Verve | 82.60m | 25s | Fram | Giannone Petricone

General rating of this project

  • Great

    Votes: 5 13.2%
  • Very Good

    Votes: 11 28.9%
  • Good

    Votes: 17 44.7%
  • So So

    Votes: 5 13.2%
  • Not Very Good

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Terrible

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    38
Ive been meaning to bring this topic up on general discussions but Ive found the perfect example right here. What I have a big issue is with the amount of tint used on windows and doors on ground retail, especially with new towers like this. For example, the amount of tint/glare on the Pango shop is decent and I believe it shouldn't go up any further from that point. I know retailers have security concerns but it took me a while to notice that the majority of retailers on ground level in European cities avoid aggressive tint or if any at all, i'm not sure if they have specific bylaws. Im starting to think it plays a crucial part in pedestrian traffic on sidewalks. It allows casual pedestrians to walk around and window shop. Especially for something like the Barber Culture shop, Id think twice before walking in not knowing how many people are waiting in line or which barbers are working today. That level of tint creates such a cold environment for pedestrians. I think it is a topic that requires a thoughtful engagement on by the City, maybe implementing something close to a zero tint policy on main streets for ground level retail.
I was thinking the exact same thing when I walked by Eighth Avenue Place the other day. No signs to speak of and almost completely tinted windows on the podium. I wouldn't be able to tell walking past it there is any retail in the building. Hardly inviting especially when considering what it replaced: 273703966_bd1f2d5ef1.jpg62-1.jpg
 
if anyone recalls emerald stone on 8th st sw was terrible with fully reflective glass but has pulled it out of the fire with a complete do over on the ground level.

1549590973287.jpeg
 
These are just a few examples below from London, Stockholm, and Paris.
https://www.google.ca/maps/@51.5146...YRzGps9qAqCrq4LAMP2w!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en
https://www.google.ca/maps/@59.3371819,18.0581392,3a,75y,47.51h,88.4t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sdCXjXgbJpJ4JFJVPad61BQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en
https://www.google.ca/maps/@48.8576...3yC7Xw3jem0b0zxRVZIA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

Id be more excited to walk in these sort of streets solely based on how much more they are welcoming and the fact I can take a quick glance out of curiosity what each retailer has to offer. I mean if a jeweller shop in Paris can get away with 0 tint then whats stopping us?

Compare that to some of the "pedestrian friendly" buildings in Calgary
https://www.google.ca/maps/@51.0349...RMh0sWFwHDCJ8_ZDEERw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en
https://www.google.ca/maps/@51.0378...86THNy6eeJg4XEkCPaVQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en
https://www.google.ca/maps/@51.0543...deIKD_AcOjJtEw8ChoHA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en
https://www.google.ca/maps/@51.0455...fhpdOhK2aER6o2zMPXgw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

I know there are still a lot of the older buildings around Calgary's mainstreets that still have minimal to zero tint but even a little for me is starting to become an issue when I see other cities. This definitely could be another missing piece to help increase pedestrian traffic on mainstreets.
 
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These are just a few examples below from London, Stockholm, and Paris.
https://www.google.ca/maps/@51.5146...YRzGps9qAqCrq4LAMP2w!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en
https://www.google.ca/maps/@59.3371819,18.0581392,3a,75y,47.51h,88.4t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sdCXjXgbJpJ4JFJVPad61BQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en
https://www.google.ca/maps/@48.8576...3yC7Xw3jem0b0zxRVZIA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

Id be more excited to walk in these sort of streets solely based on how much more they are welcoming and the fact I can take a quick glance out of curiosity what each retailer has to offer. I mean if a jeweller shop in Paris can get away with 0 tint then whats stopping us?

Compare that to some of the "pedestrian friendly" buildings in Calgary
https://www.google.ca/maps/@51.0349...RMh0sWFwHDCJ8_ZDEERw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en
https://www.google.ca/maps/@51.0378...86THNy6eeJg4XEkCPaVQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en
https://www.google.ca/maps/@51.0543...deIKD_AcOjJtEw8ChoHA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en
https://www.google.ca/maps/@51.0455...fhpdOhK2aER6o2zMPXgw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

I know there are still a lot of the older buildings around Calgary's mainstreets that still have minimal to zero tint but even a little for me is starting to become an issue when I see other cities. This definitely could be another missing piece to help increase pedestrian traffic on mainstreets.

That is a really great point. Buildings that have that good mainstreet feel, with translucent glass that are pleasant to window shop at and pull you in, all tend to be older buildings on 9 Ave SE, 10 St/Kensington Road (Hot Wax and a few others), and the strip on 11 St with Galaxie Diner.

Thinking back, that is why i found the shopfronts so much more interesting and inviting in most of San Francisco. This actually comes up at Design Panel meetings in Vancouver for buildings with retail.
 
Is Calgary more susceptible to solar heat gain than other places
just a quick general google search got me this: https://www.dedona.com/advantages-of-window-tint-for-retail-stores/
So solar heat/light definitely plays a part too along with security/privacy reasons but from snooping around more, I found its largely a North American issue whereas even mediterranean regions in Europe largely support translucent windows. Although you would think that newer developments, like the Verve, especially along shopping areas, would take into consideration of developing without the need of tint at podium level. Clearly it has positive affect on the shopping experience.
 
These are just a few examples below from London, Stockholm, and Paris.
https://www.google.ca/maps/@51.5146...YRzGps9qAqCrq4LAMP2w!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en
https://www.google.ca/maps/@59.3371819,18.0581392,3a,75y,47.51h,88.4t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sdCXjXgbJpJ4JFJVPad61BQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en
https://www.google.ca/maps/@48.8576...3yC7Xw3jem0b0zxRVZIA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

Id be more excited to walk in these sort of streets solely based on how much more they are welcoming and the fact I can take a quick glance out of curiosity what each retailer has to offer. I mean if a jeweller shop in Paris can get away with 0 tint then whats stopping us?

Compare that to some of the "pedestrian friendly" buildings in Calgary
https://www.google.ca/maps/@51.0349...RMh0sWFwHDCJ8_ZDEERw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en
https://www.google.ca/maps/@51.0378...86THNy6eeJg4XEkCPaVQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en
https://www.google.ca/maps/@51.0543...deIKD_AcOjJtEw8ChoHA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en
https://www.google.ca/maps/@51.0455...fhpdOhK2aER6o2zMPXgw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

I know there are still a lot of the older buildings around Calgary's mainstreets that still have minimal to zero tint but even a little for me is starting to become an issue when I see other cities. This definitely could be another missing piece to help increase pedestrian traffic on mainstreets.


Glass that has zero tint is the purest glass and comes with a hefty price tag. The weather appears to be the biggest difference in these example than the amount of tint. Calgary's streetviews are bright and sunny with storefronts in shadows. The others are not.
 
For office buildings, glass with more reflection is definitely popular here because of the sun. In Europe cities like Berlin and London buildings with more translucent glass due to the lower amiunts of bright sun. I remember reading an article on one of the new London towers (122 Leadenhall) where they mentioned the more translucent glass being used because of the amount of gray days.
 
Glass that has zero tint is the purest glass and comes with a hefty price tag. The weather appears to be the biggest difference in these example than the amount of tint. Calgary's streetviews are bright and sunny with storefronts in shadows. The others are not.
From viewing around a few more cities on street view, it seems it is more of a North American issue. Cities like Barcelona and Rome are also favouring more translucent glass whereas a cloudy city like Vancouver is almost as bad as Calgary when it comes to tint. Obviously its a very small sample size Im looking at but from what Im getting is there is most likely a heavier emphasis on retail security in North America. People seem to be more protective and defensive over private property here versus Europe. Im not sure about the pure glass thing you mentioned but what Im trying to say is that if the default glass comes with even 95% visible light transmission, then it should be left that way on busy pedestrian streets instead of installing 10% VLT windows which hardly allows a decent amount of light. It makes shopping/dining more pleasurable.
 
It's something I haven't noticed. It's possible. I can't believe more tint is due to higher sense of security. Storefronts made of sheets of plate glass are extremely popular because people can look inside and make impulse purchases .There are more secure, cheaper alternative to a glass wall. In general, European cities have much stricter design codes that force higher budgets.
 
FRAM + Slokker (@FRAMSlokker) Tweeted:
Fantastic News!

"Good Earth Coffeehouse" is now open for business at VERVE

Come get treats and hot drinks before its Grand Opening on June 8th!

#FRAMSlokker #evLiving #eastvillageyyc #calgary #yyc #yycnow #yycliving #sharecalgary #calgaryism #yyclocal #Verve @EastVillageYYC https://t.co/cW7n9tNoHy

 
It is the 4th coffee establishment in the East Village. Seems like a lot of competition for the population that is there at the moment.

Also, I noticed a lot of retail bays for lease in that building. Together with those in First and Evolution, and I believe The Hat is supposed to have some: that is a lot of empty commercial space.
 
Isn't it the 5th coffee place? Tim's at the base of N3, Rosso in the NMC, the independent one in Orange Lofts (forget the name, assume it is still there), Phil and Sebastian's in the Simmons building, and now this Good Earth?
 
The independent one (Hear's my Soul) in Orange Lofts closed. The owner sold out because of the amount of competition in East Village. There is now what looks to be a tapas/cocktail bar in that space. It still wasn't open when I went past 2 weeks ago but it had a piano along with cool furnishings and a fully stocked bar in it so I'd imagine it will be open soon, if not already. It looked like a cool venue.
 

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