Downtown Vancouver Updates - Page 424

phesto · #**8461** Posted: **Feb 15, 2012, 7:50 PM**

dleung- could you show what a 700 footer would look like on the Burrard Building site? (SW corner Burrard and Georgia)

golog · #**8462** Posted: **Feb 15, 2012, 9:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by dleung

Vancouver model... green is u/c, blue is proposed/approved. I only included highrises.

Awesome, did you do that in Google Earth / sketchup?

That's the kind of thing the city should publish on its own, a picture is worth a thousand words in this case

dleung · #**8463** Posted: **Feb 16, 2012, 12:08 AM**

The base sketchup model isn't by me obviously (I have my sources), but I modelled anything built after 2005, except for Concord pacific since it's a lot of new bulidings - ie work - for part of the skyline that isn't really inspiring. I would have wanted to included SEFC/Broadway corridor as well, but the model doesn't go beyond CityGate. When I get time, I'm going to model the view-cones as transparent volumes, to see how much or little they've impacted building locations/heights in the skyline... and possibly propose new and more effective view cones.

Personally I think a row of slender (<5000SF floorplates) 500-550 footers along Alberni will do wonders for the skyline.

By the way, if anyone would like to help finish the model, the link is here:

http://www.mediafire.com/?654k8y50dle7p5b

Most of the Broadway corridor is mapped out already (with terrain), but has no buildings.

hollywoodnorth · #**8464** Posted: **Feb 16, 2012, 3:17 AM**

is that the OV I see as well as City Gate? on the Eastern End?

Built Form · #**8465** Posted: **Feb 16, 2012, 9:20 AM**

First off, dleung fantastic work. Thank you so much.

Secondly they've accomplished a lot in 2 days on Granville and Robson.
Bracing was installed yesterday to support the old CIBC facade.

all pix by Built Form

SpongeG · #**8466** Posted: **Feb 16, 2012, 7:42 PM**

D Leung you made a story on vancitybuzz!

http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2012/02/3...-developments/

officedweller · #**8467** Posted: **Feb 16, 2012, 8:26 PM**

Nice pics

Hed Kandi · #**8468** Posted: **Feb 16, 2012, 8:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Built Form

all pix by Built Form

Sears... Hahaha.

I'll relish in the day when that building comes down.

idunno · #**8469** Posted: **Feb 16, 2012, 11:00 PM**

I was about to say something similar. Pretty much that's the only thing the eyes are drawn to in that picture.

osirisboy · #**8470** Posted: **Feb 16, 2012, 11:07 PM**

yea it really looks bad.... those pics really make it look like its a hydro substation or those blank walled buildings phone companies use to house their equipment/computers etc

WTF were they thinking. To anyone who were around when the thing was new, did people like it back then?

Metro-One · #**8471** Posted: **Feb 16, 2012, 11:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by idunno

I was about to say something similar. Pretty much that's the only thing the eyes are drawn to in that picture.

It would not look so ugly if they simply placed banners in their freaken banner holders! You can see the lights and rods all set up, not to mention the indented portions of the building for larger billboard style banners.

LeftCoaster · #**8472** Posted: **Feb 16, 2012, 11:28 PM**

Patience guys...

Prometheus · #**8473** Posted: **Feb 16, 2012, 11:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metro-One

It would not look so ugly if they simply placed banners in their freaken banner holders! You can see the lights and rods all set up, not to mention the indented portions of the building for larger billboard style banners.

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I believe the city has made it illegal to place banners in those places. That is what I heard, at least.

NewWester · #**8474** Posted: **Feb 16, 2012, 11:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

Patience guys...

Man! The suspense is killing me!

jlousa · #**8475** Posted: **Feb 17, 2012, 12:09 AM**

Plans are drawn up for a Post Sears Vancouver, they will remain just plans though while Sears remains. I don't envision Sears getting bought out, but if they continue heading downhill they might jump as some cash in hand.

Eatons/Sears was never overly well received but it was designed by a starchitect of the day. It's not my cup of tea but there are people that love it.

incognism · #**8476** Posted: **Feb 17, 2012, 12:17 AM**

PaperTiger · #**8477** Posted: **Feb 17, 2012, 12:32 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlousa

Eatons/Sears was never overly well received but it was designed by a starchitect of the day. It's not my cup of tea but there are people that love it.

Ah Cesar Pelli, you were so good a drawing squares and rectangles... A can't believe we got this from him and Kuala Lumpur got the Petronas towers.

Incidentally, he is the reason for Vancouver being the city of green glass. After his two black rectangles (TD and I think IBM?) they changed the DP guidelines to require lighter, more transparent glass.

officedweller · #**8478** Posted: **Feb 17, 2012, 12:43 AM**

WRT Sears, it [was] a clean modernistic building (by Cesar Pelli) before it got tinkered with.
First with the additition of the pod up top, then when it was suburbanized with oversized grids and banner spaces.

i.e. compare to the East Building of the US National Art Gallery in Washington by IM Pei - similar clean asthetics - and similar entrance alcove.

As to whether that belongs right downtown, is another question - but form followed function in that department stores at the time typically blocked out the windows because it could fade the merchandise, distract shoppers or expose unsightly storage rooms.

If you didn't see them, I posted some Archives shots of Pacific Centre in the historic photos thread (scroll down on page 18):

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...148019&page=18

Quote:

Originally Posted by officedweller

http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/archive...59-1&OEH=utf-8

dreambrother808 · #**8479** Posted: **Feb 17, 2012, 12:57 AM**

It still looked very modern to me when I first moved here in the mid-90's.

Now I can't imagine what was running through my head. Maybe there was still too much Thunder Bay in me.

officedweller · #**8480** Posted: **Feb 17, 2012, 1:24 AM**

I think it's also a maintenance issue (in addition to the tinkering). And on top of that, Vancouver has become a very "fine garined / small scale" city. i.e. small floorplate condo towers, rather than large floorplate office towers, so the scale of Sears looks out of place in its surroundings. i.e. plop it next to Bentall Centre and it may "fit in" better (no one seems to complain about the big blank wall that is the back side (ballroom) of the Hyatt).

Back in the 90s the horizintal display windows actually had displays in them - that was before the cases in back were removed in anticipation of new storefronts being installed (but that never happened). What we're left with ugly are blacked out frames.

I find it interesting that the Hudson's Bay and Eaton's/Sears contrast so greatly and are kitty-corner to each other. I think it reflects Eaton's desire to "look to the future" when it moved from the former Spencer's Department Store (now SFU Harbour Centre) and distinguish itself from The Bay. Ironically, look who survived...

Interesting off topic album of vintage Canadian Department Store pics:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/darrell...th/4965316063/