Canadian City Proposals

[TorontoDrew]

Originally Posted by Martin Mtl

1990, rue William (Griffintown - Montreal)
Atelier Chaloub Architectes

This looks like a nice step up from the other recent Griffintown developments. Are there any renders of the front side?

Also how did Griffintown get it's name?

[urbandreamer]

I used to live in Griffintown @ 645 Wellington when it was cool, ie before all these grey condo buildings went up (2002-2003.) It was an old working class Irish neighborhood, probably named after its biggest employer or landlord.

Wikipedia
"The name Griffintown was derived from Mary Griffin. Griffin illegally obtained the lease to the land from a business associate of Thomas McCord in 1799. She then commissioned land surveyor Louis Charland to subdivide the land and plan streets for the area in 1804. Griffin's husband, Robert, owned a soap factory in the area and went on to become the first clerk of the Bank of Montreal upon its formation in 1817"

I mean Griffintown is better than Liberty Village, a bit below Canary Village area architecturally but functions the same: housing mostly ex-suburbanites.

[MonkeyRonin]

Well this was an exciting announcement to see today - even if not the most architecturally exciting project - the AGO will be getting a new 5-storey, 40,000 sqft wing with an additional 13 contemporary gallery spaces: https://urbantoronto.ca/news/2023/03/ago-shares-initial-design-100-million-expansion-project.51524

[GeneralLea]

That's great news, although I wonder how well integrated this new addition will be. The AGO has been needing an expansion for a very long time, so this is good news, although their tight footprint has always been an issue.

[TorontoDrew]

One more render for context.

Source: urbantoronto.ca

[Hawrylyshyn]

117 Jackson Street East | 122 & 96m | 39 & 30 fl | Proposed - Hamilton, ON

[JHikka]

Always disliked that blue wall on the backside of AGO. Not sure I like it being joined by an additional white wall, although maybe the finishing will be nicer and more nuanced.

Dreadful podium on that Jackson Street proposal but like the towers in general.

[urbandreamer]

So many ugly proposals. Hamilton is ruining its downtown with the ugliest high rises imaginable. G+C dreadful and quite literally creating terrible street effect with horrible wind tunnels on King William.

The AGO should consider moving to a new location. Keep the historic Grange house then redevelop everything else into high rise housing. An ideal location would be University Avenue, perhaps built into the base of one of those office tower redevelopments: first 10 floors?

[TorontoDrew]

Originally Posted by JHikka

Always disliked that blue wall on the backside of AGO. Not sure I like it being joined by an additional white wall, although maybe the finishing will be nicer and more nuanced.

I always felt like it was titanium with it's plastic protective coating that needed to be peeled off still. Definitely not one of my favorite Frank Ghery works, but the inside is incredible. Judging by the render they are keeping this simple for future expansions.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by JHikka

Always disliked that blue wall on the backside of AGO. Not sure I like it being joined by an additional white wall, although maybe the finishing will be nicer and more nuanced.

Dreadful podium on that Jackson Street proposal but like the towers in general.

Didn't I read that the addition will be clad in some sort of reflective terra cotta? No idea how that works, but it sounds interesting.

[TorontoDrew]

Originally Posted by urbandreamer

So many ugly proposals. Hamilton is ruining its downtown with the ugliest high rises imaginable. G+C dreadful and quite literally creating terrible street effect with horrible wind tunnels on King William.

It's definitely moving forward in terms of quality for Hamilton but the towers look like 1980's office buildings merged with 2010 condos. The podium might be my favorite part but the dark brick looks so bad with the blue and white pallet above it. The most positive aspect I think is that it helps to block out Landmark Place somewhat.

[905er]

Originally Posted by urbandreamer

So many ugly proposals. Hamilton is ruining its downtown with the ugliest high rises imaginable. G+C dreadful and quite literally creating terrible street effect with horrible wind tunnels on King William.

The AGO should consider moving to a new location. Keep the historic Grange house then redevelop everything else into high rise housing. An ideal location would be University Avenue, perhaps built into the base of one of those office tower redevelopments: first 10 floors?

I disagree. They may not be the most impressive new high rise towers, but they will add a touch of modernity to the otherwise drab concrete towers which have dominated Hamilton's skyline. I think Hamilton is doing more than a decent job with the new proposals and with revitalizing and cleaning up their downtown. For this proposal, I don't love the balconies necessarily but I like the touch of curved rounded glass and i also don't mind the podium.

[TorontoDrew]

I think in a decade or so Hamilton will really start to shine with it's proposals. Right now developers are cashing in on young people leaving the GTA for cheaper housing. There's little need or demand for exceptional architecture as of yet. People are just happy to be able to afford their own property and I bet the city says yeas to almost any developer willing to invest in the core. I bet as more people become rooted in Steeltown's Downtown there will be a desire to invest more in streetscapes, architecture, and overall urban infrastructure. It's an exciting time for Hamilton.

[WhipperSnapper]

I agree with urbandreamer. These towers aren't much beyond new inventory for new people. Plus side, new developments are digging underground parking allowing any above ground parking to be concealed behind leaseable space. Still, bland podiums under multiple bulky towers with Graziani and Corrazza architectural standard at around $1000 a square foot The twin G+C 30 storey towers' podium isn't turning too bad except for faux heritage streetfront will forever appear to be missing windows. That's G+C for you.

Hamilton will soon boast the nicest completed student residential tower soon and the same student residence will be among the nicest towers (let's include proposed) in the city

[GeneralLea]

Originally Posted by TorontoDrew

It's definitely moving forward in terms of quality for Hamilton but the towers look like 1980's office buildings merged with 2010 condos. The podium might be my favorite part but the dark brick looks so bad with the blue and white pallet above it. The most positive aspect I think is that it helps to block out Landmark Place somewhat.

Agreed. I mean, I like the Landmark Place personally, but that's beside the point. I feel like the design will be tweaked here into something less ugly and circa 2010, but maybe not. GC needs to get run out of town for the crap they push as final designs.

[Innsertnamehere]

Hamilton has over 40 different towers proposed in its downtown right now. While I doubt all of them will get built, it shows the huge development interest which has occurred in the downtown in the last3-4 years. It’ll be really interesting to see where the city is in a decade after many of them are built.

[urbanight93]

The AGO is becoming such a terrible mishmash of architectural styles as wings are added. I can't blame them for not wanting to relocate though as this is a prime location (Grange Park, downtown, UofT) in what is the closest thing to an arts district Toronto will ever have (OCAD, kensington market / baldwin village, queen st, chinatown).

It's just too bad that the complex will look confused (rather than coherent) and dated with all the clashing expansions that mark certain stylistic eras.

I can't really think of other art galleries that have faced the same fate, but i'm sure it has to be common to an extent.

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

Hamilton has over 40 different towers proposed in its downtown right now. While I doubt all of them will get built, it shows the huge development interest which has occurred in the downtown in the last3-4 years. It’ll be really interesting to see where the city is in a decade after many of them are built.

Very exciting to see what the next 5-10 years holds for Hamilton and its downtown. Definitely up an upward swing with a ton of potential for something urban, trendy, and dense.

If only GO RER/Expansion went to Hamilton instead of ending in Aldershot. Would make too much sense to have frequent, fast trains connecting Hamilton and Toronto.

[TorontoDrew]

Originally Posted by urbanight93

The AGO is becoming such a terrible mishmash of architectural styles as wings are added. I can't blame them for not wanting to relocate though as this is a prime location (Grange Park, downtown, UofT) in what is the closest thing to an arts district Toronto will ever have (OCAD, kensington market / baldwin village, queen st, chinatown).

It's just too bad that the complex will look confused (rather than coherent) and dated with all the clashing expansions that mark certain stylistic eras.

I can't really think of other art galleries that have faced the same fate, but i'm sure it has to be common to an extent.

Here is the original A.G.O structure built in 1910. Most of it is now inside newer additions. I say keep adding on and see where it goes at this point. It will be our Frankenstein Art Gallery.
source: https://ago.ca

[Nouvellecosse]

^ Whoa that is CRAZY. Completely unrecognizable.