Maxwell Bates building: what are your thoughts? - Page 2

Spring2008 · #21 Posted **Jul 17, 2013, 12:11 AM**

I really like it. Once the trims and finishing details are all complete, and new stores and patios open up here, it'll very much be another great addition to Mission.

Calgarian · #22 Posted **Jul 17, 2013, 1:09 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rusty van Reddick

Its appearance.

lol, no kidding...

Rusty van Reddick · #23 Posted **Jul 17, 2013, 2:35 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calgarian

lol, no kidding...

I remember seeing a blind beer tasting and this woman scowled when she sampled one and the guy who poured it said, "what don't you like about it?" and she answers, "THE TASTE." Everybody larfed.

O-tacular · #24 Posted **Jul 17, 2013, 2:15 PM**

Are there condos or something on the top floor? If so this has been bumped up a couple notches in my books.

The Chemist · #25 Posted **Jul 17, 2013, 2:49 PM**

I think it's great. Modern, but using materials that are historically relevant to the city.

Deepstar · #26 Posted **Jul 17, 2013, 3:16 PM**

You're Elaine, and this is the English Patient episode! J/k

Everyone has a valid right to an opinion. I find the building to be okay, but mostly for the way it interfaces with the street. I like those big windows too, but that's just a personal taste thing.

I'm not sure what you mean by fake sandstone? Judging by the colour it looks like a generic stone base, to me it doesn't look to be imitating sandstone.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calgarian

I really don't get what people like about this building, if it had a cornice then it would totally be Stampitecture. With the fake sandstone on the bottom it's even more historicist, as it looks like all the old warehouses in Victoria Park. As I said before, we need modern architecture that is Representative of it's time and place, by that I mean NOW not 1910!

The top part looks cool though, like the Roy-Op block (or the new on on 11Ave and 4st that's starting up) an old building with a new part on top.

Calgarian · #27 Posted **Jul 17, 2013, 3:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deepstar

You're Elaine, and this is the English Patient episode! J/k

Everyone has a valid right to an opinion. I find the building to be okay, but mostly for the way it interfaces with the street. I like those big windows too, but that's just a personal taste thing.

I'm not sure what you mean by fake sandstone? Judging by the colour it looks like a generic stone base, to me it doesn't look to be imitating sandstone.

Yeah everyone is entitled to their opinion, I expressed mine and don't need to further discuss it. By fake sandstone I mean the light coloured bands on the base of the building that mimic the Sandstone used on most of the early 20th century brick buildings in the city, not sure what the actual material is.

This building is not a total fail as I said (that was a pretty harsh criticism), the use and scale is perfect for the location, and it does fill a hole in the street wall. Unlike Elaine and the English Patient, I will be happy if someone takes me to Bar Seco to build my appreciation for the building

Any word on who the actual tenants are going to be? I assume what is shown is just a place holder...

Wigs · #28 Posted **Jul 17, 2013, 8:17 PM**

I like it. kind of like a modern interpretation of an old-school inner city warehouse structure.

Having only been in Calgary since 2009, how long was "the pit" in existence? 5,10,20 years?
to me it's good, solid infill. nothing spectacular, but certainly nothing to hate on.

Design-mind · #29 Posted **Jul 17, 2013, 10:22 PM**

I think a little more architectural detail could have been added, but overall it is a very solid project. Nice to see some new brick projects in Calgary, to contrast all the glass.

Calgarian · #30 Posted **Jul 17, 2013, 11:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Design-mind

I think a little more architectural detail could have been added, but overall it is a very solid project. Nice to see some new brick projects in Calgary, to contrast all the glass.

There is a ton of new brick projects going up, that's half my beef with this one.

O-tacular · #31 Posted **Jul 18, 2013, 2:44 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calgarian

There is a ton of new brick projects going up, that's half my beef with this one.

Really? Refresh my memory since besides the RioCan building I can't think of any new ones. My beef isn't brick in and of itself. It's that awful orange Lego brick they use as embodied by Stampede Station and the Elbow river casino. Maxwell Bates actually has nice brick.

TallBob · #32 Posted **Jul 18, 2013, 3:56 AM**

My reason for liking this type of development is probably different than some of you folks. We had hundreds of these kinds of re-developments in Chicago as well as other older mid-western/eastern cities. I've stated several times in the past I'd like to see more brick and stone here, I know it's probably a little more expensive, it just gives these low-rise developments a little more sophisticated/stately look. IMO

The Urbanist · #33 Posted **Jul 18, 2013, 4:54 AM**

I was just telling someone last week how much I love this building. It's elegant, unpretentious and reminds me of something you would see in NYC's SoHo district. The windows are wonderfully industrial, something out of the garment era, and I love how the top balcony doesn't dominate the facade.

TallBob · #34 Posted **Jul 18, 2013, 5:21 AM**

I just thought of one: Gritty, but with Character... or Simple yet sophisticated... How are those for a description?

Colin · #35 Posted **Jul 18, 2013, 5:57 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by O-tacular

Really? Refresh my memory since besides the RioCan building I can't think of any new ones. My beef isn't brick in and of itself. It's that awful orange Lego brick they use as embodied by Stampede Station and the Elbow river casino. Maxwell Bates actually has nice brick.

I absolutely agree with you about this one. I really like this project and I appreciate that the brick has slight variation and dimension compared to the solid orange brick found on some of the Stampitecture projects in Vic Park. I do wonder why designers are so adverse to grey brick? I think that it would make a huge difference and look much more modern. For example, the brick on the Four Season Centre in Toronto is beautiful.

Source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...ons_Centre.jpg

TallBob · #36 Posted **Jul 18, 2013, 8:18 AM**

I'd like to see more grey colored stone/brick in Calgary. With the exception of this year (so far), it's usually so brown around here.

Calgarian · #37 Posted **Jul 18, 2013, 3:17 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by O-tacular

Really? Refresh my memory since besides the RioCan building I can't think of any new ones. My beef isn't brick in and of itself. It's that awful orange Lego brick they use as embodied by Stampede Station and the Elbow river casino. Maxwell Bates actually has nice brick.

There was a proposal for a brick building in Inglewood, 20/20 is brick, Tribeca has brick (but it's more of a charcoal colour, so not sure it should count), Rio Can as you mentioned. Recently we have added Hanson Square, Atlantic Avenue Art Block, SAIT TTC...

I do agree about the colour of brick though, that orange colour that was used on aall the buildings in Victoria Park doesn't look great. One thing I would like to see with brick is more old brick recycled and incorporated into new buildings. That old weathered brick has a lot of Character, much more so than the very uniform brick made nowadays. While we are talking about brick, I nominate the Seed tower for having the ugliest brick known to man! I would love to see the orange stampitecture brick over that mustardy yellow they used.

O-tacular · #38 Posted **Jul 18, 2013, 3:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calgarian

There was a proposal for a brick building in Inglewood, 20/20 is brick, Tribeca has brick (but it's more of a charcoal colour, so not sure it should count), Rio Can as you mentioned. Recently we have added Hanson Square, Atlantic Avenue Art Block, SAIT TTC...

I do agree about the colour of brick though, that orange colour that was used on aall the buildings in Victoria Park doesn't look great. One thing I would like to see with brick is more old brick recycled and incorporated into new buildings. That old weathered brick has a lot of Character, much more so than the very uniform brick made nowadays. While we are talking about brick, I nominate the Seed tower for having the ugliest brick known to man! I would love to see the orange stampitecture brick over that mustardy yellow they used.

Agreed the Seed's podium is horrendous. In line with everyone's favourite: Oscar.

As for the other projects you mentioned, I had forgotten a few of those. I guess since they are quite spread out I don't consider it as big of an issue. Sure 20 / 20 and Maxwell Bates are both on 4th, but they still feel very different from one another to me.

artvandelay · #39 Posted **Jul 18, 2013, 5:47 PM**

I like it. It's well-designed, nicely proportioned, and not entirely traditional but not entirely modern either. It's got some prairie school quality to it and I like that.

It's much better than the awkward looking 20/20 across the street.

Habanero · #40 Posted **Jul 18, 2013, 5:59 PM**

93% of the people like it which can only mean one thing - Calgarian and Kora are out to lunch! Just kidding

Seriously though, I do like the Bates building. For starters it's unique. Most of the recent mixed use buildings of this type have the Hanson Square look which is okay, but this is a unique building that stands out. My wife and I have driven past Inglewood art block, Hansen's Square, and 20-20, Shopper's on 4th numerous times, and she's never noticed them once, first time past Bates building with the tarp off and her comment was 'Wow, that's a cool building'