Devonian Gardens - almost ready to reopen

[OldDutch]

I went down yesterday, and the impressions I read here are similar to my thoughts. Totally different feel to the new gardens. Very contemporary modern design, very uniform and seamless with plenty of white and grey tones.

You can see how they opened it up so more people can use the garden at the same time. That is good, but there are way less plants. More than I thought, but still less than I think is needed to keep the old feel.

I didn't see much seating either, maybe they will fix that, but there was no where to sit. Hope they fix that soon.

I think the clean new look is a double edged sword. Sure it looks new and updated, but at the expense of comfort. It really felt sterile and cold to me, at least in comparison with the old one. The uniform plants, little seating, the colour and design made it look like a modern airport. A place to come but not stay too long.

The price tag is obscene, and makes the peace bridge look like a great deal (which I think it is, but this emphasizes it).

However, I have to also say it is not a total disaster, still quite a great space to have in winter time. However, I like others think it turned out to be pretty mediocre. Not awful by any means, but nothing spectacular either. Really lacks the soul of the old place, but that is how a lot of Calgary things are headed in the need to be cosmopolitan I guess.

[Flames_Gimp]

Originally Posted by fotze

Actually saw a homeless guy washing his crotch in the sink many years ago at the bathroom at Devonian gardens.

you saw? or you watched?

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Flames_Gimp

you saw? or you watched?

Both.

[trumpethead]

I wish we would have saved the $37M, rolled some tires up there and got these 2 to plant a crapload of potatoes. Soon, the good people of Calgary would be enjoying the freshest poutine in the history of food courts.

[Mr.Coffee]

Calgary would stand a better city if not every old building was knocked down, not every pub become a super hip modern fully renovated super expensive restolounge, not every store be a "top of the line" pricey place, not every thing be super awesome state of the art, and things and places in general left alone and only slightly modified or updated.

Some of the new stuff / renovated stuff in the city blows for the purpose of pricey bricks and "sleek looks". Science centre- not enough exhibits. Devonian gardens, less garden, more boring & walky just to look contemporary. Calgary zoo- still ok, but let's take an exhibit that could have 20 animals, and make it cool looking and house 1 and do construction for 40 years).

Effin leave stuff alone / don't completely ruin it in the pursuit of looking contemporary.

[Bigtime]

^^^ You make a good point, but there are many places in Calgary where you can find the history/character/not super-expensive options that you are craving. They do exist, but sometimes you need to go off the beaten path to find them.

Back on the topic of the gardens, here are some pictures of the original as it was in 2008 for comparison:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/entheos...in/photostream

[Regular_John]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

^^^ You make a good point, but there are many places in Calgary where you can find the history/character/not super-expensive options that you are craving. They do exist, but sometimes you need to go off the beaten path to find them.

Back on the topic of the gardens, here are some pictures of the original as it was in 2008 for comparison:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/entheos...in/photostream

The Turtles! That's what the garden is missing! Didn't that city planner guy invite the citizens of Calgary to donate their excess turtles to the garden? It's time for us as a community to step up and fund the reintroduction of the turtles!*



*I am in no way advocating anyone actually do this. Dumping an unwanted pet is irresponsible and should not be encouraged.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by trumpethead

Its laughable that the city spent 4 years and $37M to "renovate" an indoor park in the middle of a mall (and most react with a meh). Meanwhile, people lose their s#$t over the Peace Bridge which was $10M less to build, took less time to build and is used/seen by more people. I dont get it. I mean $37M to renovate a park!! why arent we pissed off about this??

I'm pissed off about this. We took 37MM and made something worse than it was before. There's now 1.1 MM Calgarians, and personally, I'd like my $33 back.

[Jimmy Stang]

I went down there today and I think that a lot of people are going to be disappointed. I personally think that it looks sharp and provides a better space for weddings and that sort of thing, but it isn't anything like the old one, which is what it will always be compared to. If this was a brand new project and we didn't have the old gardens to compare it to, I think that people would be gushing about how great it is.

Calgarians are a funny bunch though (coming from a born and raised Calgarian). A simpleton newspaper columnist is able to whip the city into a frenzy of misinformation about a bridge, yet everyone is fine with a $37 million shrinking and rebuild of a indoor park.

Cool space, it integrates into the Core mall quite nicely, more flexible for weddings and functions, etc. But I'd be lying if I said that I didn't miss the old Devonian Gardens.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

I'm pissed off about this. We took 37MM and made something worse than it was before. There's now 1.1 MM Calgarians, and personally, I'd like my $33 back.

Don't forget that there was a lot of asbestos in the old place which had to come out. I heard there were a lot of other surprises in the renovation that made the costs what they were.

Lots of memories here from the old skating rink and playground.....rather sad it's become a glorified extension of the food court.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

I went down there today and I think that a lot of people are going to be disappointed. I personally think that it looks sharp and provides a better space for weddings and that sort of thing, but it isn't anything like the old one, which is what it will always be compared to. If this was a brand new project and we didn't have the old gardens to compare it to, I think that people would be gushing about how great it is.

Compared to the average mall food court, it's awesome. Compared to the old Devonian gardens it's a huge let-down.

[Ben_in_Canada]

One of my fondest memories of my first visit to Calgary was spending a snowy afternoon at the gardens. I took my little girl there for her first visit today.
she loved it, I however was very letdown.

[Bigtime]

Went down and checked the gardens out yesterday afternoon. First impression is pretty "meh" if you remember the old gardens. With the very wide walkways and barren open areas (with the reflecting pools) you never really feel like you are getting lost in a lush green landscape. I wonder if modern day fire codes necessitated wider walkways and clearer sight lines than the old gardens?

Little things that bugged me, near the entrance to the events room area there is nice usage of a wood paneling on a pillar and room overlooking the gardens. Why not take that wood paneling and apply it to all the exposed white pillars in the entire gardens? It would sure help with creating a more natural look.

There definitely needs to be some benches, as it stands right now I don't think there is enough seating for people to sit around and relax.

The playground is nice, but seems to be only designed for about age 5 and up, what about the younger ones?

I did like the boardwalk section near the Koi ponds, using the exotic wood decking. Use of natural materials like that gave the gardens and much more natural feel, whereas the rest of it feels too cold and modern with the slate grey tile.

I think those of us that remember the old gardens will be disappointed, but those that grow up with these ones will like them.

[ranchlandsselling]

Originally Posted by trumpethead

Its laughable that the city spent 4 years and $37M to "renovate" an indoor park in the middle of a mall (and most react with a meh). Meanwhile, people lose their s#$t over the Peace Bridge which was $10M less to build, took less time to build and is used/seen by more people. I dont get it. I mean $37M to renovate a park!! why arent we pissed off about this??

City maintains the park. It's part of a building owned by pension funds. I'd be very surprised if the City spent $37 million in there. Looking for information now. Please feel free to supply any if you find it.

[Table 5]

I really wish one of you guys took a camera with you.

[Bigtime]

^^^ I've just sent a couple of tweets asking what the city did spend, I'll post the answer when I get it.

Originally Posted by Table 5

I really wish one of you guys took a camera with you.

I thought about it, but then I got lazy since I was bringing along a 1 week old.

[Table 5]

Shame on you for prioritizing your children over CP.

[Bigtime]

I'm history's greatest monster.

[Bigtime]

Druh Farrell just tweeted me back and said the cost to the city was about $37M.

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

Calgary would stand a better city if not every old building was knocked down, not every pub become a super hip modern fully renovated super expensive restolounge, not every store be a "top of the line" pricey place, not every thing be super awesome state of the art, and things and places in general left alone and only slightly modified or updated.

Some of the new stuff / renovated stuff in the city blows for the purpose of pricey bricks and "sleek looks". Science centre- not enough exhibits. Devonian gardens, less garden, more boring & walky just to look contemporary. Calgary zoo- still ok, but let's take an exhibit that could have 20 animals, and make it cool looking and house 1 and do construction for 40 years).

Effin leave stuff alone / don't completely ruin it in the pursuit of looking contemporary.

I have the perfect spot for you to visit! Craigie Hall at the U of C!