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internationalx

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Tout ce qui a été posté par internationalx

  1. internationalx
    I am almost without words. Montreal already is behind pretty much every other major city in terms of real estate development. We have entire city blocks downtown that look like Chernobyl. I guess we can expect them to stay that way for a very long time. While I think all of us want to preserve our old buildings, not building new ones leaves the question: what kind of heritage are we going to leave future generations. Can you imagine what they will say in 150 years from now?? They will say that we didn't leave them any heritage. Clearly certain people simply want to protect Montreal as if it were an ancient artifact. Well, I'm sorry, but I don't want to live an a museum. When you travel around the world to other cities, you look at all the exciting architecture and buildings going up and you see how it makes these cities pulse. The unintended consequence of these restrictions will also mean poor quality architecture and materials. It simply doesn't pay to build a 4-10 storey building; it makes more money as a surface parking lot. Also, height gives a sense of grandeur to a city. This is not good.
  2. internationalx
    they were almost on the right track: the windows are cheap and the colour of the brick is WRONG (and cheap). The windows and brick colour could have changed the whole final product. Again, cheap materials and clearly the architects and developer have NO taste.
  3. internationalx
    Habsfan...Of course! The best residential buildings going up in New York are done in limestone. 15 Central Park West which is nearing completion is entirely clad in carved limestone. It is the most talked about building in NYC and sold out. It is incredible. Check out 15cpw.com. It can be expensive but it can be used in different combinations as well. The Brompton, also going up in NYC is brick with limetstone accents. Also an incredible building. Robert A.M. Stern is the master at pre-war architecture for the 21st century.
  4. internationalx
    I always wonder that with alleyways in Montreal, why garage entrances are placed on the street, especially a street like de la Montagne which has the makings of our high-end luxury shopping street; this project with its big retail spaces on the ground floor topped with residential is perfect to make this happen. Of course, Wanda's should be torn down and incorporated: More retail space to transform the area.
  5. internationalx
    I disagree, the original terminal is a landmark of midcentury modernism. Especially important because this was also the start of the jet era when air travel was still a glamourous thing. Moreover, this terminal is even more important to the history of aviation in Montreal as it was the main international gateway to Canada and North America. I would hate to see the style erased. Montreal has suffered too much vandalism of its modern architecture: Place Bonaventure, Place Ville Marie, CIBC, among the most prominent examples of stupid reno jobs to suit the fashion of the moment. Only Place Victoria was properly updated through a restoration.
  6. internationalx
    I gotta admit, I don't get this design. There is WAY too much going on aesthetically. The Gazette Building is so unique in its own right that I feel the new addtions should have been more clean and streamlined. From the render it looks very busy. I much preferred the original design that was more daring and innovative.
  7. internationalx
    Totally agree with you there. If all the local residents hate the Port Royal so much, they did a disservice to themselves by opposing a slighly taller structure for the Sir George Simpson. I am more dissapointed though that better quality materials are not being used such as limestone or brick. For such a prestigious location, this should have been much better.
  8. internationalx
    A high end hotel in that location would improve the retail and breath life into the immediate area (University between Cathcart and Ste Cath, along Cathcart).
  9. internationalx
    It never ceases to amaze me. It seems as though all these governments and other groups ever do is conduct studies and talk to consultants in addtion to the endless back and forth between all the groups. There is never any action. This link is not very complicated and there is not that much to study. It has been 10 years since the transfer of flights to YUL! This is the same kind of back and forth that de-railed any Mirable link, let alone the highway extension.
  10. internationalx
    Amazing site. Perfect for a world class hotel chain as it directly across PVM and in the center of the shopping district.
  11. internationalx
    There is not a whole lot that can be done with Windsor Station ever since the mistake that is the Bell Centre. It could easily become part of a concert hall built in the center court. Afterall, this court/square while nice is not in and of itself a heritage monument as it was the tracks and platforms. An office building is another option BUT VERY doubtful as the Nimby's led by Dinu would never allow it. They are so narrow minded in that older buildings that have trouble finding modern day uses because their uses were limited or stripped of their vocation HAVE to adapt. I would much rather have a building like Windsor Station living as part of something bigger than have it stand vacant as some kind of ancient artifact in a museum cabinet. Of course, Dinu is pushing his own version of Montreal as a low rise city that evolves and transforms very little. Sad, very sad for Montreal. There is very little room for daring, innovative projects in a city that guards against it. And Mr. Bumbaru is obsessed with having Montreal declared a Unesco city of heritage. A museum indeed.
  12. internationalx

    Gare Viger

    internationalx a répondu à un sujet de mtlurb dans Complétés

    Dinu Bumbaru has got to take a chill pill... I am a huge advocate of preserving and re-using beautiful old buildings but he should not be influencing construction projects proposed on empty parking lots!
  13. internationalx

    Gare Viger

    internationalx a répondu à un sujet de mtlurb dans Complétés

    Habsfan - All the lots zoned for 120+m have almost all been used up; buildings around 80 have been built there such as 1100 RL, Le Crystal de la Montagne, CCE.
  14. internationalx

    Gare Viger

    internationalx a répondu à un sujet de mtlurb dans Complétés

    The big problem and reason that ROC real estate groups don't invest in Montreal these days is two-fold if not more. One: the government of Quebec skews the market by getting involved real-estate projects like CCE. By offering tax breaks in particular, for companies to move their offices into them so that they seem "successful" is the biggest issue; this is an uneven playing field and should simply no be done. Why would Brookfield want to go head-to-head with the government?? (This is especially the case in terms of the commercial market). As for a comment regarding Montrealers liking the status quo, this is so true. (I have read many blogs and seems that people actually like surface parking lots instead of new buildings). Let me build on that point: It seems also that Montreal based developers are stuck in this mode of mediocrity whether it is size or quality of design. Moreover, what surprises me as well is that no one ever challenges zoning. The master plan is so limited in terms of height. In fact, most lots where you can build 120+m have already been built on with on average 80 storey buildings. That is not to say that unused air rights can be transfered to neighboring blocks, but I have yet to see that happen in Montreal. It would kill me to see 1300 RL get a crummy 28 floors of uninspiring architecture. it is a fact that from a pedestrian perspective, there is no difference between 6 floors and 60 floors. Finally, community groups / nimbys have far too much power in killing building projects. This always amazes me. The city should not bow to these pressures all the time. Yet the city must do a better job at ensuring that quality gets built, especially when demolition is involved. For example, Overland is an unecessary scar downtown and exhibits the irresponsibility of city government.
  15. internationalx
    I have been waiting for this. These squares have the potential to be so grand and elegant. They are littered with picnic tables you can buy at Reno depot, and covered in asphalt of all things. The monument at the center of Dorchester Square used to include a water feature; I'd like to see that restored and pathways paved with some kind of natural stone. I also find the driveway in front of the Dominion Square Building to be just a bit large for no reason. Do we really need six lanes there?
  16. internationalx
    you can't build next the the mount stephan club but you can built on top of the ritz and add tack on a ridiculous wing? I'd rather projects get evaluated case-by-case versus a blanket policy.
  17. internationalx
    as long as they use grey limestone and not pre-cast concrete this can look really good. It all depends on the execution. But the configutation and concept is great. I would reconsider the glass wall.
  18. internationalx
    wow...finally something visionary and worthy of Montreal.
  19. internationalx
    Considering they recently closed on this property in September, I doubt that they have any idea what this project will actually look like. The rendition they give is probably, at best, just there to give an idea of what will actually be built. Certainly if they are good developers, they will go through many versions of design (I hope). Either way, I don't think we are going to see anything built here for many years.
  20. internationalx
    I'm always surprised that mixed use hasn't caught on more in Montreal... this is the perfect place for both a concert venue like Nokia AND a residential or hotel component as the spot straddles the business district with the residential neighborhood.
  21. internationalx
    I was reading an article today about this very thing... in New York for example, developers, particularly in this last boom have moved away from hiring hack commerical architects for their projects. They have moved to starchitects for the cachet it gives their not only their proposals but also themselves. It raises their profile. Total hubris. Moreover, they are using celebrity architects in order to get their projects passed easier and faster with city planners and community groups. Who wants to argue with David Childs, Jean Nouvel, or Rem Koolhaus?? This trend certaintly hasn't made its way to MTL. Furthermore, as a developer I certainly would not want to put up an albatross so that 20 years later people want it to implode. The legacy factor.
  22. internationalx
    I live in LA and the Nokia Theater, while a great venue, looks like a big box retail store from the outside; as if no one put any thought or effort into the exterior design. I'd prefer to see a concert venue integrated into a mixed use project.
  23. internationalx
    For me, I'd rather have an empty lot and wait for something that is quality and timeless - especially when it is on such a pretigious spot.
  24. internationalx
    kudos to ADM.. this design is quite nice and it shows that they are thinking about cohesion of new and existing infrastructure/buildings. The hotel addition is reminiscent of the original 1960 structure in both size and aesthetics. It will handsomly balance out the entire extended terminal almost like a mirror image. As someone who travels quite a bit, YUL is the most pleasant airport to use.
  25. internationalx
    It does not have to be pre-fab anything. There are architects and designers and builders for that matter that build in limestone. Not tile slabs of limestone, but actual large, carved pieces as they did in the early 20th century. Robert AM Stern is the master. Check out his 15 Central Park West that is nearing completion. I wouldn't have a problem with building another wing in the back that is a modern tower. However, tacking on an extension on top of the original as such is well, tacky.
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