Calgary (aka Cowtown, Capital of the new west) only ever existed in my imagination until I visited very briefly yesterday. I’d heard of the huge boom (based on oilsands – more jobs created in Alberta last month than in the entire U.S. according to an article in the paper), chinooks in winter (warm blast of air melting all the snow), new progressive mayor, etc.
Well my visit was for 3 or 4 hours but first impressions include; auto dominated streets too wide and not pedestrian friendly; overall bland architecture; beautiful deep blue sunny skies, friendly and helpful people, little history but optimistic and future oriented, huge potential.
I was thinking of moving there for work, but I don’t know…
I managed a quick sketch of the new Bow Building still under construction. I liked it a lot and think it will raise the bar for architecture in Calgary. A rendering of a “sky lobby” promises a spectacular space overlooking the city and mountains – I hope it will be open to the public.
The building is more slender than this loose sketch – proportions are off, but I like it’s “painterly” qualities.
Calgary – Bow building under construction, первоначально загружено Матфей-1.