Comments on: A Visit to Writer Square, Part 1 http://denverinfill.com/blog/2010/02/a-visit-to-writer-square-part-1.html News and information about urban infill development in the Mile High City Sun, 05 Feb 2012 17:06:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Saint Facetious http://denverinfill.com/blog/2010/02/a-visit-to-writer-square-part-1.html/comment-page-1#comment-5465 Saint Facetious Sun, 07 Feb 2010 14:25:48 +0000 http://denverinfill.com/blog/?p=1549#comment-5465 I used to love hanging out in WS before the redesign. It was one of my favorite spots to use as a rendezvous point. But now... I don't think I'll use that spot much more, except as a transit thoroughfare to Larimer Square. Maybe that was the point? They didn't want anyone loitering or anything. Or maybe they were trying to get more people to Skyline Park? I used to love hanging out in WS before the redesign. It was one of my favorite spots to use as a rendezvous point. But now… I don’t think I’ll use that spot much more, except as a transit thoroughfare to Larimer Square. Maybe that was the point? They didn’t want anyone loitering or anything. Or maybe they were trying to get more people to Skyline Park?

]]> By: Matt http://denverinfill.com/blog/2010/02/a-visit-to-writer-square-part-1.html/comment-page-1#comment-5432 Matt Fri, 05 Feb 2010 06:10:05 +0000 http://denverinfill.com/blog/?p=1549#comment-5432 Agreed- the re-design is way uglier than before. I thought for sure they'd do something more interesting in the space since it is in such a prominent location between Larimer and the 16th Street Mall. Instead we got a bunch of ugly stainless steel and aluminum. Agreed- the re-design is way uglier than before. I thought for sure they’d do something more interesting in the space since it is in such a prominent location between Larimer and the 16th Street Mall. Instead we got a bunch of ugly stainless steel and aluminum.

]]> By: Mister http://denverinfill.com/blog/2010/02/a-visit-to-writer-square-part-1.html/comment-page-1#comment-5416 Mister Wed, 03 Feb 2010 22:29:38 +0000 http://denverinfill.com/blog/?p=1549#comment-5416 What a disaster. Such an opportunity for an improved space, but they ruined it. What a disaster. Such an opportunity for an improved space, but they ruined it.

]]> By: BruceQ http://denverinfill.com/blog/2010/02/a-visit-to-writer-square-part-1.html/comment-page-1#comment-5381 BruceQ Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:36:48 +0000 http://denverinfill.com/blog/?p=1549#comment-5381 I agree with all of the above. Dated and lame and... what's the opposite of charm? It's got lots of that. And a fountain? You call that thing a fountain? I call it a water hazard, like you might see on a miniature golf course. Apparently they're heating it, too. That makes a lot of sense. On the plus side, there's no silly plexiglass pyramid! :) I agree with all of the above. Dated and lame and… what’s the opposite of charm? It’s got lots of that. And a fountain? You call that thing a fountain? I call it a water hazard, like you might see on a miniature golf course. Apparently they’re heating it, too. That makes a lot of sense.

On the plus side, there’s no silly plexiglass pyramid! :)

]]> By: Eleanor http://denverinfill.com/blog/2010/02/a-visit-to-writer-square-part-1.html/comment-page-1#comment-5380 Eleanor Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:11:45 +0000 http://denverinfill.com/blog/?p=1549#comment-5380 Thanks for this essay! I enjoyed it. Thanks for this essay! I enjoyed it.

]]> By: Rob C http://denverinfill.com/blog/2010/02/a-visit-to-writer-square-part-1.html/comment-page-1#comment-5379 Rob C Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:31:52 +0000 http://denverinfill.com/blog/?p=1549#comment-5379 The only thing I like about the new WS is the pegasus statue. The fountain is an absolute joke. Stairs here, handrails there, lights popping up in the oddest places. The tables were nice...but I really am going to miss all those beautiful petunia hanging baskets in the spring. We got ripped off by this "state of the art" design. Pfffft! The only thing I like about the new WS is the pegasus statue. The fountain is an absolute joke. Stairs here, handrails there, lights popping up in the oddest places. The tables were nice…but I really am going to miss all those beautiful petunia hanging baskets in the spring. We got ripped off by this “state of the art” design. Pfffft!

]]> By: matt http://denverinfill.com/blog/2010/02/a-visit-to-writer-square-part-1.html/comment-page-1#comment-5372 matt Tue, 02 Feb 2010 05:02:20 +0000 http://denverinfill.com/blog/?p=1549#comment-5372 The new writer square really is sad. They went from a dated and lame design with a lot of charm, to a dated and lame design without any charm. Pathetic. The new writer square really is sad. They went from a dated and lame design with a lot of charm, to a dated and lame design without any charm. Pathetic.

]]> By: Sam http://denverinfill.com/blog/2010/02/a-visit-to-writer-square-part-1.html/comment-page-1#comment-5371 Sam Tue, 02 Feb 2010 04:37:59 +0000 http://denverinfill.com/blog/?p=1549#comment-5371 I live in California, but visit Denver on a frequent basis and stay across the street at the Westin and work with at the Tabor center which is right across the street. I wish I had taken "Aerial View" Pictures of the before and after, looking down in the past was a great view of people, greenery, and activity. Now its a sea of gray(even on sunny days) and when my girlfriend came out to visit me three weeks ago we likened the view from up top to watching rats unleashed in a maze, the harder you make it for them to cross, the faster they want to get through. I walked through the square last week, and it looked like it was complete and well i was very underwhelmed. I honestly was scratching my head and asking myself where is the logic? Chris you may be talking to this in your next "lighting segment" but, the lights seem to be so misplaced in some cases almost abutting the building, way too close for their size, and in other instances they seem to be in spots that they just dont belong. Also did anyone notice that they forgot to replace on of the lights on the Lawrence side? it just looks very out of place, old and new clashing. On the topics of seating, what a hodge podge!! Did anyone notice how many tables there are concentrated next to starbucks?? I think some spacing would benefit them quite well, and would remove a little of that barrier/clutter effect. Also, why doesnt starbucks use the tables out there? Oh and I could swear I saw a off-color umbrella, that design feature escaped me!! Now in the interest of not being only negative, I will throw in a few positives. I think I like the uniformness of signs, they may just be growing on me, but I wish they were lower I do have to look up to see some. The concrete is a lot better than it used to be. And i guess it feels "safer" at night (my gf made that assessment when she didn't cling onto me as tightly as she used to walking out of the red bistro place late night, and no i didnt upset her ;) ) On a final note, it would be good to see if Chris/Ken could get an opinion from the owners, in the past it seemed you had engaged architects/owners. It would be nice/courteous if they were given the option to voice their opinion or respond to some of the aspects of the critique, or maybe just enlighten us as to what we are not seeing in their design. S I live in California, but visit Denver on a frequent basis and stay across the street at the Westin and work with at the Tabor center which is right across the street. I wish I had taken “Aerial View” Pictures of the before and after, looking down in the past was a great view of people, greenery, and activity. Now its a sea of gray(even on sunny days) and when my girlfriend came out to visit me three weeks ago we likened the view from up top to watching rats unleashed in a maze, the harder you make it for them to cross, the faster they want to get through.

I walked through the square last week, and it looked like it was complete and well i was very underwhelmed. I honestly was scratching my head and asking myself where is the logic? Chris you may be talking to this in your next “lighting segment” but, the lights seem to be so misplaced in some cases almost abutting the building, way too close for their size, and in other instances they seem to be in spots that they just dont belong. Also did anyone notice that they forgot to replace on of the lights on the Lawrence side? it just looks very out of place, old and new clashing.

On the topics of seating, what a hodge podge!! Did anyone notice how many tables there are concentrated next to starbucks?? I think some spacing would benefit them quite well, and would remove a little of that barrier/clutter effect. Also, why doesnt starbucks use the tables out there? Oh and I could swear I saw a off-color umbrella, that design feature escaped me!!

Now in the interest of not being only negative, I will throw in a few positives. I think I like the uniformness of signs, they may just be growing on me, but I wish they were lower I do have to look up to see some. The concrete is a lot better than it used to be. And i guess it feels “safer” at night (my gf made that assessment when she didn’t cling onto me as tightly as she used to walking out of the red bistro place late night, and no i didnt upset her ;) )

On a final note, it would be good to see if Chris/Ken could get an opinion from the owners, in the past it seemed you had engaged architects/owners. It would be nice/courteous if they were given the option to voice their opinion or respond to some of the aspects of the critique, or maybe just enlighten us as to what we are not seeing in their design.

S

]]> By: Chucolo http://denverinfill.com/blog/2010/02/a-visit-to-writer-square-part-1.html/comment-page-1#comment-5366 Chucolo Tue, 02 Feb 2010 02:25:42 +0000 http://denverinfill.com/blog/?p=1549#comment-5366 I absolutely hate what the "architects" have done to Writer Square. None of it makes any sense, and I can only imagine what the barren plaza will be like once summer comes around. You can already feel how much hotter it is walking through Writer Square on a sunny day. And those aluminum benches (consciously designed without backs in order to keep people from actually sitting on them) should be, oh, about 110 degrees or so??? I, hope, too, that the owners realize they've made a huge mistake in the redesign. But remember, these are the same guys who paid way too much money to buy WS in the first place. I absolutely hate what the “architects” have done to Writer Square. None of it makes any sense, and I can only imagine what the barren plaza will be like once summer comes around. You can already feel how much hotter it is walking through Writer Square on a sunny day. And those aluminum benches (consciously designed without backs in order to keep people from actually sitting on them) should be, oh, about 110 degrees or so??? I, hope, too, that the owners realize they’ve made a huge mistake in the redesign. But remember, these are the same guys who paid way too much money to buy WS in the first place.

]]> By: Kyle http://denverinfill.com/blog/2010/02/a-visit-to-writer-square-part-1.html/comment-page-1#comment-5363 Kyle Mon, 01 Feb 2010 23:43:43 +0000 http://denverinfill.com/blog/?p=1549#comment-5363 I couldn't agree more! I use to sit on the benches a lot of times and people watch and the matures trees gave much needed shade to enjoy a lunch outside in the summer. Now I feel like a rat weaving its way through the maze of lights and handrails. You really have to watch your step with all of the stairs and area drains. I really hope the new owners of Writer's Square will read this blog and realize they need to have it re-designed by a landscape architect that got beyond 1st semester studio class. I couldn’t agree more! I use to sit on the benches a lot of times and people watch and the matures trees gave much needed shade to enjoy a lunch outside in the summer. Now I feel like a rat weaving its way through the maze of lights and handrails. You really have to watch your step with all of the stairs and area drains. I really hope the new owners of Writer’s Square will read this blog and realize they need to have it re-designed by a landscape architect that got beyond 1st semester studio class.

]]>