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bengaijin
Guest
John Bentley Mays sums it up well: a zoning-constrained, politically-bound, uncontroversial, stereotype-reinforcing business center. One of the few disappointing buildings to come out of KPMB.
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Brighter Hell
Guest
northwest passage? timber room? why not design it like a giant igloo while they're at it? have singing mounties and eskimos give tours, and give ice fishing and seal clubbing lessons in the park. as long as we're convincing people to never come here, why not go all out?
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simply Dan
Guest
"Kanada" in German sounds like "keiner da" which means "nobody's there" - that's the joke among Germans. Germans generally know surprisingly little about Canada save for the stereotypes that successive Canadian governments seem to perpetuate constantly. I remember the Canada pavilion at Expo 2000 in Hanover being little more than Mounties and maple syrup - very disappointing, considering the pavilions from places like Holland, Japan and Norway were displaying their advanced technological, cultural, sustainable, architectural etc. prowess...
I personally think the new embassy is fine - a quality building constructed of quality materials in a choice location in the heart of the reunified city. It may not be stunning like the new Dutch or Indian embassies, but it is a fantastic improvement over what Canada was previously using as diplomatic space (a leased floor in a dingy office building). Canada has never really been one to attract attention to itself, but seems to excel more at understated elegance and efficiency in the world of design - I feel this new building defines us well in that regard.
I personally think the new embassy is fine - a quality building constructed of quality materials in a choice location in the heart of the reunified city. It may not be stunning like the new Dutch or Indian embassies, but it is a fantastic improvement over what Canada was previously using as diplomatic space (a leased floor in a dingy office building). Canada has never really been one to attract attention to itself, but seems to excel more at understated elegance and efficiency in the world of design - I feel this new building defines us well in that regard.
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wyliepoon
Guest
I have mixed feelings about the Canadian Embassy. I think it is a very clean building that respects its urban context well, and I like the Timber Hall, which spells Canadian contemporary architecture with its wood panelling. However it appears uninspiring. If this was built in downtown Toronto it would get little attention (unless it was a university building). If it was built in Mississauga it would look like any other office park.
re: Canadian pavilions
Another bad Canadian architectural representative in Europe... BC-Canada Place (pavilion promoting the Vancouver 2010 Games) in Turin. Interestingly few Italians were turned off by the architecture- they lined up for a city block just to go in for the refreshments and the HBC Olympic wear.
re: Canadian pavilions
Another bad Canadian architectural representative in Europe... BC-Canada Place (pavilion promoting the Vancouver 2010 Games) in Turin. Interestingly few Italians were turned off by the architecture- they lined up for a city block just to go in for the refreshments and the HBC Olympic wear.
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AlvinofDiaspar
Guest
Awful. Then again, it fits the Vancouver presentation at the closing ceremonies just fine (screaming tackiness).
Honestly, does the decision makers have a sense of taste, or are they all what, Sheila Copps wannabes?
AoD
Honestly, does the decision makers have a sense of taste, or are they all what, Sheila Copps wannabes?
AoD
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building babel
Guest
The flag building reminds me of the Palio di Siena.
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thenay
Guest
disappointing indeed :\
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bengaijin
Guest
>The flag building reminds me of the Palio di Siena.
Huh? How so?
Huh? How so?
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building babel
Guest
The flags! The flags! The big, bright, garish flags!
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interchange42
Guest
But where's the madding crowd BB? Where are the high-strung horses? The Palio di Torino just doesn't seem to compare...
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building babel
Guest
Wylie says the Turinians ( Trinians? ) lined up for a city block. Few, he says, were turned off by the architecture. So maybe the Palio look drew them in?