Nathan Phillips Square Revitalization | U/C | Downtown - Page 4

urban 2.0 · February 21st, 2007, 02:38 PM

a slide show can be found at the following link:

http://www.thestar.com/columnists/article/183983

Canadian Chocho · February 21st, 2007, 04:33 PM

The design I like the most is the one by Rogers Marvel/Ken Smith Landscape Architect.

DrT · February 21st, 2007, 04:59 PM

Pretty tough to compare these proposals from the slide show renderings.
I'm defering judgement.

elliot · February 21st, 2007, 06:32 PM

Pretty much a snore.

Some bold to reinvigorate and compliment Revel's design is needed, not just plants and lights.

ggaleazz · February 21st, 2007, 06:38 PM

^ Wow I love that! Whose proposal is that!?

Roch5220 · February 21st, 2007, 06:48 PM

This competition to put a bandaid on city hall seems to me to be a waste of money, for what is going to be had. None of the proposals seem 'wow' to me, but I don't necessarily blame the proposees since they have to work within constraints.

Better yet, the panel of judges should be for those who actually currently and in the future make the most use of the public square. The homeless bums that sleep there at night. I'm sure putting in benches that are 'cushiony' and softer to sleep on is a whole lot cheaper and would provide benefit longer for some then any of these proposals.

catcher_of_cats · February 21st, 2007, 08:12 PM

What a shear disappointment and waste of money. How can the city spend $40 million on something that is extremely similar to that which already exists?

phunky · February 21st, 2007, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elliot

Pretty much a snore.

Some bold to reinvigorate and compliment Revel's design is needed, not just plants and lights.

i remember seeing this design last year. i really liked this one. shame it didn't get into the final 4.

phunky · February 21st, 2007, 08:35 PM

You can view them all here: http://www.toronto.ca/npsquarecompet...x.htm#onlineex

Jaye101 · February 21st, 2007, 10:41 PM

Zeidler Partnership Architects proposal looks cool.

KGB · February 22nd, 2007, 03:00 AM

Zeidler's plan is by far the best overall. I like the way they treat what's inside the perimeter of the elevated walkways, which compliments the original design....I especially like the concrete planters and such...very authentic to the design. The added fountain/pond thing is puching it, but it is well executed...like the glass building jutting into it.

Their treatments west of the actual square are great...very art-garden, plus has a restaurant underneath...really nice touch, as well as an added amenity that is badly needed....perhaps they could get one of the chef-superstars of the city to run it?

One thing I'm not too sure about yet is the way it meets Bay St...that's always been a big negative for the square...the complete lack of streetscape or entrance along most of Bay.

Notice how they ALL got rid of that stupid "Peace Garden"...that was a slap in the face to original design.

Quote:

What a shear disappointment and waste of money. How can the city spend $40 million on something that is extremely similar to that which already exists?

Well, uh....the whole point was to restore and upgrade without infringing on the original design.

KGB

CrazyCanuck · February 22nd, 2007, 06:17 AM

I would be happy with any of the choices, there are no terrible designs. I oike how they all have a lot of trees and most want to make the West side more environmentally friendly.

Waterloo_Guy · February 22nd, 2007, 07:18 AM

Trees are ok, but in a climate where trees are seasonal, I don't want them to be central to the design.

phunky · February 22nd, 2007, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waterloo_Guy

Trees are ok, but in a climate where trees are seasonal, I don't want them to be central to the design.

the trees aren't seasonal, just the leaves :P and yes I agree. Trees look bad in the winter, so they shouldn't be central to the design for sure.

urban 2.0 · February 22nd, 2007, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phunky

the trees aren't seasonal, just the leaves :P and yes I agree. Trees look bad in the winter, so they shouldn't be central to the design for sure.

...well it's Nathan Phillips SQUARE - not forest, or park.

Yes I support green trees, parks, grass - but Not here. Everyone knows that this isn't the place for greenery - the grass is ALWAYS a mess. The pedestrian traffic is too great to allow for good growing conditions.

ratoronto · February 22nd, 2007, 09:11 PM

Zeidler proposal is the best in my mind...

officedweller · February 23rd, 2007, 12:05 AM

I like the Rogers Marvel one the best.
By taking down the walkway on the west side, it unites the dead zone between the walkway and Osgoode Hall with the square. The other proposals seem to treat that area as separate.
The organic curves work nicely with the design of City Hall and the connection between the walkway and the park atop the pavillion creates another reason to access the walkway. A restaurant patio up there overlooking the square would be nice.

InTheBeach · February 23rd, 2007, 03:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phunky

...Trees look bad in the winter...

I'm sure I'm a minority on this, but I love naked trees.

Zeidler's is the one that catches my imagination.

***Elkhanan1*** · July 11th, 2010, 10:52 AM

Massive update coming soon. Everyone's welcome to help bring this thread up to speed too.

urban 2.0 · July 14th, 2010, 04:19 AM

Wow, i was on this site in 2007.

Funny to read old comments of your own ... and the possibility that you disagree with yourself.

February 21st, 2007, 04:33 PM	#62
Canadian Chocho Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Managua/Toronto Posts: 3,430 Likes (Received): 1	The design I like the most is the one by Rogers Marvel/Ken Smith Landscape Architect. __________________ Colonial Cities 1 2 3

February 21st, 2007, 10:41 PM	#70
Jaye101 Midtown Fella Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: █♣█ Toronto Posts: 5,301 Likes (Received): 0	Zeidler Partnership Architects proposal looks cool. __________________ Jaye's Rant 5: Take Back Your Future! Jaye's Rant 6: Tomorrow's Too Late Jaye's Rant 7: An Afro-centric Solution Jaye's Rant 8: The G-Word

February 23rd, 2007, 12:05 AM	#77
officedweller Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Vancouver Posts: 1,340 Likes (Received): 0	I like the Rogers Marvel one the best. By taking down the walkway on the west side, it unites the dead zone between the walkway and Osgoode Hall with the square. The other proposals seem to treat that area as separate. The organic curves work nicely with the design of City Hall and the connection between the walkway and the park atop the pavillion creates another reason to access the walkway. A restaurant patio up there overlooking the square would be nice. __________________ officedweller

July 11th, 2010, 10:52 AM	#79
*Elkhanan1* Moderator Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Toronto/São Paulo Posts: 4,297 Likes (Received): 6	Massive update coming soon. Everyone's welcome to help bring this thread up to speed too. __________________ "I generally avoid temptation unless I can't resist it." — Mae West

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

February 21st, 2007, 02:38 PM	#61
urban 2.0 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Torontopia Posts: 3,040 Likes (Received): 0	a slide show can be found at the following link: http://www.thestar.com/columnists/article/183983

February 21st, 2007, 04:59 PM	#63
DrT "The Ignorant Fool" Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: JAX,MCO,YVR,YYZ,SRQ Posts: 2,583 Likes (Received): 1	Pretty tough to compare these proposals from the slide show renderings. I'm defering judgement.

February 21st, 2007, 06:32 PM	#64
elliot Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 1,156 Likes (Received): 7	Pretty much a snore. Some bold to reinvigorate and compliment Revel's design is needed, not just plants and lights.

February 21st, 2007, 06:38 PM	#65
ggaleazz Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 703 Likes (Received): 0	^ Wow I love that! Whose proposal is that!?

February 21st, 2007, 06:48 PM	#66
Roch5220 My dog rules Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Toronto, NYC Posts: 1,677 Likes (Received): 0	This competition to put a bandaid on city hall seems to me to be a waste of money, for what is going to be had. None of the proposals seem 'wow' to me, but I don't necessarily blame the proposees since they have to work within constraints. Better yet, the panel of judges should be for those who actually currently and in the future make the most use of the public square. The homeless bums that sleep there at night. I'm sure putting in benches that are 'cushiony' and softer to sleep on is a whole lot cheaper and would provide benefit longer for some then any of these proposals.

February 21st, 2007, 08:12 PM	#67
catcher_of_cats Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 57 Likes (Received): 0	What a shear disappointment and waste of money. How can the city spend $40 million on something that is extremely similar to that which already exists?

February 21st, 2007, 08:35 PM	#69
phunky BANNED Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,338 Likes (Received): 0	You can view them all here: http://www.toronto.ca/npsquarecompet...x.htm#onlineex

February 22nd, 2007, 06:17 AM	#72
CrazyCanuck MOD SQUAD Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Toronto Posts: 3,681 Likes (Received): 0	I would be happy with any of the choices, there are no terrible designs. I oike how they all have a lot of trees and most want to make the West side more environmentally friendly.

February 22nd, 2007, 07:18 AM	#73
Waterloo_Guy I See Skyscrapers Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 2,042 Likes (Received): 0	Trees are ok, but in a climate where trees are seasonal, I don't want them to be central to the design.

February 22nd, 2007, 09:11 PM	#76
ratoronto Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 316 Likes (Received): 0	Zeidler proposal is the best in my mind...

July 14th, 2010, 04:19 AM	#80
urban 2.0 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Torontopia Posts: 3,040 Likes (Received): 0	Wow, i was on this site in 2007. Funny to read old comments of your own ... and the possibility that you disagree with yourself.