PT often complains about the lack of colour in contemporary Vancouver architecture (although Ken Ohrn did a remedial post on the subject). So when a counter-example comes up, it’s worth highlighting – which Changing City did last week:
1155 Thurlow Street
It’s for a site behind St Paul’s hospital and close to Mole Hill that previously had a 1977 church building.
This tower had been on the radar for a while, with the rezoning submitted, and the Urban Design Panel giving it the thumbs up (having seen the model below)
Initially the lower floors were shown clad in a rather 1950s green coloured panel. The church now have an image on their website that suggests a much more colourful podium than the monotone that was initially seen at the Urban Design Panel and is still shown on the architect’s website. We should get confirmation that this is the actual design in 2018.
A dogs breakfast of colour. Absolute overkill
This is a an overreaction in colour. The green was quite muted in keeping with the tower design, and would have been the most elegant thing about it. It could have moved up the scale a bit more with an interplay of two or three slightly different shades of green, perhaps creating a recognizable pattern. But no, they put it on steroids, which will only reinforce the contrast with the tower which will now be a study in the key of Mediocre.
Too much indeed. The role of designers should be to provide the canvas on which community life can thrive, and that becomes the means for vibrant and empheral cultural expression with colour. ( ie unique signage, murals, interior expression, street activity etc.)