Highrise project no 'Disneyfication' of Halifax: architect

The architect behind the "twisted sisters" highrise development for downtown Halifax is defending his design.

Siamak Hariri's twin towers are a modern and curvy combination of glass, copper and stone. The 27-storey development for the former Tex-Park site on Granville Street is to house offices, a hotel and condominiums.

"This is not about the sort of Disneyfication of Halifax of the downtown core. This is about introducing some buildings with some integrity," said Hariri, the architect hired by United Gulf Developments.

But many people who want to preserve heritage buildings don't share Hariri's view.

After Halifax regional council approved the project last Tuesday, the Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia announced it plans to appeal the decision to the provincial utility and review board.

• FROM MARCH 22, 2006: Council approves twin tower project

"First of all it will block the views from Citadel Hill, and secondly it's just not compatible with the adjoining historic buildings," said Alan Parish, the trust's president.

The heritage group argues any city can have glass highrises, but only a few like Halifax have old Victorian buildings and a 150-year-old fort with a view of the harbour.

"If this building was some kind of reproduction Victorian building that was 27 storeys high in the same place, we'd still be opposing it," said Parish.

But Hariri says his multi-use design respects existing bylaws and will revitalize the downtown because people will live, work, shop and play there.

"This is about the fear of moving forward, the fear of something new, and I think we should treat it as such as opposed to treating it as a heritage issue," Hariri said.

The Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia has already won one fight over a 17-storey hotel complex proposed for the Midtown Tavern site on Grafton Street, although the developer is challenging that ruling in court.

Now the group is hoping the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board will tell United Gulf Developments to go back to the drawing board.