September 11, 2008

New Stuff 2 – King Edward Village

I really like this.

King Edward Village

King Edward Village

A commanding tower on a key intersection at Knight and Kingsway. And like a knight, King Edward Village is handsomely massive. Sensitive too. An architectural Hollywood hero.

The podium beautifully responds to the changing grade at this corner of the intersection.  It’s all slightly asymmetrical, but classically proportioned.

There’s a great story as to how a largely single-family neighbourhood got behind and supported this proposal.  I’d give former councillor Anne Roberts credit.   It’s not yet fully occupied, but I’d say it’s a success – from, as Martin comments, the limited viewpoint of design.

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Comments

  1. I agree it’s been a good addition to the area, and will improve even more when the Save-On foods opens.

    I have high hopes that the Eldorado redevelopment (The Hills) can have a similar effect up the street.

  2. I’ve argued this point here before, but I think it’s important to repeat: it strikes me as dangerous to call a building like this a “success” on what appear to be merely visual grounds. In doing so we become complicit in an ongoing societal shift from ethical to aesthetic concerns (which, ironically, is what postmodern art and architecture are all about) and very quickly lose sight of all the personal and political struggles that might have preceded this building’s construction–not to mention the financial struggles facing those planning to move in!

    I hope this isn’t unwelcome, and I recognize that your comments pertained foremost to the building’s design (on which I am unfit to comment). But the post is also filed under “development” and “planning,” and my argument is that to talk about a building in either of those terms we must look at much more than its exterior surface.

  3. I wonder if you would feel the same way if you lived there?

    It might be a worthwhile experiment to measure if it works for folks who will live in that community – not just visit or drive by…

  4. It’s good to remind everyone the project is as dense as it is because the community wanted a project that would provide a new library, and that it has. The Save On Foods will also be a boon to the neighbourhood, as I believe the nearest supermarket is a fair trip away. I’d have to agree that this project has been positive in more ways than just design.

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