The Well | 174.03m | 46s | RioCan | Hariri Pontarini

[daniel_kryz]

Not sure if this was posted before, but Claude Cormier + Associés has released renderings for the new "Wellington Cat Promenade"! They were commissioned by Diamond Corp, RioCan REIT, and Allied Properties REIT.
The cat theme was inspired by and in memory of Dizzy, a beloved local cat. Also, they came up with a neat idea that Berczy Park, which is dedicated to dogs, should be counterweighted with a park dedicated to cats. Just for fun, they put one statue of a cat in Berczy Park among all the dog statues, and here they'll put one statue of a dog among all the cat statues. The cherry on top is that they would eventually be connected by a "green axis" along Wellington Street (due to the Downtown Parks & Public Realm Plan).

https://www.claudecormier.com/en/projet/the-cats/

 

[DtTO]

I feel like they could've done more with that theme than just a bunch of cat sculptures/silhouettes. Cool idea though!

 

[daniel_kryz]

I feel like they could've done more with that theme than just a bunch of cat sculptures/silhouettes. Cool idea though!

True, there's room for improvement. What really makes me happy is that they're gonna plant catnip! The guardian statues flanking the entrances are pretty cool, too.

 

[urb@ndweller]

From yesterday

 

[Johnny Au]

From The Well's Livecam:

 

[AHK]

Saturday morning of the Thanksgiving Holiday long weekend - and The Well's office tower crane is working as usual. The only crane active today of the many which are visible from our place.

 

[ciceror]

always feels misleading when they post a render of a park and paste in 30 year old trees, we're not going to actually enjoy that view for a long time

 

[daniel_kryz]

always feels misleading when they post a render of a park and paste in 30 year old trees, we're not going to actually enjoy that view for a long time

Which is why we should use Silva Cells!

 

[isaidso]

I feel like they could've done more with that theme than just a bunch of cat sculptures/silhouettes. Cool idea though!

Yes, it's a bit of a let down compared to Berczy Park's water fountain.

 

[concrete_and_light]

I like that the cat theme is subtle and it feels appropriate to me since cats and cat people are (generalizing) more low-key or quiet than dogs and dog people. As a cat person, a cat fountain or similar would be very "loud" to me in a similar way to the intense high-key energy of dogs and their hyper barking and running around etc. and boisterous social attitude (of both the dogs and their people). All that is great for dogs and dog people, but a nice relaxed quiet restful place with some dignified, beautiful, or cute cat sculptures feels exactly right to me and much more in line with cat energy. Will be neat and nice to see if some real cats ever wander in . I love the guardians at the gate as well!

@urb@ndweller that shot of seeing The Well through the trees at Clarence Square is incredible! I haven't been down around there in a while, but even before when the building wasn't yet at its full height its height and presence really felt quite different and cool from that area and down at Front. It's cool to see it framed by the trees there, and that north view of the office tower with its incredible stairs is always so striking. Every shot or perspective I see of it from the north really grabs my attention.

 

[bkden]

North/south elevations of the PBR buildings add a nice touch but the east/west are plagued with matte black spandrel. Office > condos here, so far.

 

[CanadianDriver]

Silva Cells. Google items about them at:

silva cells - Google Search

www.google.com

Photo from the Google Item:

View attachment 352296

(...and the original posting was my photos)

@AHK is quite correct.

But I'll add some detail.

These are used to prevent soil compaction and afford room for tree roots to grow more easily, thus helping trees survive, but also thrive, achieving greater height, canopy (width of branches), and a longer life span.

Compaction occurs, when you put paving of any sort over ground, and people, and heavier items (snow plows, riding lawn mowers, sidewalk cleaners etc.) go over the sidewalk, and in addition to normal settling add weight and pressure
to soil below.

* compaction can occur without any paving as well, based on usage

This causes that soil to harden, which impairs root growth directly, but can also impair moisture getting in and giving the tree roots what they require for survival.

Silva Cells are not inherently necessary. Their utility has to do w/the choice of paving material and the volume and type of traffic overhead; as well, as whether adjacent surfaces are also hardened/compacted.

They have maximal utility in high density areas and areas with extensive hardscape.

Thank you both for the information. This is an awesome community for knowledge sharing!

 

[AHK]

October 10, 2021:

Sunday morning of the Thanksgiving Holiday long weekend - 8 AM.

The big push appears to be on. After working until 2 PM yesterday, the tower crane and external construction hoist for The Well office tower are already at work this morning.

Edit: Late morning - sun now out, and work on installation of the rooftop glass railing in the south-west corner.

Edit: Still working on Sunday afternoon, 4:45 PM, when we left to go to our family Thanksgiving dinner.....

 

[Rascacielo]

From yesterday
View attachment 354665

View attachment 354666

So they've replaced the Duke of Wellington (?) statue with cupid / eros?

 

[bilked]