Modern Architecture at its Finest; or Designs to Inspire Vancouver!

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by whatnext

I was cleaning up my Australian vacation pics and didn't find this building ion the thread. Very striking and its amazing they can keep the green wall looking so good in Sydney's dry climate. The projecting feature is called a "heliostat" which reflects light to the gardens. Oh, and yes, there is a small mall underneath for Vin.


[IMG]IMG_3505 by whatnextyvr, on Flickr[/IMG]

Can we get some of these for daylighting purposes.

[trofirhen]

Australian cities, from the pictures I've seen, seem to do such a good job making their cities look crisp and smart. Melbourne in particular seems very elegant.

[LeftCoaster]

Originally Posted by Sheba

Can we get some of these for daylighting purposes.

The 629 W Hastings project has a heliostat. Excited to see it go in.

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

The 629 W Hastings project has a heliostat. Excited to see it go in.

They would go a ways to help with the shadowing problem some people complain about.

[SpongeG]

this is in Melbourne on their toll highway called the city link

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[SpongeG]

Robson street needs to get itself together, this is in Sydney

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[SpongeG]

Metrotown get a screen already, hopefully Brentwood does

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[SpongeG]

this as you emerge from granville station or city centre station somewhere

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or this in granville plaza next to waterfront station

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[rofina]

I said it many a time - Melbourne is like a superior Vancouver.

All the same great features, only more/better.

[EastVanMark]

All of those would do wonders for our drab downtown. The one with the big screen with the McDonalds next to it looks almost identical to our Granville and Smithe intersections.

But sadly, the city would never allow anything even remotely near that in Vancouver. The fact that we stupidly allowed condos to be built immediatley adjacent to those streets pretty much extinguishes any chance of something that bright ever being allowed on those streets. (much the same way it kept the new province led big screen at BC Place) from reaching its true potential.

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

Robson street needs to get itself together, this is in Sydney

You do realize that Sydney is a completely different climate (more comparable to San Diego than Vancouver) and that xmas is mid-summer for them. While we could certainly do more for seasonal lighting I really can't foresee that happening any time of the year here.

Originally Posted by SpongeG

Metrotown get a screen already, hopefully Brentwood does

I'm more in love with that glass roof. If any of the mall renos do something like that...

[SpongeG]

re Sydney yes but Robson really could step up its christmas game, those don't look that complicated

like this tree with an LED interactive ribbon

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[Sheba]

These man-made structures beneath your feet will change the way you see the world

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by rofina

I said it many a time - Melbourne is like a superior Vancouver.

All the same great features, only more/better.

Never been to Melbourne, but would love to. As a larger, older city than Vancouver with more historic buildings, infrastructure of all kinds, it lends itself to being what it is IMO.
Nevertheless, do you think that Vanouver, not only with the passage of time and the maturation of the city, has any current buildings and infrastructure that could be enhanced,
à la Melbourne (though to a lesser degree, understandably) but potential that we are underusing, if one uses Melbourne as an "urban role model" in any way?

[Galaxy]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

Robson street needs to get itself together, this is in Sydney

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I feel like Metrotown maybe down The Kingsway stretch could and has the most potential to look like the clip you posted. Burnaby with its willingness to build and "Thank God for lack of view cones" can create something similar.

[osirisboy]

Regarding Sydney

Wow. So it's possible to have a successful retail street with buildings taller than 2 floors?? Crazy

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by trofirhen

Never been to Melbourne, but would love to. As a larger, older city than Vancouver with more historic buildings, infrastructure of all kinds, it lends itself to being what it is IMO.
Nevertheless, do you think that Vanouver, not only with the passage of time and the maturation of the city, has any current buildings and infrastructure that could be enhanced,
à la Melbourne (though to a lesser degree, understandably) but potential that we are underusing, if one uses Melbourne as an "urban role model" in any way?

I was there two weeks ago, I loved it and barely scratched the surface. The trains are good but the frequency seemed slow compared to here, 8-12 minutes seems cruel lol. I loved the big stations, they are well thought out, even if the escalators are backwards lol Its got a lot of quirky, and the laneways and side streets are packed with people and cafes and little shops. They are building a new underground metro with much more frequent service right now too and the coverage area looks well dense.

some faves
the casino complex is huge, it has some high end gucci and louis vuitton retail in it, a movie theatre, a huge gambling floor, tons of restaurants and really fancy high end bars and shoots flames at night outside.



southern cross station


the H&M store in a former post office


inside


Laneways packed with diners


The Queen Victoria shopping/building complex was really nice, had a big woolworths grocery store in the basement, off white, aesop, daiso quite a mix of retailers throughout










mixed in some old


some of the newer towers are really colourful, one going up now is almost rainbow like


train


and than surprises like this in a far off neighbourhood


with a great market




one of the other train stations


almost every cafe restaurant will have outside seating


this is work for the new underground metro about 5 minutes (i am guessing) from downtown to the east


mix


one of the entrances into probably one of the busier stations, Central Station with a multi level mall and tons of restaurant and big grocery store and market etc and I missed the tower



the tower part I missed

media3.trover.com

something new going up


The docklands area is still quite new and despite walkers it was quite dead but had potential, felt like the olympic village/coal harbour/north vancouver lonsdale quay area

A four points by Sheraton hotel


this one was cool, lots of people stop and look and comment about it



DSC_0179 by snub_you, on Flickr

DSC_0173 by snub_you, on Flickr

and does this look familiar?
DSC_0182 by snub_you, on Flickr

they have a ferris wheel at their costco lol plaza area next to Costco in the Docklands area


The Emporium, a multi level shopping mall that is across the street from Melbourne Central which is also a shopping centre with more affordable shops, The Emporium is pretty fancy

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

Regarding Sydney

Wow. So it's possible to have a successful retail street with buildings taller than 2 floors?? Crazy

that area is so busy, its great, even when the stores shut so early, except thursday

[trofirhen]

Thanks for the great pictures. I particularly like the indoor plazas and shopping districts. That is a city to look to for when seeking inspiration for Vancouver projects ... IMO

[SpongeG]

I posted most of the pics in the photo thread if you want to see more

But yea the public realms and little alleyways even the ones they incorporate into new developments are great