Toronto Toronto House | 186.53m | 58s | Westbank | Hariri Pontarini

If only this side walk material was used as the standard in Toronto. It alone would make the city 10 fold more attractive
When I last visited Downtown Vancouver, I noticed they use material like this for most sidewalks and it does look way better. The only issue I found was it was really annoying to pull a suitcase over due to how bumpy it is, but unless you're doing that all the time, it's fine.
 
When I last visited Downtown Vancouver, I noticed they use material like this for most sidewalks and it does look way better. The only issue I found was it was really annoying to pull a suitcase over due to how bumpy it is, but unless you're doing that all the time, it's fine.
I have a big issue with poured concrete sidewalks. Aside from the obvious one, that they are soon dug up by the city for utility work and then just patched with asphalt, over time they become cracked and chipped and in general, even if they somehow miraculously don't get dug up, just look plain awful. I think the city with the best sidewalks is Berlin. Theirs consist of laid large stone or concrete pavers, often laid in a diamond pattern and flanked on both sides by a narrower strip of small cobblestones. Aside from adding great visual interest and texture to the streetscape, the fact that they are laid, rather than poured, means that they can simply be reset after the inevitable utility work takes place, and as a bonus, they look better the older they get! Of course, you don't have to go all the way to Berlin to see great sidewalks...just take a look at the stone pavers along Bloor's 'Mink Mile'! I'm sure the city would say that we couldn't afford this here, but they're also the same ones willing to spend upwards of $600,000 to rename Dundas Square!
 
Really love how the white cladding shows up during sunset!
Z8P_2019.jpg
 
The thread title should read ALLIED, not Westbank.

Changed - I did not realize I could update the thread title - thought it had to be a UT Administrator. When I went back to my original post which created this thread (almost ten years ago) - found that I could still edit it, including the title.

Thanks for suggesting....
 
"That green stuff at the bottom is not mold...but a tree in front, Uta."

...oh!
 
I don’t know if anybody mentioned it, but sidewalk of the building is stunning! Unique pattern. I wish we had more like this in the city. And oh my gosh, they’ve built it already clean, can you believe that?
likely not for long.. I foresee the ubiquitous utility cuts, spray paint and asphalt patches any day now!
 
I don’t know if anybody mentioned it, but sidewalk of the building is stunning! Unique pattern. I wish we had more like this in the city. And oh my gosh, they’ve built it already clean, can you believe that?
They were praised further up this page. Though they ARE nice, I bet that in 5 years they will have been 'violated' and patched. As they are non-standard I assume that repair will be up to the property owner but even so I can see either asphalt or plain poured concrete taking over. Someone sang the praises of pavers - these too are great IF MAINTAINED but we have all seen cracked and wobbly pavers and again, apart from the ones installed by the City they are the responsibility of the property owner. Some are better than others!
 

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