could be glimpsed without the benefit of a helicopter (like my high angle Toronto a while back) etc. Could something like this view of Calgary actually be viewed (zoomed or not) from a neighbouring foothill perhaps?


Actually this is very similar to the view one would get from Crescent Heights across the Bow River from downtown, but of course it is quite a bit higher up.

Also, if one were to "zoom" into downtown from the south face of Nose Hill Park the view might be similar.