“The only thing missing from these towers is a feather boa.”

In this week’s comment update, readers discuss Henriques Partners Architects’ designs for three Vancouver skyscrapers, including Vancouver’s first skyscraper.

Once completed, the 314-meter (1,033-foot) skyscraper will be encased in a steel exoskeleton covered in white panels and glass. The studio says its shape and façade pattern are inspired by sea glass sponges.

“Bravo to the designers and developers!”

Commenters wondered about the skyscraper’s aquatic inspiration and debated its aesthetic and design balance.

“This is the most beautiful and exciting project ever submitted to Vancouver City Council in my living memory,” wrote Anthony Hartnell. “Bravo to the designers and developers!”

Commenter Ted was impressed by the marine-inspired design, writing, “It’s refreshing to see a ‘skyscraper’ project that draws its primary aesthetic and structural logic from local marine biology, rather than just a standard glass and steel shape.”

They added, “We can’t wait to see first-hand what the atrium at the top will feel like!”

Other readers were less thrilled. “There are very few towers in the world, even in the United States or the Middle East, that can challenge for the trophy of the worst nouveau riche and perverted expression,” Pa Valeon scathingly criticized. “This Canadian is ranked.”

Frank Lloyd Long was similarly critical, stating that “everyone knows that non-market towers are never built” and suggesting that “the only thing missing from these towers is a feather boa.”

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“Leave it to the French to invent 3-way table tennis!”

Also scoring points in the comments this week was Ping Pong Park, a series of quirky table tennis tables created by Studio Exercice for a French school.

Commenters were overwhelmingly positive and supported the unusual way to encourage creativity in children.

“A table with holes in each end would be very frustrating, but I really like three-way tables and tables with raised sides,” Brett S. recalls.

Discreet Architect was equally excited: “Awesome! I’d love to try it out.”

Camille Jung praised him, saying, “He’s a genius. I love him,” and BOBinRSI3 joked, “Leave it to the French to invent 3-way table tennis!”

Other readers were more cautious, with Dick Coates writing, “Great…I don’t know if there’s a ‘legal’ size for a tabletop, but I think there probably is.”

Nick Marshall was skeptical, arguing that “table tennis is a great leisure activity, almost perfect in its simplicity. There is no need to be ‘creative’ any more. This is a complete waste of time and effort.”

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“A ridiculously kitschy Tower of Babylon.”

One project readers could agree on this week was President Donald Trump’s release of a rendering of his presidential library skyscraper in Miami.

The video rendering, which President Trump shared on his Truth Social account on Monday, was designed by American architecture studio Bermelo Ajamil & Partners, according to the end title.

Readers were rather scoffing, with Pa Valeon writing, “According to a previous press release, one statue is missing. We may be able to borrow a gold-painted statue from Disney’s Epcot in Florida.” Meanwhile, Arch joked, “I forgot about the Nobel Peace Prize in the lobby visualization.”

The Truth was similarly amused, writing, “As part of President Trump’s efforts to have this building achieve LEED Gold status, all toilets will be cleaned using harvested liberal tears.”

“I’m going to play devil’s advocate and say Trump has better taste, but the golden escalator is proof that this isn’t an April Fool’s prank. But that golden statue of him is too pale,” Stranger Than Fiction said.

Other commenters took a more blunt view.

“A ridiculously kitschy Tower of Babylon, a most fitting monument to be ridiculed for centuries,” writes Guy Wilkins.

Floooo was equally scathing: “Oh my god, it’s so lame, so big, so cheap…and right next to the Freedom Tower in Miami, it’s such a tasteless provocation.”

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