Cityplace Bridge

[Taller, Better]

Also agreed; if they had spent 20 million more dollars and used red paint, they could have had the same bridge as Calgary.

[Mollywood]

Originally Posted by Taller, Better

So, it has been determined; red is a nicer colour than yellow.

I couldn't agree with you more, Taller. This city needs more RED and much less grey.

[icemachine]

Originally Posted by Taller, Better

Also agreed; if they had spent 20 million more dollars and used red paint, they could have had the same bridge as Calgary.

I never said they should copy Calgary's Peace Bridge, I do like that design, but I think they could have managed a unique design with better aesthetics (something perhaps tied into the heritage of the surroundings or maybe evoking a trestle bridge) without greatly increasing the cost.

I appreciate its functionality, just my subjective opinion that it fails to integrate art with infrastructure

[isaidso]

I agree with you. It's another case of paying 100% attention to function/cost and none to aesthetics. We got a sorely needed bridge, but it wouldn't have cost much more (if any) to make it attractive. I was down there a few weeks ago on a bright sunny day. Even with blue skies that thing was dreary and depressing to look at.

Originally Posted by Mollywood

I couldn't agree with you more, Taller. This city needs more RED and much less grey.

Maybe the guy was colour blind. You have to wonder sometimes.

[AndrewJM3D]

If it's any consolation, that bridge will need to be repainted in 15 years from wear and tear and locomotive exhaust. Perhaps then they will paint it red.

One bridge I wish they would repaint now would be the old truss bridge Bathurst crosses south of Font.

Something like this would be nice. I would prefer though that they paint all of our old steel structures black like the Bloor Viaduct and the Dundas Don Bridge.

[Tuscani01]

First of all, it was a woman who picked the colour, and second, she still stands by her choice. It was inspired by a visit to a country with a similar climate to ours. Many of their buildings were painted a similar yellow, and it just popped on gloomy days. I don't remember the country she mentioned, but she was right that the bridge does pop on gloomy days... though I think it would stand out a lot more if it weren't set against the dirty, dusty, messy train tracks below.

Up close, when not viewing down on the bridge and looking at it with the buildings in the background, or the sky in the background, the colour is great. Same goes for when you walk across it. As soon as you view it from above, or from the sides, the effect disappears and it just blends in with the mess of the rail yard and lines.

[Mollywood]

Originally Posted by AndrewJM3D

If it's any consolation, that bridge will need to be repainted in 15 years from wear and tear and locomotive exhaust. Perhaps then they will paint it red.

One bridge I wish they would repaint now would be the old truss bridge Bathurst crosses south of Font.

Something like this would be nice. I would prefer though that they paint all of our old steel structures black like the Bloor Viaduct and the Dundas Don Bridge.

I wish they would fix that clock too. Why is it public clocks never work in this town? (nor our drinking fountains)

[Taller, Better]

Originally Posted by Mollywood

I wish they would fix that clock too. Why is it public clocks never work in this town? (nor our drinking fountains)

How many people actually drink from a water fountain in 2012? People won't even drink the water from the taps in their houses; has to be all bottled and filtered. I have a hard time imagining anyone other than a homeless person drinking from a public fountain. Even homeless people beg for money to buy bottled water.

[ssiguy2]

Well looking on the positive side of the design, if it was meant to blend into the surrounding area it did it well. It provides a good shelter from the rain for the homeless who will be camped out underneath it and it connects to the city's newest slum that is CityPlace.

It's a horrid piece of architecture but then CityPlace is a horrid looking development that looks like Stalin got at discount at the local glass shop. I guess it blends in better with the local community more than I originally thought.

[isaidso]

Originally Posted by AndrewJM3D

If it's any consolation, that bridge will need to be repainted in 15 years from wear and tear and locomotive exhaust. Perhaps then they will paint it red.

Hopefully high gloss so it looks as good as a new car.

[AndrewJM3D]

Originally Posted by ssiguy2

Well looking on the positive side of the design, if it was meant to blend into the surrounding area it did it well. It provides a good shelter from the rain for the homeless who will be camped out underneath it and it connects to the city's newest slum that is CityPlace.

It's a horrid piece of architecture but then CityPlace is a horrid looking development that looks like Stalin got at discount at the local glass shop. I guess it blends in better with the local community more than I originally thought.

I fail to see how its a horrid piece of architecture, and while Vancouver's Concord Pacific has given Toronto one of it's most mundane looking communities I'd hardly call the local community an area that blends in with this bridge. If you knew Toronto you would never have made that comment because on the North Side of the bridge is an area full of historic architecture and great new builds by Toronto firms. Also how the hell are people going to camp out under it on the CN lines? Use your head and think before you comment next time.The Vancouver based Concord Pacific side has nothing on the Toronto based North side. So you're wrong, the bridge isn't good enough for real local community.


http://www.urbantoronto.ca/sites/def...6291-20192.jpg

From the north looking south.











image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr

[AndrewJM3D]

Originally Posted by Mollywood

I wish they would fix that clock too. Why is it public clocks never work in this town? (nor our drinking fountains)

Ya me to, how tough is it for the city to maintain these things?

And TB, I stopped using public water fountains after I saw a homeless woman washing her feet in one in Montreal, I'm sure that practice happens in every city. Her toes were touching the spout for Christs sake.

[Taller, Better]

ssiguy2, in all fairness have you ever even been to Cityplace and environs and actually seen it? What experience have you there making you feel
confident enough to dismiss it all in one damning sweep? I have to say, I agree with Andrew. If you had the foggiest idea of what the area around King Street West (what you call the local community) was like you would not say that City Place blends in with it. I'm afraid it sounds like you are guessing.

[JustinB]

I thought members were already used to ssiguy2's anti-toronto rants? He trashes Toronto's transit plans all the time, I am not surprised he is trashing Toronto's architecture. He loves to criticize a city he knows little about.

[Taller, Better]

Well, ssiguy2 is a good and highly intelligent member and everyone is welcome to participate, but in order to be credible, a person should have some first hand experience of what they are trashing otherwise it begins to sound like opinions designed to fit preconceived regional stereotypes.

[Mollywood]

Originally Posted by ssiguy2

Well looking on the positive side of the design, if it was meant to blend into the surrounding area it did it well. It provides a good shelter from the rain for the homeless who will be camped out underneath it and it connects to the city's newest slum that is CityPlace.

It's a horrid piece of architecture but then CityPlace is a horrid looking development that looks like Stalin got at discount at the local glass shop. I guess it blends in better with the local community more than I originally thought.

I'm not a huge fan of CityPlace but give me a break. It's not quite that bad. I also have the feeling, you've never even been in the area. I think the neighbourhood will improve, once it is finished.

I noticed that there will be a number of new retail spaces, in the courtyard/base of Parade, so that might give the district a new gathering place. CityPlace desperately needs a central place, to become the heart of the community and I think that will be it. I can see an outdoor restaurant patio and cafe, in that wooden deck area. It's also located right across from the main park area, so it's perfect for retail/restaurants. That big glass cube in the TCHC building will also make a good retail space, so I do hold out some hope for CityPlace. (Oh, and the newer condos are not going to be all grey!)