Canadian Urban Canyons - Page 9

Traynor · #**161** Posted **Mar 21, 2010, 4:27 AM**

Just to get Cal's goat... I did some Google Streetviewing... Here's some samples.

All photos courtesy of Google Streetview.

Ottawa Canyons

Traynor · #**162** Posted **Mar 21, 2010, 4:34 AM**

^ Those were just some east west shots I didn't even cover the north south stuff yet.

And Cal I wasn't the one who was going on about Ottawa at first... I was just agreeing with what others had said.

But note how all the buildings meet the street and go straight to their maximum height allowed.

Just sidewalk and wall

Now that's the SH** I be talkin' about! LOL

MTLskyline · #**163** Posted **Mar 21, 2010, 5:16 AM**

Wow, I've been to Ottawa dozens of times, and I never remember it looking that good.

caltrane74 · #**164** Posted **Mar 21, 2010, 9:14 AM**

Whilst the canyons above are more even and consistant than those Random street shots that I posted. And they also come closer to the street than the canyons I posted, I'll say the one Canyon that matches off well against Ottawa is Bloor Street in Yorkville.. ok, ok it doesnt come up to the street as tightly, but it has a consistant 20-25 storey street wall and its longer than Ottawa, and has skyscrapers that pop up along the way that would dwarf these lowrisers in Ottawa....

Im gonna bring pain to Ottawa...

• Video Link

eemy · #**165** Posted **Mar 21, 2010, 12:29 PM**

I'm more than slightly amused by this thread, because rephrased, this question is basically: show us your oppressive, pedestrian-unfriendly and intimidating streetscapes. I'm not sure that one really wants to win at urban canyons. I would far rather have a city with buildings that are setback from the street, which do not overpower the street nearly as much.

Ramako · #**166** Posted **Mar 21, 2010, 1:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeremy_haak

I'm more than slightly amused by this thread, because rephrased, this question is basically: show us your oppressive, pedestrian-unfriendly and intimidating streetscapes. I'm not sure that one really wants to win at urban canyons. I would far rather have a city with buildings that are setback from the street, which do not overpower the street nearly as much.

Well everyone has their own preference. Some people don't like tall buildings at all because they're "oppressive, pedestrian-unfriendly and intimidating." To me canyons feel "big city."

caltrane74 · #**167** Posted **Mar 21, 2010, 2:11 PM**

I'll be the first to admit this thread is getting way stupid, mainly because of me. But there is method to my madness. In a desire to see more streetscapes from other parts of the country and how they match up to my visualframe, which is Toronto. Toronto is great at street level even if there is an inconsistant streetwall. I do however prefer Torontos Street scapes to Ottawa's cold and empty canyons.. I'm not saying Toronto has people on every street, but enough to keep things jumping, Bay Street as the example..

Most important to rebuttal Traynor's post is that the reason this thread was created was that francly saw the Bay street Canyon and got inspired. No one is gonna see Ottawa's canyons and get inspired. Calgary Maybe... Montreal aswell. I got inspired by those beautiful Vancouver canyons that were posted in the preceeding pages..

Traynor · #**168** Posted **Mar 21, 2010, 3:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by caltrane74

... I do however prefer Torontos Street scapes to Ottawa's cold and empty canyons.. I'm not saying Toronto has people on every street, but enough to keep things jumping, Bay Street as the example...

Come on Cal be fair... That is a very subjective point of view.

Google takes pictures on a Sunday to ease the operation. That's why there aren't many people on what you cold cold streets.

Please go back and count the actual people in the pictures you posted on page 5 of this thread in post #95 http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...1&postcount=96

and on everything you posted on all of page 6.

Add them altogether and there are less than a hundred human beings viable. Hardly what anyone would call LIVELY and your pictures looked way colder to my eye.

Look, I love Toronto too. It's my birthplace, will always be my home and my favourite city in the whole world, but I am also a realist. When I look at the streets in your photos or videos I get all warm and fuzzy, but not everyone would and an outside observer would not see canyon where you do,

Just keeping it real.

caltrane74 · #**169** Posted **Mar 21, 2010, 4:36 PM**

Ok fair point Traynor....

but the videos on Bloor, Yonge, and sections of Bay had enough people.

Thats why I want someone from Ottawa to give me their perspective from street level... Cuz, You and I will always be poor statesmen for Ottawa seeing as how we are throughandthrough Torontoians.

BTW , I took those pictures when there were breaks in the crowd that way I didnt film people that didnt wanna be on cam. Just keeping it real, yaknow.

Traynor · #**170** Posted **Mar 21, 2010, 5:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by caltrane74

... Cuz, You and I will always be poor statesmen for Ottawa seeing as how we are throughandthrough Torontoians....

Alright Cal it's time I cam clean with you...

I live in Ottawa right now.

Moved here a couple of years ago for work.

I haven't had the opportunity to do a photospread of Ottawa yet, but in the coming days I hope to hit the streets and take some pics when the sun is shining and the people are out and about.

This in no way taints my true Toronto Blood.

Just being honest with you...

OK I'm ready for it... bring the pain.

caltrane74 · #**171** Posted **Mar 21, 2010, 6:55 PM**

more by me

• Video Link

Traynor, there had to be method to your madness.. It's all good.

You're still a Torontoian!!!

ozonemania · #**172** Posted **Mar 21, 2010, 8:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by caltrane74

You're still a Torontoian!!!

We're all Torontonians, it's just most of us haven't realized it yet.

Dmajackson · #**173** Posted **Mar 21, 2010, 10:52 PM**

Halifax is going to school every city with our literal translation of this thread;

Credit: CREST Halifax @ flickr

caltrane74 · #**174** Posted **Mar 21, 2010, 11:24 PM**

by me

caltrane74 · #**175** Posted **Mar 21, 2010, 11:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bedford_DJ

Halifax is going to school every city with our literal translation of this thread;

Sombody or Someone, already beat you to it.....

Quote:

Originally Posted by someone123

Halifax has a few that almost qualify.. Barrington, Granville, and Hollis. First photo by me, next two by Serge Lacasse:

Source

Source

There are a few other candidates but I don't have good photos of them.

caltrane74 · #**176** Posted **Mar 21, 2010, 11:51 PM**

by me

Nouvellecosse · #**177** Posted **Mar 22, 2010, 1:39 AM**

The pictures are very nice and I definitely appreciate them, but more videos please.

drizzo_613 · #**178** Posted **Mar 22, 2010, 3:32 PM**

@ Cal,

i won't argue that Toronto has some amazing canyons. Same goes for almost any other big city in Canada that i've been to. However, Ottawa's canyons are just so much more obvious to look at given their consistent height (havent been to calgary btw)
I have tons of skyline photos but no Canyon photos so i'll need to get out there and prove my point

caltrane74 · #**179** Posted **Mar 22, 2010, 4:09 PM**

Get too it guy, were waiting...

francely57 · #**180** Posted **Mar 22, 2010, 8:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTLskyline

Nice shots Francely! I always find that an outsiders' eye captures a city best.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Traynor

^Agreed

This one of francely57's seems the most canyon-like to me. Nice even building heights on either side of the street, plus the illusion that the buildings carry on to the horizon.

Thanks guys!

Now I'll help Traynor a little bit, with some Ottawa pics I took on September 4, 2009 (these are nowhere near the best canyon views, Traynor posted some of Ottawa's best already)

Sparks Street looking west

Slater Street looking east

Laurier Avenue looking west