Work has started on the new BBC studios in Cardiff Bay that will house Doctor Who, Casualty, and a host of other dramas in the future. As you'd expect from studios they are essentially huge sheds, but the facade has attracted debate due to it's design which alledgedly apes some of the more grandiose elements of Cardiff castle.

THe new studios are effectively phase one of a big plan for the area. Alongside the BBC studios is a planned media 'hub' which will be aimed at relocating media companies. It's worth noting that this IS NOT new BBC offices a la Glasgow, and that the BBC Wales HQ will remain in north Cardiff. There are rumours though that this will also move down the Bay in future.

It is located in Roath Dock, which is sandwiched between the inner harbour, which some might know as being where the bars, restaurants, Millennium Centre etc is, and Cardiff Docks, which are still functional. The masterplan is a mixed use office and residential site, with the large cultural use of the BBC studios and 'media hub'

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i216/neilfromroath/Image386.jpg

This is phase 1, located in orange

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i216/neilfromroath/Image385.jpg

Some of the front:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/walesarts/drama-village-artists-impression_01_446.jpg

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/48162000/jpg/_48162706_dramacentrefromabove.jpg

Progress photo here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23953269@N05/4950387869/

Article here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10402789

Very nice.

Is it confirmed then that you'll be 'taking' Casualty/Holby from us?

I believe it is. Sowwy. :(

Can I be so bold as to say I detest the design?! As much as I love Cardiff (I have been several times) I think the design looks like a 4 year old drew some shapes or indeed some artist studied play-do for 4 years and thats all they could come up with. The design could be so much better, especially being on the more modern steel and glass south side of the city. Cardiff has some simply beautiful architecture across the city, but this simply isnt! Especially as it only needs to be a facade!

Very nice.

Is it confirmed then that you'll be 'taking' Casualty/Holby from us?

Yeah - Casualty is definately moving to Cardiff, alongside Being Human - the new season of that will be set in Cardiff.

Holby City, which is actually filmed in London, is staying in London though. This is despite the reason being for Casualty moving to Cardiff is that it's part of their big new policy of moving programmes out of London and into the regions more. So, move a show from Bristol to Cardiff to support moving programmes out of London, but don't move a programme out of London itself?

Sense? Making much? No!

And Moi? Bitter? Much!

Yeah that's pretty crap. Being Human as well. Blimey. Mostly filmed in Totterdown, 50 yards from my old house. Used to walk up the hill to the pub/shop and they'd be filming a scene...quite bizarre really.

Shame.

I'm not fussed on the design canary. It's kind of 'out there'. That said, I dislike blandness more than anything, and I do think it's another interesting building to add to the absolute mix of architectural styles that is Cardiff Bay (I think they could do walking tours for architects down there).

Yep, Casualty is going to the new studios, and Crimewatch I believe. The rest is existing dramas made in Cardiff, and presumably the BBC will base a few new things there. Being Human is actually being filmed in Barry apparently. All of a sudden Isla Bazza is like a mini Hollywood. I agree that Bristol has lost out pretty heavilly in the recent BBC drama moves, but I understand that it's to become a centre of excellence for documentaries or something, so I guess one door closes and another opens..

A few photos:

Note: Things I've learn't this week...television studios generally don't look as glamourous as they sound.

Looking across Roath Basin:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4087/5073583480_8be15fe8c5_z.jpg

Studios

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4121/5073587468_feb7a68ba9_z.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4110/5072990947_777e3d2d00_z.jpg

The development is on the south side of Roath Basin. The North side can be seen here.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4092/5072987793_8ac3aacb7d_b.jpg

After seeing the studio with the blue and grey cladding i welcome the disgusting facade! hopefully it will all be hidden from view by the buildings facing the waterfront.

Went for a stroll by there this morning. It's really coming along. You can now start to make out the beginnings of thre 'controversial' detailing on the walls.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5284/5234114889_f1a912c124_b.jpg

I am told by a well placed insider that the studios are already too small for the planned programmes - and that BBC Wales are planning to relocate their Llandaff offices and news studios to the bay but this will leave a further shortfall in studios - which they hope to resolve by using Valleywood (near Bridgend).

I am told by a well placed insider that the studios are already too small for the planned programmes - and that BBC Wales are planning to relocate their Llandaff offices and news studios to the bay but this will leave a further shortfall in studios - which they hope to resolve by using Valleywood (near Bridgend).

That's very interesting.

There have been several rumours about the BBC offices moving down the bay, but I've heard nothing on Valleywood for a while. Any more information?

Nice to see that the empty space on the other side of the basin is being used, think im going to wait and see the finished product before passing judgement!

Topping out ceremony. The new studios are being called 'Roath Lock'

Sounds a bit like a Hollywood actor.

Loath Rock would've been better.
I'm not convinced that this is really a 'cultural or sporting venue' though James..

I have to look at this everyday, my god it looks rubbish, i'd prefer it if they just clad it like the other ABP warehouses instead of this crazy kids fit the shape through the hole typ facade.

Loath Rock would've been better.
I'm not convinced that this is really a 'cultural or sporting venue' though James..

Yeah, I dunno. Certainly nothing to do with sport, but I'd say it's a cultural facility really. Certainly it's in the 'cultural sector'.

I don't disagree though.

Well it's cultural, but I wouldn't class it as a 'venue' in the sense of the word intended by this sector ie a place where the general public can visit to observe things/watch events.

Yeah you are probably right, although I understand there will be some kind of public areas. People will need a place to congregate while waiting for autographs from their favourite pobl-y-cwm stars.

Perhaps we need a new thread for 'cultural factories'?