The Skyline discussion thread; Calgary, US, World; I ain't even care, just discuss

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Stupid Bow trying to live in the present instead of the 70s. Why couldn't you be a square concrete bunker like every other building?

I'm not sure that shrinking the width and shaping the top would make it 70s.

[Drummer]

I really like San Diego's skyline. It has a height limit due to the airport but the amount of new highrise condos are awesome. The view from the east / north east Coronado is great.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by SebC

I'm not sure that shrinking the width and shaping the top would make it 70s.

That wasn't really what I was speaking to though. The last thing it should've done is fit into the general mediocrity that the majority of Calgary's skyline was before it. Downtown looked like it was stuck in 70s/80s concrete hell before it came along, and jolted some contemporary design into it.

Btw, the Bow was supposed to be thinner and taller, but the shadow restrictions forced it to be more squat. I agree it would've looked more elegant from some angles if it was both.

[jayswin]

Yep, like MMF said, new buildings shouldn't be built to fit in with our old ones, or to not take away from the skyline. Each new building should be trying to out-do the last new, cutting edge building.

[Table 5]

This was the original Bow design.





I'm not sure what to think of that roof design. Part of me likes it, part of me prefers the flat top we have now.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by flameswin

Yep, like MMF said, new buildings shouldn't be built to fit in with our old ones, or to not take away from the skyline. Each new building should be trying to out-do the last new, cutting edge building.

I do think buildings should be designed into their context, but Calgary just needed to be jolted out of it's design funk. So many mediocre towers had been build in this city, I'm glad someone just decided to ignore them, and give us something truly contemporary.

And just like many of us predicted at the time, it raised the bar for everyone else who came after it. There's no way you get something like Telus Sky here if the Bow didn't raise the bar. You'd just get more crap from Gibbs Gage with crappy cladding.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Btw, the Bow was supposed to be thinner and taller, but the shadow restrictions forced it to be more squat. I agree it would've looked more elegant from some angles if it was both.

Whether the intended design or the compromise we got, it's still got too much size for its location, from a skyline optimization perspective (which is obviously not the perspective from which buildings are developed). Move it to the former Imperial Oil lot and the skyline would look much better. Or keep its location but shrink the floorplate, even if the height comes down with it, and the skyline would look better.

As for the roof, I think I'd have prefered a gentle rise or tapering towards the centre, or even a slant or rise towards the corners instead of the bat ears, but the bat ears are definitely better than the flat roof we got.

[NomNomNom]

Chicago:

Shot this last April. Their skyline/core is breathtaking.

Spoiler!

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by NomNomNom

Chicago:

Shot this last April. Their skyline/core is breathtaking.

Haha, that's a beauty pic, but it doesn't show anything in regards to Chicago's skyline.

Here's a couple that show just the sheer depth and height of their skyline. Just awesome.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Table 5

This was the original Bow design.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by SebC

Whether the intended design or the compromise we got, it's still got too much size for its location, from a skyline optimization perspective (which is obviously not the perspective from which buildings are developed). Move it to the former Imperial Oil lot and the skyline would look much better.

Don't disagree, the skyline is a little off kilter now. Brookfield will help to bring it closer to the middle, and hopefully the IOL site will someday knock it out of the park with Canada's tallest.

[JD]

Originally Posted by SebC

San Diego is super slouchy for it's population. LA's skyline is far better... the only thing San Diego's has going for it over LA's is that it's on the waterfront.

San Diego's tallest: 152m, 152m, 152m, 145m, 143m...
LA's tallest: 310m, 261m, 229m, 228m, 224m...

I'm sure I don't need to tell you, but height isn't everything. When I visit San Diego, I tend to get drawn in to taking pictures of the city skyline. When I go to LA, well, I don't. Other things tend to grab my attention. Being on the waterfront is probably a great reason SD's downtown was built the way it was, and it really gives you a lot great vantage points. SD is a beautiful city. LA never really struck me as "beautiful". It's interesting for sure!

[SebC]

Originally Posted by JD

I'm sure I don't need to tell you, but height isn't everything.

Of course not, but when talking about skylines... it's still quite a bit!

[NomNomNom]

Originally Posted by flameswin

Haha, that's a beauty pic, but it doesn't show anything in regards to Chicago's skyline.

Bro, I just wanted to play

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Table 5

This was the original Bow design.





I'm not sure what to think of that roof design. Part of me likes it, part of me prefers the flat top we have now.

I like it. The top distinct and the added height makes it much more prominent. The building as is today looks good only from the angles that show it as narrow as from other angles it looks like a fat rectangular glass building.

[Tyler]

Seriously? That's pretty ridiculous looking. Hate the fat, north looking south view, but hard to top the south looking north view of the current building.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Tyler

Seriously? That's pretty ridiculous looking. Hate the fat, north looking south view, but hard to top the south looking north view of the current building.

I like it because it's not flat like the majority of towers and it also shows from all angles that it's not a rectangular building which you don't get now when viewing from the NE.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by NomNomNom

Bro, I just wanted to play

Sorry didn't meant to be rude. Your pic was awesome.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Tyler

Seriously? That's pretty ridiculous looking. Hate the fat, north looking south view, but hard to top the south looking north view of the current building.

Depends on how close you are. Close up you can see the curve, but from far away the south looking north view is just as much a fat rectangle as the north looking south view.

[Table 5]

Maybe you need to stop guzzlin' yops and move closer in then.