Complete the42 | 23 m | 6 fl

[SP!RE]

Their work is hardly "offensive"-- it makes too little a statement to be "offensive". However, no, it's not as good as some of the other modernist firms in Toronto.

It still sets a new level for residential architecture in Waterloo.

[urbandreamer]

What makes much of Quadrangle's architecture "offensive?" Stuff like this, they allow to pad their bottom line:

(photo by me, 12 June 2010 of http://urbantoronto.ca/showthread.ph...ngle%29/page63 West Harbour City, Toronto)

[Rowe]

Paint it red.

[SP!RE]

I love the taller West Harbour City tower. However, that's an inaccurate example of their work. Those buildings are quite out of character for Quadrangle designs.

[DHLawrence]

I like West Harbour City too. It's a nice change from a sea of glass--which has its place, but not every place!

[Spokes]

Have any Wonderful Waterloo members bought in this project?

[garthdanlor]

I like West Harbour City too. It's a nice change from a sea of glass--which has its place, but not every place!

I think so too...Im pretty sick of the ubiquitous green glass building.

[BuildingScout]

I think so too...Im pretty sick of the ubiquitous green glass building.

While it is becoming very trendy to criticize glass towers lets not forget that they are an improvement over the previous seriously-over-bricked tiny-windowed architecture.

[garthdanlor]

While it is becoming very trendy to criticize glass towers lets not forget that they are an improvement over the previous seriously-over-bricked tiny-windowed architecture.

Wasn't aware of any trend. I think there are some fabulous all-glass towers, but I'll take a small windowed art deco skyscraper over a generic green glass tower any day.

[BuildingScout]

but I'll take a small windowed art deco skyscraper over a generic green glass tower any day.

Unless you happen to work or live in it, that is.

Let me expand on this. First, architecture trends tend to span the globe. This is a bad thing. The number and size of the light intakes have to be adapted to the climate. Say, Santa Fe architecture works great for... drum roll...Santa Fe, New Mexico. In colder, grayer climes such as Canada, large windows, and glass covered atria are a must (see BCE place in Toronto, or whatever the current name of the Hockey Hall of Fame corridor is).

Also architects tend to focus too much on the outside look to the detriment of interior usage. Sometimes this is in alignment with the client's wishes, but many times isn't. The MIT Strata center, for example, is full of unusable space. It has tons of open space where private quiet offices are needed and lots of nooks and crannies where open, square space was needed.

[SP!RE]

Canada isn't colder and grayer. It depends where you are in Canada. And in the case of Toronto, there are extreme temperatures: very hot summers and very cold winters.

It's simply incorrect to suggest that Toronto's climate demands all-glass towers. And there's nothing about an art deco inspired building that is out of place in our region, historically or climate or design-wise. It's not even detrimental to those who live (or work) inside as you suggested-- there is still substantial window coverage compared to the dingy buildings of the past. Meanwhile, you criticize balconies in one thread, which are a great asset to residents of a building, and then you criticize the bias towards creating a pleasant exterior over a quality interior in this thread.

Your opinions are welcome but I don't see how your post really fit in with the discussion. I'm not trying to be a jerk but rather make you really stand behind what you say.

[garthdanlor]

Unless you happen to work or live in it, that is.

Let me expand on this. First, architecture trends tend to span the globe. This is a bad thing. The number and size of the light intakes have to be adapted to the climate. Say, Santa Fe architecture works great for... drum roll...Santa Fe, New Mexico. In colder, grayer climes such as Canada, large windows, and glass covered atria are a must (see BCE place in Toronto, or whatever the current name of the Hockey Hall of Fame corridor is).

My criticism isn`t with the use of glass, but specifically with the explosion of (often cheaply made) green glass cladded condo boxes that have popped up all over Vancouver, Toronto, and elsewhere. IMO, they aren`t interesting to look at and while they may be comfortable to live in, it is possible to combine both looks and comfort. I just think these things won`t age well and, in years to come, they will be instantly identifiable as a product of the Nineties/Naughties, and not in a good way.

[BuildingScout]

Canada isn't colder and grayer.

Seriously? Toronto, to use a random city in Canada averages three hours of sunshine a day from November to February. Atlanta averages 5.5, Santa Fe 7.75.

It's simply incorrect to suggest that Toronto's climate demands all-glass towers.

Strawman. No such claim was made. The statement was: "large windows with glass covered atria are a must". This can be achieved without Saran wrapping the entire building, but it certainly makes glass towers less of a "crime" than in say, Los Angeles.

[SP!RE]

Then what is wrong with a tower like West Harbour City, which kickstarted this discussion, having smaller windows? I still don't see what point you were trying to argue for/against.

[DHLawrence]

I would have thought that large glass windows would be a bad thing in Canada. Glass isn't exactly a great insulator.

[Urbanomicon]

I would have thought that large glass windows would be a bad thing in Canada. Glass isn't exactly a great insulator.

If we're talking energy consumption, glass towers are just about the worst thing you can build.

In Winter, the glass curtain walls have a substantially reduced thermal resistance when compared to more traditional walls; they also have a greater potential for air infiltration through cracks around the window pains as the sealing putty degrades over time. Radiative losses are also greater in the Winter as the warm building can radiate energy to the cold outdoors directly instead of through an intermediate wall at the same temperature as the building.

In Summer, the sun shines unhindered through all of the building's sealed windows making the structure completely uninhabitable without the use of massive chillers (large air conditioners) to keep the structure cool. Without this, these structures would quickly reach temperatures over 50C even on a sunny spring or fall day. They are essentially tall greenhouses with sealed windows.

This results in enourmous amounts of energy being required to heat and cool these structures.

[DHLawrence]

If we're talking energy consumption, glass towers are just about the worst thing you can build.

In Winter, the glass curtain walls have a substantially reduced thermal resistance when compared to more traditional walls; they also have a greater potential for air infiltration through cracks around the window pains as the sealing putty degrades over time.

Welcome to my house 9_9

So small windows and a lot of brick don't sound like a bad idea after all (depending on the shape at least)

[Urbanomicon]

Welcome to my house 9_9

So small windows and a lot of brick don't sound like a bad idea after all (depending on the shape at least)

Good practice is generally to not have any (or very few) East and West facing windows (so the sun doesn't shine into the building all day long). If East or West facing windows are present, they should have an exterior shade that blocks direct sunlight (ex. an awning).

[BuildingScout]

Then what is wrong with a tower like West Harbour City, which kickstarted this discussion, having smaller windows? I still don't see what point you were trying to argue for/against.

Nothing wrong with West Harbour City. I was responding to the blanket criticism by garthdanlor of green glassed buildings.

[BuildingScout]

I would have thought that large glass windows would be a bad thing in Canada. Glass isn't exactly a great insulator.

Glass is the best insulator there is. You build an outer exterior glass shell, leave ten feet of air gap and then build the second glass enclosed building inside it and only heat the inner structure.

In fact, most buildings in Europe nowadays use glass in such a way. Here's an example:

http://www.le.ac.uk/li/images/DWilso...18copy_000.jpg

It has BREEAM (BRE Environmental Assessment Method) Excellent rating

Here's another, incorporating an older structure:

http://iguide.travel/photos/Strasbourg-2.jpg