Ugly Ottawa

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Harley613

This one on St. Laurent and the Queensway. I think the owner of the property is keeping it like this out of spite because of an old argument with the Mierins (owners of Bytek next store)

When I was a kid this place was called something like Leblond Precast. And the entire front yard along St-Laurent was like an outdoor museum filled with hundreds of plaster and concrete statues and fountains of all kinds.

[Harley613]

The Carleton University library is pretty weak too

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by Harley613

The Carleton University library is pretty weak too

The Carleton University EVERYTHING.

[Dado]

Originally Posted by WarProphet

How about the ugly sport structure on Hunt Club and Greenbank?

The guy who picked the colour regrets it to this day. Apparently the possible colours were presented as swatches akin to what you get for paints and draperies. It seems that in the fluorescent light of an office, the cream colour was more subdued and not nearly as stark as the typical white of the other domes.

Out in the open daylight and full-sized however... the effect was the opposite of what was intended. Rather than being subdued it ended up looking like an oversized slug. It will unfortunately remain that way until such time as the dome fabric needs replacing.

[Chris-R]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

The Carleton University EVERYTHING.

The library is currently being renovated. Otherwise, I really quite like Carleton's 1960s-brick-institutional look and am happy that they retained it for newer buildings.

[Harley613]

I'm just going to leave this here...

[c_speed3108]

Originally Posted by Harley613

I'm just going to leave this here...

I believe the architect issued a formal apology for that one!

[McC]

raising the philosophical question of what is more ugly: that which through the forces of time, wear, neglect and changing tastes has become ugly? or, that which by design has been ugly from its very creation?

[Harley613]

I'm hoping a new facade is part of the Rideau Centre redevelopment. And while they're at it they need to reskin or get rid of those overpasses.

[Capital Shaun]

Originally Posted by Harley613

I'm just going to leave this here...

It's not the ugliest building I've seen but it doesn't help that it is only surrounded by nothing but dirt.

[McC]

*contaminated* dirt!

;-)

[Capital Shaun]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

The Carleton University EVERYTHING.

Carleton University is like most post secondary institutions, large hospitals and large commercial complexes where there's little to no effort to make additions & expansions visually fit with the existing structures. And often within these complexes it's a labyrinth of hallways, pathways, tunnels & bridges to move around.

The Monfort Hospital is ugly. Everytime it was expanded the exterior finishings were a completely different style. There's got to be at least 4 different types and colour of brick in there.
https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=Montfo...319.87,,0,7.81

Somehow La Cité collégiale managed to add 2 buildings and expanded another by keeping the same look & feel to the whole complex.
https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=La+Cit...12,198.12,,0,3

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by McC

raising the philosophical question of what is more ugly: that which through the forces of time, wear, neglect and changing tastes has become ugly? or, that which by design has been ugly from its very creation?

The 2nd one. The Ogilvy building is case and point on how a beautiful building that is neglected will always keep its place as a great landmark (until torn down).

As for the Lebreton Flats building, I would not say that it's ugly, but the very definition of mediocrity and blandness.

CF better do a damn good job with the Rideau Centre, and since I don't see any tunnels between Rideau and Freimans/The Bay being built, I think the Skybridges will be kept, but they certainly need renos to lighter, brighter materials. We have plenty of good examples of skywalks in Calgary, Winnipeg or even the bridge between Eaton’s and Simpsons/The Bay.

And finally, when they plan large institutions, they should make a master plan for expansion with ready designed buildings that can be architecturally tweaked in design to better reflect the times. The Civic Hospital is an example of total chaos, Minto Place is an example of sticking to close to the original design and La Cité Collégiale is likely the most successful expansion in the city.

[archie-tect]

I think there is an existing tunnel from Rideau to Freiman's currently used for storage. In Calgary they skipped the skybridge approach and built a sizeable chunk over the street. Actually the renos of the Core are pretty interesting with a Winter Garden and Internal glass bridges.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by c_speed3108

I believe the architect issued a formal apology for that one!

Japanese-style, with a sword to the abdomen?

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by Capital Shaun

It's not the ugliest building I've seen but it doesn't help that it is only surrounded by nothing but dirt.

It really brings down that beautiful dirt.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by Capital Shaun

Carleton University is like most post secondary institutions, large hospitals and large commercial complexes where there's little to no effort to make additions & expansions visually fit with the existing structures. And often within these complexes it's a labyrinth of hallways, pathways, tunnels & bridges to move around.

The lack of "visual fit" is the LEAST of Carleton's architectural crimes. The entire place is just butt ugly, badly-designed, and brutalist.

[Harley613]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

The lack of "visual fit" is the LEAST of Carleton's architectural crimes. The entire place is just butt ugly, badly-designed, and brutalist.

...and the worst part is that it is situated in an area of amazing natural beauty, an incredible location for a university campus.

[Harley613]

And now, from the heart of the Nation's Capital's beautiful Byward Market!!

[Capital Shaun]

"The Body Rub" next to the Barefax. I wonder what goes on in there? LOL