Urban Shocker
Doyenne
The shadows in Hiroshima are very eloquent.
alklay
Senior Member
Good analogy. The district is being destroyed.
Urban Shocker
Doyenne
No. A derelict former industrial site is being revived with cultural centres, housing that brings in hundreds of new residents, there are restaurants, art galleries, shops and other retail uses, it is well designed and has been rebranded as a destination worth visiting and living in. Heritage is being celebrated and history is being made.
ProjectEnd
Superstar
Hear hear US, well spoken.
syn
Senior Member
It's hard to celebrate history when it's being torn down.
This argument has been done to death already...no one has a problem with anything you've mentioned. It's the form of the residential development that's the problem.
scarberiankhatru
Senior Member
No one has a problem with the form of the condo, it's the location that's a problem.
maestro
Senior Member
Come now, there are far older parking lots in the city.
syn
Senior Member
I didn't realize Rackhouse M was a parking lot.
H
Hydrogen
Guest
The aspirations for what this building could be are quite lofty - or quite down to earth.
maestro
Senior Member
The majority of the site is a parking lot. As far as Rackhouse M is concerned, the history of this purpose built building interferes with any type of adaptive re-use. The racks would have to come out leaving a windowless brick shell of little architectural merit
syn
Senior Member
I don't understand why people who have no issue with it being torn down would be against adding windows to it and modifying the interior. The building obviously wouldn't be the same and wouldn't have the same use, but it would help retain the built form of this historic district.
urbandreamer
recession proof
Do all buildings have to have a use? Rack House M could just be a bonus sculpture in the theme park!
Besides, in some ways the tower under construction looks ridiculous--a stubby ship lost at sea.
Besides, in some ways the tower under construction looks ridiculous--a stubby ship lost at sea.
ganjavih
Senior Member
It would be a challenge but not impossible to convert it. Heck, it could even have been converted into a parking garage allowing the base of Clear Spirit to be developed properly. And like syn mentioned, adding windows would not be out of the question. Imagine large multistorey windows installed... it would be quite spectacular. Preserving history is a challenge, it's never cheap or easy.
Incidentally, I ran into this photograph today. It's not mine, I didn't take it. But if I had, I would have entitled it, "Ruined Landscape". Ew, is it ever gross...
Tewder
Senior Member
Incidentally, I ran into this photograph today. It's not mine, I didn't take it. But if I had, I would have entitled it, "Ruined Landscape". Ew, is it ever gross...
The part I don't like about the picture is to the left, i.e. the parking lot and boring low-level developments that fade away to nothingness around the district. Conversely, the addition of new towers creates a nice backdrop and frame to the district, old plays off of new, and the urban fabric gets another layer. To me, this is far more interesting.
unimaginative2
Senior Member
Maestro, you can keep repeating that mantra, but I've shown specific examples of a rack house being magnificently re-used at the former Seagram Museum. Most of the light comes from skylights and an addition, and it cascades through the beautiful wood racks which are mostly retained (and strengthened where necessary with steel beams).