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By this we mean the 1957 "moderne" federal offices? And by this we also mean the original 1957 building, and not the 1990s faux-heritage remodel? So many people are still unclear about the history of the post office site. I won't be surprised if the story eventually morphs to say the original ornate 1890s post office was thoughtlessly torn down for condos.
The relationship between the new condo section and the 1910s customs house wing is similar to the relationship between the original 1890s post office and the 1910s customs house wing. The old post office at the Government Street corner was taller and showier than the long & less ornate customs house addition. To my eye the original milieu has been restored about as well as it possibly could be done (assuming we don't want to indulge in outright faux replication of the lost post office building).
Click here to view image. post-office.jpg
Lest we forget, the 1890s post office was the first grand building in the inner harbour scene. This project is also paying loads of respect to its setting by trying to restore some of that lost grandeur. And yet we criticize the effort for somehow being disrespectful or insensitive?
I wonder, did anyone accuse the grand 1890s post office of disrespecting the other buildings around it? Did anyone accuse the Belmont Building of disrespecting the post office? Did anyone accuse the Empress Hotel's many wings and additions of disrespecting the Belmont Building AND the post office?
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Victoria looked so much more beautiful and grander in the past. The new Customs House wing does not do much to bring part of that back, considering that it replaced another heritage wing that was worth preserving.
The new Customs House wing does not do much to bring part of that back...
But then again, it does much more than any modern building has yet done in the old town/inner harbour area. It does much more than the lame 1990s faux-heritage reno it replaced, and it does much more than the Harbour Square complex right next door.
Instead of nursing that established Victorian attitude of eternal dissatisfaction, why not dare to break the pattern and ask ourselves: What exactly is our standard? What are we comparing against? Why do we place such a heavy burden on each singular small project? And what do we gain by supposing Victoria's built form is so incomparably challenging and undefinable that any new development must inevitably be inadequate and disappointing?
All we really need to do is open our eyes and take an honest look at what's there now and what was there in the past.
But then again, it does much more than any modern building has yet done in the old town/inner harbour area. It does much more than the lame 1990s faux-heritage reno it replaced, and it does much more than the Harbour Square complex right next door.
Instead of nursing that established Victorian attitude of eternal dissatisfaction, why not dare to break the pattern and ask ourselves: What exactly is our standard? What are we comparing against? Why do we place such a heavy burden on each singular small project? And what do we gain by supposing Victoria's built form is so incomparably challenging and undefinable that any new development must inevitably be inadequate and disappointing?
All we really need to do is open our eyes and take an honest look at what's there now and what was there in the past.
I do agree with you that the Harbour Square is one of the worst buildings to be built in the heritage district. Others include the few parkades that serve as eye sores all around town.
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