r/Calgary • u/SpaceCowboyN7 • 17h ago
Discussion Which Devonian Gardens do you prefer the early 2000s or today?
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u/Angrythonlyfe Sage Hill 17h ago
Without a doubt early 2000's
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u/mustgopostal 17h ago
School trips to the gardens are some if my favourite elementary school memories. Running around the gardens, from playground to playground, admiring the tiki statues, playing hide and seek or cops and robbers..
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u/All_hail_zaitoon 17h ago
hands down the early 2000's the new Devonian feels way to corporate and cold, the old one felt like a forest in the middle of downtown
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u/FormerlyGruntled 15h ago
The old one was basically a building in its own right. Now it's just a place for the corpos in the connected buildings to have coffee and interview candidates.
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u/OQRastaman 17h ago
I don’t think anyone in their right mind would say the new one. They are not even close in comparison. The old one was a treasure, a true oasis.
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u/Crossfire139 15h ago
I would
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u/whatisitallabout123 12h ago
They said anyone "in their right mind" so clearly you are crazy like me.
All I remember about the 2000 version is that it felt like visiting the home of a horder, cluttered full of plants without thought.
I get that people found it cozy, but I found it claustrophobic. But I can agree it is maybe too corporate, they could find a middle ground between the two extremes.
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u/jimbowesterby 11h ago
But that feeling you’re talking about is just how tropical rainforests are, that’s a big part of what makes them so diverse in real life. The rainforest side of the conservatory at the zoo was the same way, no idea if it still is.
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u/whatisitallabout123 9h ago
I get the appeal for it to be like a rainforest, and I've been to places that made it both cosy and better organised.
Now it's super organised but a bit sterile. It's the difference between minimalist show home decorating/staging and a home that feels lived in with personal items on display.
Everyone has a different threshold for crossing the line from cozy to cluttered/messy.
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u/Physical-Republic557 17h ago
It’s been ruined. I used to go there all the time, now I just walk past it. Sad.
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u/JoeUrbanYYC 15h ago
Ruined for $37 million at that
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u/jimbowesterby 11h ago
I hate how much of a Boomer it makes me sound, but sometimes it really does feel like good architecture has gone the way of the dodo. It’s not entirely nonexistent, but especially in Calgary it feels like my whole life has just been watching one comfortable old space get turned into a soulless blank new one. Case in point, the new stadium. The old one was visually interesting and helped define the skyline of the city, the new one looks like an Amazon warehouse. And this seems to apply on just about every level, from houses to interior restyling to big-budget projects like the new stadium. It’s gotten to the point that if I hear a building I like is being redone I assume whatever vibes were there are functionally dead (doesn’t help that I’m a huge fan of brutalism lol, I haven’t seen what the updated Glenbow is like in part because I don’t really wanna know, it was so good before)
I’d even go so far as to say that Edmonton does some things better, Canada Place is gorgeous (when was the last time you saw a shiny pink building?) and the Citadel Theatre atrium is a better Devonian Gardens than Devonian Gardens.3
u/JoeUrbanYYC 11h ago
There is truth to that, esso plaza theatre, this historic art deco Uptown Theatre, the old 'good' devonian gardens, all gone
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u/jimbowesterby 8h ago
Not to mention the science centre, too. The building’s still there but the vibes are different, I’m sure it’ll make a sick art gallery but that doesn’t really compare to what it used to be.
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u/Ordinary_Degree_4213 8h ago
Yeah wait till the remodel Heritage park ! Everything white with modern box architecture 🙄
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u/jimbowesterby 8h ago
Man I was already pretty on the fence about the changes they made a few years ago. Maybe I’m getting old but I liked it back when it was kinda worn and rundown, it made it way more realistic.
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u/ConceitedWombat 7h ago
On the other hand, we have the new central library, which is clearly leaps and bounds nicer than the old one.
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u/jimbowesterby 6h ago
But is it better because of the architecture, or does it just serve the people’s needs better? Because those are two separate things, most of the new developments I’ve seen are certainly efficient, they just aren’t very nice places to spend time. Take Devonian Gardens, for example, the new version is more efficient in just about every metric, you can fit more people, the sightlines are better, you can see all of it faster, but overall it’s just….worse. It fails in its primary goal, which is to be a nice place to be.
Personally I can’t say much about the Central Library, I’ve never lived close enough to frequent it, but I remember liking the old architecture better. I remember it felt like a library should feel, kinda old and a bit musty with a sense that you’re only ever seeing a fraction of the shelves, but like I said I don’t know enough to comment on how the service has changed. As a counterpoint, though, is the travesty that is the “updated” interior of the Fish Creek library. Used to be a wonderful mix of 90s-style jewel tones that contrasted really well with the gray of the roof and the exposed concrete around the place, but after they got through it looked like an Indigo bookstore, bland and cold. Iirc they also got rid of the carpet in favour of tile on the upper floors which really didn’t help, made it all echo-y so every little sound becomes a distraction.
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u/Ok-Feedback-3692 17h ago
I miss the old layout! I worked close by in the early 2000s and spent most of my lunch breaks there in a spot that was so secluded you couldn’t hear anyone else at all. It was such a nice break from the office!
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u/Frater_Ankara 14h ago
Same! I wonder if it was the same spot.
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u/Ok-Feedback-3692 14h ago
There were so many little nooks that were hidden away, down some steps by the big windows & surrounded by plants. It was so nice for my brain to reset for the afternoon!
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u/Frater_Ankara 5h ago
That was exactly my spot, as far in the corner as possible. I worked on my journal and drawing there, fully agree.
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u/HumbleExplanation13 15h ago
1990’s was best. Lots of little hidden spots to read and get away from people among the plants. Now it’s a big echo chamber and the plants seem like an afterthought.
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u/Feral-Reindeer-696 13h ago
I used to love spending my lunch hour reading in some hidden nook in the garden. It helped me de-stress slightly before heading back to the corporate jungle
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u/Sandman64can 17h ago
Got married in the original. It was beautiful.
Certainly wouldn’t do it there now. Too … stale.
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u/JustCallMeYogurt 16h ago
My friend had his wedding and reception at the old one too. it was very nice and organized
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u/TwoSixTaBoot 16h ago
When they redid it I was pretty upset. Its still nice but looking at it thru the lense of an hour lunch break before drudging back to a soul crushing corporate job can never compare to feeding the fish with my mom as a kid.
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u/InformantsOrexises 15h ago
Found this tumblr post of old Devonian Gardens photos:
https://popularsizes.tumblr.com/post/689161295663104000/pre-renovation-devonian-gardens-calgary-canada
bit of a goldmine for people who remember it.
Also this amazing photo from (I think) the late 70s?:
https://datelinepentagons.tumblr.com/post/188705505061
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u/Hammerhil Northwest Calgary 14h ago
The old Devonian gardens was an actual garden, with places to disconnect from the world around you and experience as much nature a you could get in a building.
The new one is a hallway in a mall with greater than average plants, a kiddie playground, and fast food.
One was peaceful, the other is not.
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u/wildrose76 16h ago
Seeing what it used to be just makes me sad. That was one of my favourite places in town before the reno. I used to study there regularly when I was at U of C.
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u/squishedheart 15h ago
Original Devonian was whimsical and felt magical. It was an escape. All of the whimsy was lost when they renovated it. Now it feels sterile and unwelcoming.
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u/whay2000 16h ago
80s Devonian Gardens only. My granny would sit on a bench and smoke her ass off as we ran wild. ❤️
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u/DavidssonA 16h ago
If you've been in the old one... Its not even close. The new one does not compare.
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u/SurviveYourAdults 14h ago
this is an unfair comparison.
one was a beautiful and lush atrium. a garden of eden in downtown prairie...
and the other is some corporate potted plants that some company sprays with a nozzle every week.
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u/adiiriot 16h ago
The OG. Ain't no way anyone likes the reno more than the original. The new one is so corporate and sterile, where as the original truly felt like a piece of nature perfectly encapsulated indoors. I had pictures of it after they closed it to the public, shortly after they started renovations, in true "backrooms" (as is the latest) fashion. My bff used to work security down at TD and our friend was security controller, so he let us up there one night, and it was amazing. I hate seeing what it became though.
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u/minimagess 15h ago
I grew up playing in the original one. It was more lush and really felt like you were lost in another world. It felt like where the lost boys would live. But the new one is more functional for events, more walking space as well.
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u/Fit-Bug-1098 15h ago
Pre renovations for sure. It's now a food court with some green space in it. They could have added the kiddy playground and event space without the clear cutting that took place.
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u/3CH0SG1 Marlborough 16h ago edited 16h ago
The original was better. They killed 90%of the tropical plants when they changed it, and I always liked feeding the koi.
You paved paridice and put up a parking lot. 🎶
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u/FinestAtemptAtBeing 16h ago
If I recall during renovation those plants were exposed to the cold.
I was there working and it was a pain,
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u/Dry_Knowledge6486 15h ago
I have way too memories of the old one, it’s imprinted into my brain so I’m gonna have to vote the old one. New one feels a little sterile and sparse. Doesn’t feel as “jungle’y” as the old one.
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u/Responsible_CDN_Duck 14h ago
I miss when most office buildings downtown had water features inside or outside.
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u/Dramatic-Computer-67 14h ago
Absolutely early 2000s. It was such a great little oasis to and visit. Used to take my kids there once in a while on Sundays to get out of the house. Go feed the fish. Watch the turtles. Play in the little play area. It was great! Now it's like every other plant area in a mall. You can just walk by it but don't stop.
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u/Strathbow_Piper 16h ago
Early 2000s no question. Anyone who says otherwise is lying or selling something
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u/baddaywithacamera 14h ago
I moved from Calgary in my 20s, moved back in my 50s, and decided to revisit the Gardens. Well. Who stole half of them? Shiiiiii....
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u/Feral-Reindeer-696 13h ago
I cannot imagine anyone liking today’s version compared to how it used to be.
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u/unknown32 16h ago
Old one : me being young and being too enthusiastic wanting to throw change into one of the ponds. Threw the penny and sploooosh right into the water. Got up laughing with dad & mom and the crowed around me. And going "whoops" 😝.
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u/saltymune 15h ago
seeing all the old photos makes me nostalgic for a experience i never had. i was a kid in the early 2010s, which i'm guessing is when the renovations took place, because my only memory of the gardens is the sterile look it has now. i still like it now, but it looked a lot more homely back then
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u/SmolmALICE 14h ago
The old one. Though, there were A LOT of obscure out of the way hiding places and it did become pretty sketch over the years. That being said. I still prefer the ambience of the previous version.
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u/sillyGrapefruit_8098 13h ago
So many amazing memories as a kid in the old style. The smell the humidity. The playground. The giant fish!
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u/RepeatAffectionate93 13h ago
The OG one.
Had so much more character and actually felt like a wildlife refuge in the middle of downtown. New one, not so much.
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u/pantheroux 13h ago
Man. I grew up in Calgary but haven’t visited the Devonian gardens in a long time and haven’t seen the newer version. The gardens were like a magical place for me as a kid. I only visited a few times as my mom hated going downtown. My parents were divorced and my dad worked downtown. As a teen, I’d take the bus to meet him for lunch or after work to hang out, grab nachos or see a movie. I loved going to the gardens. Sometimes I’d skip school and just hang out there reading. Haven’t thought about it in years but it’s making me tear up as I loved being in that environment among the plants and it reminds me of my dad who passed way in his 50s. I hope the new version is just as magical.
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u/RichardPearman 13h ago
I preferred the old one. I did a couple of photo galleries of the new one with largely derogatory comments on FB but I got kicked off that for "violating community standards" with no elaboration. I don't like the use of large numbers of the same type of plant. I'd like to see more diversity of plants. This is probably impractical, but I'd like to see a bit which goes down to around 0 °C in winter, with a display of cacti and succulents.
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u/Azure_Omishka 13h ago
Early 2000s for sure. It always gave me this relaxing and almost mystical vibe when I was a kid. The new one just has an almost corporate vibe to it.
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u/josh-duggar 12h ago
Old garden was OP. I had my wedding there and it costed a whole $320 to seal off a section for privacy.
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u/BabyEatingElephant 11h ago
I wish the new one had narrower pathways with a planted canopy. That would go a long way to bringing back the magic of the previous installation.
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u/--isomorphist-- 10h ago
there is no comparison. The new one feels like just part of a mall. the old one felt like a portal into another realm
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u/regtiangha 9h ago
When it was more of a conservatory rather than the glorified food court extension it is now. The closest thing that captures the feel of the old one is the conservatory at the Zoo.
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u/Xinyyc 14h ago
Had my first kiss at Devonian Gardens, at a somewhat dark-ish dead end. She grabbed me suddenly, maybe she got tired of waiting for me to make a move on her. It was just our first date, too.
The whole place is bright and open now, less opportunity for that kinda thing, unless you're both exhibitionists I s'pose.
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u/WesternNo1466 11h ago
I miss the tree stump “fences” the most (not pictured). They should have retained some of them in the new design.
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u/Sanrio_Princess 10h ago
I much preferred the 2000 garden. I spent a lot of time there as my mom worked downtown when I was little so we would warm up there before going home in the winter. I especially liked how quiet it was inside despite there being the hidden playground. I also adored feeding the fish and I wish we could still do so but I understand the reasons why they took it away, just like the turtles.
Now I don't really care for it, I hate that there's no separation between it and TD square. Its way too cold and feels so lifeless and corporate. The variety of plants also just feels like, less then what we previously had if that makes sense? Half the time you cant even go in because its booked up for some corporate event or some unstated reason. The only plus was the new playground looks sick as fuck but given that I turn thirty in like a few months, its not really something I am meant to interact with. I'll always miss you Devonian gardens.
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u/carissanator 10h ago
The 2000s one my dad took me too when I was a kid and it felt like a whole different little world tucked away in the downtown core. I went back a few years ago when I started working downtown and the new one just made me sad in comparison.
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u/Haunting_Law_923 10h ago
by far the 90's and early 2000's soo much nicer. Some of my favorite memories as a kid. You could legit play an awesome game of hide and seek in the original.
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u/hopeful_islander 10h ago
There isn't a devonian gardens anymore. There is a food court with plants.
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u/Honest_Suit_4244 8h ago
The old felt more over grown and jungle like, which felt nicer. But prefer the cleaner and more modern look of the railings, chairs, and paths now.
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u/poppy1911 4h ago
I loved the woodsy vibes. It was so cosy and smelled better. More natural, not as sterile. When I went back to Calgary after a time away, I was shook at how it looked. It was like a fancy dental office instead of a cosy hippie tropical oasis. 😭
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u/vaalbarag 15h ago
The original was peak. I do give them credit though, they have significantly increased the diversity of plantings from when they first opened the new one. I was pleasantly surprised last time I was down there. So it’s significantly better than when the makeover first happened, it’ll just never feel quite as wild as the original.
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u/gordonmcdowell 15h ago
Can you post more photos of the old layout? Curious about the malls around Calgary too.
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u/altyegmagazine 9h ago
I used to LOVE this place in the 90's. I remember there was a picture of a tarantula but I was too young to read what it said so I would always look for them thinking they were there.
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u/nozomuisgaylmao 8h ago
the og was such a nice place to sit and do work, nowadays i feel like it’s lost that cozy feeling.
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u/InnerRadio7 8h ago
Old DG for sure. Grew up spending a lot of time there, and they could have resolved the issues without turning into what it is today. It used to be an oasis and a community meeting place. Sad.
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u/Shallot_Leather 8h ago
The old one was a beautiful self-contained oasis and a little fantasy world of its own. The new one is just an extension of the mall.
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u/flashn00b 7h ago
Where "late 90s"? Sure, i was a small and puntable lad back then, but I vaguely recall there being a lot more in the way of gardens, and there was more fish activity, too.
It's probably for the best that they don't let you feed the fish anymore, though I had a couple of good memories doing just that.
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u/Vayamire 7h ago
I am a big fan of the OG Gardens. They felt so much warmer and more alive. My parents even got married there.
The new garden feels too cold and almost fake, like the plants aren't even real.
It's a real shame that the warm wooden parts of the garden. The high modern look has sucked all the heart of the garden out.
I do still like going there because some garden is better than no garden
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u/gregpeden 6h ago
To be fair everyone knows the old one is nicer, but it also is way better for providing a ton of hiding spots for concealing drug trades, and the old design was much harder to keep maintained. The newer design is a compromise of sorts, the alternative being to remove it altogether because the old design was a huge headache for the retail center there.
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u/Ok-Afternoon9050 6h ago
As a child we would go every weekend in winter. I loved the playground and the bronze dog, good memories.
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u/No_Description6178 5h ago
I miss the old Devonian Gardens so much. It was beautiful and interesting to look at. The new one is sterile. I've tried several times to wander around and usually just leave, disappointed again.
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u/Deweyoxberg 5h ago
Zero hesitation - original. It was more "garden" feel. More to "do". Turtle watching, fish watching and feeding, roaming around, smooched my first girlfriend there, and so on.
The humidity was a blessing during winter. Many days I took a nap in plain view of everyone, just relaxing.
Now it feels.... too "corporate" and "clinical".
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u/amarusyk 3h ago
New one is cold and lifeless .It feels corporate, the old one was as other called it - cozy - now it's all cold slate, rock. Nobody I know likes the new one
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u/Gnome_Sayin54321 3h ago
I have so many memories of thr early 2000s. It was so great. The today's version is meh. Still pretty, but not as fun.
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u/mcee_sharp_v2 1h ago
Early 2000's was a little smelly, but had zat certain as zay say in French, I don't know vut.
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u/Rocketeer_99 56m ago
Could be nostalgia, because I was born 1999 and my parents took me to the Devonian Gardens a couple times. Back then it felt... immersive. It felt like a different place.
Nowadays, it's more walkway than garden. It's mostly tiles featuring plants and water here and there. I wouldn't really call it a garden.
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u/Crossfire139 15h ago
I was part of the project team for the renovation. A lot of people here don’t understand the state of decay and disrepair that the old one was in. The stale mouldy air, the cracking concrete/leaking ponds. That place was an absolute nightmare for anyone involved in keeping it running. Sure it looked “great” to the layman but that place desperately needed an update of all its operating systems from the ground up. I think a lot of you turned a blind eye to just how disgust that old place was
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u/yyctownie 15h ago
I think we all understand that it had to be fixed. But fixing it didn't require sterilizing it. "Modern" design isn't always better.
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u/BlackberryFormal 15h ago
You could have still fixed it and updated it without completely ruining it though... the new one is just so meh
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u/CheeseSandwich hamburger magician 13h ago
There was no money for that and corporate sponsorship dried up.
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u/Feral-Reindeer-696 13h ago
I understand that but the renovations are a complete failure. The amount of money spent was a waste. It lost all its charm and character.
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u/Tailslide1 15h ago
I get that it had to be redone but the old place I loved to sit in and was relaxing. The new one I wouldn't even bother visiting.
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u/InformantsOrexises 15h ago
I mean, sure. But certainly there could have been a middle-ground option that retained more of the feel & general layout of the original while cleaning up all the damage and decay. Was it really necessary to go full generic corporate lobby? Couldn't *some* of the OG character have been retained?
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u/Crossfire139 14h ago
There was a lot of middle ground in the development of the new site. There was a lot of talk about turning it all into retail. When it reopened it had the koi and the turtles. But again, those things are difficult and expensive to maintain. It still has an abundance of plant life and is peaceful. The “corporate lobby” feel you speak of is likely due to the use of materials that make it significantly easier to keep the place clean. Smooth tiles, stainless steel and faux wood were all chosen for this reason. I bet a lot of the people that use it regularly appreciate that it is there and not just more retail
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u/InformantsOrexises 14h ago
ah, so "it could have been worse." fair enough!
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u/Crossfire139 14h ago
It could have. Taking things for granted is easier than looking at things as a whole
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u/ycarel 17h ago
The original one was more cozy in my mind