Cristal | ?M | 32F | Approved

[Wooster]

Now that images of Cristal are now public and posted on the Homburg-Centron Website, might as well have a poll. I've added some other images as well.

What do you think?







Public Art Feature















Also - On the front page of their website, they have this image. I bet it was the original taller design. If so, I like the new one better:

[Mr.Ski]

I like it. Heard a rumour that the Vintage Group was lined up to put a one of their new restaurants in the base.

[Boris2k7]

Ah, now you guys can see that driveway we were arguing about a few weeks back.

[Bigtime]

I'm liking it as well, as I expressed in the Calgary construction thread.

The public space with the fountain and LED lighting will be nice to see also.

However I wish more of the tower was curved than just the one portion, could we pull off an almost completely rounded tower in Calgary? Heck isn't the Marquis or whatever on the west end pretty much rounded?

I'm counting about 28 stories, is that pretty much correct?

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Boris550

Ah, now you guys can see that driveway we were arguing about a few weeks back.

Wait is that little plaza space also a rounded driveway to the front entrance?

If so I'm not liking that at all.

[Calgarian]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

I'm liking it as well, as I expressed in the Calgary construction thread.

The public space with the fountain and LED lighting will be nice to see also.

However I wish more of the tower was curved than just the one portion, could we pull off an almost completely rounded tower in Calgary? Heck isn't the Marquis or whatever on the west end pretty much rounded?

I'm counting about 28 stories, is that pretty much correct?

I count 32, plus 2 or so for mechanical.

josh, the little rendering you posted is indeed the original, it was supposed to be 40+ storeys. My only beef with this project is that the roof detail is too similar to the Melville in Vancouver.

[Wooster]

From what I heard in my conversation with the file manager about it was that it was a rounded curb for use ONLY by emergency vehicles, not regular cars for drop off. Our letter of support following the DP application made it explicit that the community opposed this space as a driveway. The plaza is supposed to count toward density bonusing. We argued that it shouldn't count as a 'plaza' space if it was to be used as a driveway.

[Arriviste]

Not feeling it. Especially the roof treatment, and the vertical wall extending out the roof. Ground level seems a little derivative, and uninspiring, but the public space should be alright.
It's a fine addition to the area. Not great. The whole thing screams mediocrity.

[DLLB]

I think it's quite nice. I quite like the rounded side.

[sync]

Originally Posted by johnnyc

the roof detail is too similar to the Melville in Vancouver.

first thing i thought of too.

otherwise, it's alright.

[Surrealplaces]

I like it for the most part. I'm not crazy about the roof piece, but the I like the materials, and general massing. The podium is nice.

[freefarezone]

cons:
the shape of the base doesn't suit the asymmetries of the tower - perhaps if there was a bit less plaza and more ground level...
the rounded corner doesn't necessarily need on the street corner, but here it would work better if it were - perhaps it's oriented this way to maximize facing towards the downtown core

pros:
retail frontage along 11th

[Kevin_foster]

Do they mean "Crystal" - because Cristal is a brand of Champagne.

Nice though.. except the melville roof.

[WHISTLERINMUSKOKA]

I like it a lot except the roof top element. Nice fountain feature. Kind of reminds me of a nicer Verve here in Toronto. Suburban developers should be kept out of the city.

[Wooster]

Originally Posted by Arriviste

Not feeling it. Especially the roof treatment, and the vertical wall extending out the roof. Ground level seems a little derivative, and uninspiring, but the public space should be alright.
It's a fine addition to the area. Not great. The whole thing screams mediocrity.

It is definitely like the many ubiquitous glass point towers of Vancouver. Not a standout. Which, I suppose if this is a 'standard' condo design in Calgary, that's not such a bad thing. We've come a long way from Discovery Pointe and Bosa's projects. It would be nice to see a few more standouts. I hope Torode's hotel arts, Kahanoff, Le Germain and some of the bigger projects in Centre City really keep pushing the standard higher.

[Boris2k7]

Originally Posted by josh white

It is definitely like the many ubiquitous glass point towers of Vancouver. Not a standout. Which, I suppose if this is a 'standard' condo design in Calgary, that's not such a bad thing. We've come a long way from Discovery Pointe and Bosa's projects. It would be nice to see a few more standouts. I hope Torode's hotel arts, Kahanoff, Le Germain and some of the bigger projects in Centre City really keep pushing the standard higher.

By Bosa's projects you mean the Barclay and the Macleod? I actually like those two...

Barring the Axxis, I can't of anything nicer in the West End.

[tokama]

Hey if this is the "standard" we have attained in Calgary then that is alright by me. The overall design is nice, although something does not sit right with the roof for some reason. I quite like the plaza space.

[skrish]

I prefer the flat side to the rounded side, but the contrast between the two sides is nice. Overall I like it, especially the amount of glass.

[Calgarian]

Originally Posted by Arriviste

Not feeling it. Especially the roof treatment, and the vertical wall extending out the roof. Ground level seems a little derivative, and uninspiring, but the public space should be alright.
It's a fine addition to the area. Not great. The whole thing screams mediocrity.

No offense dude, but you don't seem to like anything that gets proposed. What do you like?

[bigcanuck]

Originally Posted by josh white

If emergency vehicles are supposed to use the plaza for a driveway, I hope they are able to plow over trees.