How about a total "Four Seasons" makeover?

[trofirhen]

In the midist of arguments about the TD Tower, they love it or they don't.
Ditto Royal Centre. Bentall? hmmmmm. The Georgia? Yes! it seems. Tastes differ, and opions are often intense about the CBD and its buildings.

But the Four Seasons Hotel has stood out of the limelight, rather like the eye of a hurricane. It's neutral and inoffensive, and perhaps nondescript, doesn't seem to generate a lot of controvery, unless I am mistaken, because opinions run deep about downton Vancouver.

OK to the point:

Could very-70s looking Four Seasons be reshaped at the window corners, made a bit sleeker, and given a bright pleasing coating. Sleeker and more upbeat? A "toal makeover? Plus .... Location, location, location...

It might even turn out to be a good investment.

[Yume-sama]

The inside was recently completely renovated and is quite nice. I stayed there a couple of weeks ago when I was in town for a conference.

I suppose they could do some exterior work, but it seems unlikely they will.

It was nice to see a pool that's not frozen over

http://www.flickr.com/photos/syume/5...n/photostream/

[BCPhil]

Heaven forbid something look old in this city. Is it something we should be ashamed of that we built buildings during the 70s? (and I think the design is probably more late 60's)

Heck, didn't Four Seasons almost go bankrupt building it?

I don't think there is anything wrong with the architecture, and the only reason it stands out is because it is surrounded by completely rectangular buildings, while the four seasons as some angles. That said, it is so surrounded that it is actually hard to notice unless looking right at it.

I guess the biggest complaint against it is that it is not shinny? It seems to be the only hotel in the city with windows of it's size where you can clearly see the blinds. I guess it makes it look cheap? But I actually like the architecture of the building. Maybe if they just simply tinted the windows it would make a world of difference. But, brutalist architecture is starting to make a comeback of sorts, so I don't think it would be wise, prudent, or even feasible to alter the building.

There are plenty of opportunities for new buildings in Vancouver; no need to go back and meddle with things that are old just because today it looks out of place.

[SpikePhanta]

Funny story, a major shareholder of Kingdom Holdings was visiting BC, he entered the Vancouver four seasons, looked around and decided to skip to go to Whistler

[dreambrother808]

Didn't someone on here hint that the Four Seasons would undergo a transformation of sorts, particularly the area adjacent to the Pacific Centre rotunda, but not in the immediate future?

[SpikePhanta]

^^^
I remember it being some sort of rooftop cafe.

[SpongeG]

i don't find it offensive, its not that bad, nothing wrong with buildings from different eras

[Spoolmak]

It should be a reminder that we built it before Toronto

[officedweller]

The Four Seasons was originally supposed to be clad in the same curtain wall as the TD Tower and the former IBM Tower (701), but the public outcry led Cadillac Fairview to change it to what you see as well as lightening the former Stock Exchange Tower's (Canaccord) cladding.

Our Four Seasons isn't nearly as brutalist as the Toronto one that is being replaced.

It is odd though, that in the spate of renovations, the 70s clay tile floor in the lobby (driveway level) has not been changed. That area is very dated.

[Phil McAvity]

I think it's perfectly nice. Nothing spectacular but it's also not ugly.