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Inbox: Sour on Origami tower design

Re: “Proposed ‘origami’ tower goes before design panel,” Jan. 28.

Re: “Proposed ‘origami’ tower goes before design panel,” Jan. 28.

The first thing that popped through my head when I saw this tower design in the paper was, “Oh no, you have got to be kidding … Is this a joke?”

I’m not going to criticize the architects. The design is unique and the “overhang” concept is possibly creative — for somewhere else.  Honestly, I don’t feel the space does the design justice. It needs more breathing room to really be effective. As it looks right now, it is an overbearing monstrosity ready to gobble up the heritage Waterfront Station. But is it just this tower, or would any tower garner criticism?

I am going to criticize the City of Vancouver for even contemplating the idea of a tower in this location. What were they thinking?

Do we really need another downtown office tower?  Is this development necessary or is it development for development’s sake? Rents in the downtown area can be stratospheric. I can just imagine that leases in this waterfront location would be almost in the catastrophic range.

Sometimes the city confuses me. On the one hand, ‘greening’ and sustainability, providing low-cost housing for residents, etc. are major commitments, and on the other hand, certain things are allowed to go ahead that seem to directly oppose this mandate.

Please tell me, at least, that this tower proposal is meant to be self-sustainable, that it will be powered by solar panels, or geo-thermal energy and will be able to recycle whatever there is to recycle. And also, it is meant to include some reasonable rental facilities for low income citizens. Otherwise, it’s just a meaningless piece of expensive construction.

I hope that, despite what the city may approve, the “recent onslaught of criticism” will become a public outcry. No disrespect to the architects, but this kind of development for that space is simply awful.

Frances Dietz, via email

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