Ongoing Calgarians complaining about pedestrian bridges thread

[BlackArcher101]

Originally Posted by calculoso

He's a logo designer...

Well, no offense meant by it. I was just using the examples of logo design contests for public events that are commonly held then voted upon. I recognize that professional logos aren't done by high schoolers.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

Well, no offense meant by it. I was just using the examples of logo design contests for public events that are commonly held then voted upon. I recognize that professional logos aren't done by high schoolers.

Oh i don't care, i was just kidding. Clearly, not very funny.

[BlackArcher101]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Oh i don't care, i was just kidding. Clearly, not very funny.

Well then... har har for me.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by calculoso

Do you seriously think that anyone is advocating having them try to come down with a fully-fledged, ready for building, design? If so, you're totally missing the point.

If you're talking about letting the public in on the design process, you'll never get a consensus result out of it. You'll never please everyone. Plus, sometimes its more efficient and quick, and get better results, if you just go straight to a professional.

On the Children's Hospital, they did let kids choose the colors of the exterior facades, however. The architect involved them in the design process (colors), but obviously not essential architectural details. In this regards, it is okay. They consulted the people who were going to use it. There's lots of people who probably don't like it, but hey, that was the choice of the architect to go that route. It wasn't a public competition.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by calculoso

And yet, if you doodle a great looking outside of the car, or the look of the dash, they'd probably be grateful.

I can tell you right now, that type of acknowledgement is very few and far between.

[BlackArcher101]

I ask this.... what is it that you'd like to accomplish by letting members of the common public design the bridge? Save money? Create jobs? More Calgarian influence?

[Muta]

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

I ask this.... what is it that you'd like to accomplish by letting members of the common public design the bridge? Save money? Create jobs? More Calgarian influence?

In regards to design, thank God we don't do that.

[BlackArcher101]

Originally Posted by Muta

In regards to design, thank God we don't do that.

I'm having a hard time thinking of why people are pushing for it.

[calculoso]

Originally Posted by Muta

I can tell you right now, that type of acknowledgement is very few and far between.

Of course. We've seen how protective and elitist those in creative business are over their jobs, whether it be those art critics who consider a splash of paint to be artistic genius, to audiophiles who consider a certain type of music to be totally inspired and the rest of it crap, to designers who think that their designs are above criticism.

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

I ask this.... what is it that you'd like to accomplish by letting members of the common public design the bridge? Save money? Create jobs? More Calgarian influence?

Definitely more of a Calgary influence, but at the same time providing a development opportunity for students in the city. What better opportunity to develop the next wave of architects / designers / etc than to have a real-life experience?

Professional architects / etc still need to start off somewhere. They can't just slap it down. Why not give them 20 (? - number of college submissions) possible 'looks' for a bridge as a starting point?

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by calculoso

Do you seriously think that anyone is advocating having them try to come down with a fully-fledged, ready for building, design? If so, you're totally missing the point.

No, I don't think anyone is advocating that. Perhaps you should read my whole post.

Spectacular design simply can't be done like you talk about. That's my point. You can't just design a bridge that holds itself up and then tack on all the other things. It won't be spectacular that way. You have to have the whole design in mind from the start.

[trew]

Originally Posted by V

It's a full-fledged traffic signal. I don't see what's dangerous about that.

And to the other guy, there's no chance the signals move. Not a prayer. The lighting along the Landscape of Memory would have to be changed. They paid a pretty penny for that to go in, and I highly doubt the City will be looking at paying the money required to change it.

Speaking of real reasons to complain about City spending, I give you Exhibit A: The Landscape of Memory.

Hey, I'm just quoting the Herald..

It's going to be one of those re-ally special types of landmarks,"said Sunnyside association director Dave White, who lives right near the 8th Street N. W. and Memorial Drive proposed northern terminus of the bridge. (It's expected the existing crosswalk at 7th Street might move closer down to serve the bridge's users.)

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Ic...714/story.html

[Muta]

Originally Posted by calculoso

Definitely more of a Calgary influence, but at the same time providing a development opportunity for students in the city. What better opportunity to develop the next wave of architects / designers / etc than to have a real-life experience?

Nice in theory, but not practical. Architectural students spend 6 years in post-secondary to learn their trade and everything involved with it; if people want to learn architecture and be an architect, perhaps they should consider schooling? I mean, there's high-level architectural graduate schools all over Canada and in the world for that field. It's very competitive, and sometimes very difficult to get in. There's lots of talented, young designers who put the time in and go through school to learn how to design exactly that - bridges. That's what they specialize in.

Letting the public design something that they simply are not qualified to do just isn't practical. Leave it to the architect to design it; and should he/she consult the public for design, then that's their perogative. The same goes for any project in any industry.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by calculoso

Definitely more of a Calgary influence, but at the same time providing a development opportunity for students in the city. What better opportunity to develop the next wave of architects / designers / etc than to have a real-life experience?

Professional architects / etc still need to start off somewhere. They can't just slap it down. Why not give them 20 (? - number of college submissions) possible 'looks' for a bridge as a starting point?

If I understand you correctly, I believe that you are saying that by allowing kids, students, and others into the process of designing the bridge we could have: had a very locally inspired and driven design, allowed amateurs to communicate their unique ideas and solutions to the professionals, and provided much needed experience to bright eyed beginners. While brining the kids, students, and others into the design process would have allowed these things to occur, there already are avenues and channels present that do the exact same thing and in a better fashion.

I myself have been fortunate enough to use these channels that are more prevalent than you might think. During my university schooling I often had instructors or professors that worked at or with City Hall and on occasion I'd present a project that had a brilliant idea and my professors would pass on my idea, solution, or perspective to their colleagues at the City. In other classes, my professors would bring their City colleagues and other peers in during our presentations. This provided yet another way for our amateur products to permeate into the professional field. A third example is the Student category in the Mayor's Urban Design Awards. If a submission brings up great ideas or points, it can easily be circulated around City Hall.

In respect to Calgarians influencing the design of projects, that is what focus sessions and open houses are meant to do.

Lastly, allowing kids and students to help in the design process is an excellent way to give them experience and provide them with a direct line to communicate with professionals. Calatrava could have used this help in designing Peace Bridge, however, other pedestrian bridges could have used the help A LOT more and it wouldn't have posed as much of a hindrance to the important and highly complex project that is Peace Bridge. Instead, why don't we let the amateurs help design bridges like the one that crosses John Laurie between Brisebois and Charleswood? That one very dearly needed help! You might say that they need to have experience dealing with important matters and projects but, seriously, it's like having Backlund and McE start in the SCF. They need big game experience but this simply isn't the game.

[Stormchaser]

Originally Posted by fotze

Sort of like this I am guessing, but red and spanning the river.

I have the feeling IKEA could make this for half the price.

Although...completion would take an additional 10 years since it would be put together with tiny allen wrenches (included)

[V]

Originally Posted by trew

Hey, I'm just quoting the Herald..




http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Ic...714/story.html

If this happens you will actually have a case to complain about funds being spent unwisely and without any foresight. Not that it ever happens, of course...

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Addick

Lastly, allowing kids and students to help in the design process is an excellent way to give them experience and provide them with a direct line to communicate with professionals.

Isn't that called an "internship" ?

[Dion]

Originally Posted by stormchaser

I have the feeling IKEA could make this for half the price.

Although...completion would take an additional 10 years since it would be put together with tiny allen wrenches (included)

And another 10 years to figure out the damn instructions.

[Otto-matic]

Originally Posted by Dion

And another 10 years to figure out the damn instructions.

[Otto-matic]

Dave's super plan ^

Instead of having 2 workers add in 6 standing around watching one guy work.

[Jedi Ninja]

Originally Posted by V

If this happens you will actually have a case to complain about funds being spent unwisely and without any foresight. Not that it ever happens, of course...

Do you think we will see reduced speed limits and traffic calming measures in that area once the bridge is completed (or is it 30kph already?) With cross-town traffic being encouraged to use 16th Ave instead. This may be possible once the ring road is completed as much of the Highway 1 traffic load will be removed from 16th.