Just a few apartment complexes and housing U/C/proposed in the city

Jupitor - Redrow Homes

http://www.redrow.co.uk/ImageUploadView.aspx?ImageName=928.jpg&ImageContext=styleimages
http://www.redrow.co.uk/ImageUploadView.aspx?ImageName=930.jpg&ImageContext=styleimages

Southside - Crosby Homes

http://www.southsidebirmingham.com/images/resident/thumb1big.jpg
http://www.southsidebirmingham.com/images/resident/thumb3big.jpg

The Orion Building - Crosby Homes

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/163TheOrionBuilding_pic1.jpg

PostBox - Cala Homes

http://www.postboxapartments.com/images/development/blockcfromcommercialst.jpg
http://www.postboxapartments.com/images/development/blockcfromcommst2.jpg

Beetham Tower - Beetham Organisastion

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/153HollowayCircusTower_pic1.jpg

Holiday Wharf - Charles Church

http://www.charles-church.co.uk/pictures/cc_sm_hol_quote1.jpg
http://www.charles-church.co.uk/pictures/cc_sm_hol_overview1.jpg

Quartz - Charles Church

http://www.charles-church.co.uk/pictures/cc_sm_qua_quote1.jpg

Masshouse Apartments

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v217/Derekksharmen/masshouseresi1.jpg

All these fab apartments being built in the city yet I, personally, don't know anyone who owns one. Perhaps I'm mixing with the wrong crowd.

Some lovely looking buildings posted there.

These apartments are only ever paper owned.
Owned by paper.

I do know people that own htem- perhaps Im mixing with the wrong crowd.

the masshouse building seems to be the odd one out, all the rest look nice but that just looks plain nasty

yeah am not sure about masshouse, lets just hope its better in the flesh, it does look cheap in the renderings though, although the thing as a whole looks quite impressive

Southside's looking very good and detailed really nicely
http://tinypic.com/fdc3s8.jpg

http://tinypic.com/fdc40w.jpg

No sign of any work but I think this will be the front of Typoo wharf. It's another huge site
http://tinypic.com/fdc5sg.jpg

WOW, there is some beauts there.
No....Really

The first one forgot the fuckers name, I have not seen it but it's gorgeous!!

Masshouse does look nasty in that pic but your might be forgetting thats not the one getting built.

:cheers:

Being from London i was quite sceptical about living in bham city centre.... but after looking around for a few weeks i was well impressed with the huge amounts of quality apartments around....

im currently living in centenary plaza...which is pretty cool... but it loooks like birmingham has lots of more impressive stuff coming...! exciting times...

Visited southside a few weeks ago looked a seriously good build quality, the best ive seen in Birmingham hands down

Post box is gonna be crap.

Postbox is alright CP - I have had a wander around a couple of times and I certainly like the layout - I think it will engender a good community feel.

The Masshouse rendering is wrong as Ush pointed out - it is more black & white and a bit more detailing - and it won't look quite right until it has its neighbours sitting alongside ;)

I know a few people with city centre apartments - and I can tell you it is so good being able to stroll into town (and into work for them) whenever you feel like it. Tey have saved me a fortune in parking and in taxis :)

I had a chat to one of the women in the new marketing suite at mass house. She told me that the block being built had (i think) 175 apartments. Once this is built and sold they'll start on the other block which has around 390. Incidently it hasn't been decided yet what the other block on the end will be. I was told it could be hotel, apartments or Leisure. Guess they are waiting to see what happens with the library. The Masshouse apartments have very good investment potential and I predict it will end up practically as Aston University halls of residence.

wow sum fab designs! i saw brum from the train and have to say - wow! great skyline goin on and growing! ;)

Thanks Michael - it is nice to get compliments from others.

I might compile a list of our best apartment blocks - any other suggestions? I recommend Sherborne Wharf, King Edwards Wharf, Islington Gates and LibertyPlace....

I want an apartment :(

wahhhhhhhh

http://www.redjammedia.com/images/redjam_careers_05_image.jpg

What's the pic Blunth?

I had a chat to one of the women in the new marketing suite at mass house. She told me that the block being built had (i think) 175 apartments. Once this is built and sold they'll start on the other block which has around 390. Incidently it hasn't been decided yet what the other block on the end will be. I was told it could be hotel, apartments or Leisure. Guess they are waiting to see what happens with the library. The Masshouse apartments have very good investment potential and I predict it will end up practically as Aston University halls of residence.

well with the fall in the resi market and the high demand in the office sector, mashouse dont know whether to push ahead with lats or office and which one will be most profitable....so we'll have to see which one goes though. this has been quite high profile to those of u who have been reading you egi!?!?!

I am wondering the fate of Eastside. hmmmmmmm. Masshouse might actualy point out somethings can be bloody built.
I might be living in Masshouse. Muha Muha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha *Splutters and Chockes and Coughs*
Ha

I was emailed this picture of a knackered building out in Lozells, does it reming anyone of anything...

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j150/Max_Groove/PICT0040.jpg

this angers me, this just shows how much space we have to expand our city centre outwards......

I was emailed this picture of a knackered building out in Lozells, does it reming anyone of anything...

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j150/Max_Groove/PICT0040.jpg

That's not Lozells! It's Southside!! Or is it Abacus....?
;)

You made me think there Woody. If we are surrounding the city centre with apartment blocks, will they strangle potential commercial/office development, or will it FORCE OFFICES INTO THE SKY HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!

Bio,

Pretty sure you're right it's somewhere in Digbeth.

I'm not sure how to describe where the buildings are but as you come in to the City on the A38, to your right before Matalan is an old building with a big poster on it advertising rental space. An amazing building that would make a fantastic conversion. Equally there's another one very simlar behind the police station in Newtown.

Yes , in that original render, the Southside apartments on the corner of Hurst Street/Bromsgrove street show what appears to be a boutique/retail unit on the ground floor, which did look quite stylish. Left 'Missing' (now 'Ruby's Bar') t'other day, and noticed that ground flr unit is to be a Tesco Express, which takes up all the floor-space on both street sides.Also they were putting in a new cash-machine on the Bromsgrove Street side. Oh well, s'ppose the locals need to get their food from somewhere..

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j150/Max_Groove/PICT0040.jpg

^^^^ i wouldn't park my Audi in the street in Lozells.....

it'd get nicked in about 5mins

ok ur kidding......the ground floor units for southsid are all to be taken up be a fucking tesco

The factory in the picture is in Spring Hill.I know this as grew up near by and used to play trackking in the factory happy days :)

Yep right by the Railway Line, opposite side from Biddle and Webb.

It is on the edge of the Icknield Port Loop Masterplan so it could have a future left, I'd get your apartment now, Im fairly sure you wouldn't have to pay £3,000/sq.m like at southside...

In regard to its look-i-likee I notice they have repaved the area around Southside with orange bricks and the internal road in a modern Japanese garden style, looks really good, well done Crosby, makes Postbox look as thourougily shoddy as it is.

The Tesco Metro thread is tru, but all the retail at Southside was sold a while back, so not really their fault I guess.

Also considering Tesco have just got their superstore approved on Bristol Street/Bromsgrove Street, seems a funny move having two Tesco's on same street within 200m of each other...

Think a tesco will be really good here it should encourage more city living appartments in southside.

I guess I'll pop these here - as they are apartments.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you VIVA!!

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a264/Biosonic/VivaAerial.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a264/Biosonic/VivaFrontages.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a264/Biosonic/VivaCourtyard.jpg

I think I really like this. Reminds me a bit of Southside though.

The arched entrance looks very grand. Almost like it was for horse drawn carriages.

I was looking at this yesterday after a session in the Craven Arms. Lots of full height glass but but to me the 'old' section looks a little out of place. I think it wouldn't have looked quite so odd if the new buildings didn't but up to it. Too late now, but a couple of little pedestrian routes eithside to the courtyard perhaps? Whoever buys a property that faces onto the side of the mailbox will have a view straight into the offices, which is not so good.

This part of town is going to be really smart in a few of years.

And I noticed Weedon architect boards have been erected on the Granville Street apartments. It's a big bastard and the steelwork is shooting up.

I should have a look around there. I have rarely been around those parts.

The arched entrance looks very grand. Almost like it was for horse drawn carriages.

Nay.

JQ One looks to be nearing completion now. www.chordhomes.co.uk

http://i13.tinypic.com/2mh9ce8.jpg

http://i13.tinypic.com/47ns6bm.jpg

http://i14.tinypic.com/47x3wae.jpg
slightly blurry distance shot but shows you what it's like round the back.

That looks really good for a small scheme. It really suits the location, it's a bit shinyier than i thought it would be now i see all the glass in.

I like this. Fits in well and breaks away from those boring resi boxes that are cropping up. Thanks for the photos Foxtrot!

That is seriously nice - good attention to detail :cool:

Thanks Foxy! :)

Cudos to Chord there, from the renders I thought this would be rubbish, but it actually looks quite good, good execution I think.

http://i17.tinypic.com/29cw03q.jpg

http://i18.tinypic.com/2vwh30o.jpg

http://i17.tinypic.com/29bogmt.jpg

http://i16.tinypic.com/2qntowm.jpg

http://i19.tinypic.com/4hvhx5g.jpg

Lovely :)

Horrid

"Yes but darling it's Grey, i don't want to live in a grey building". Will say every WAG.

Lets be honest the colour scheme is awful. Should never have been allowed. Somebody get the paint brushes out.

http://i19.tinypic.com/4hvhx5g.jpg

Wat's da matter can't you afford colour film or something? :naughty:

i have no problem with it.... well so long the the ground floors are glazed!

I like grey. It's my second favourite colour after brown

I walk past there quite a lot and i think it looks horrible, like they stacked a bunch of portacabins together or something. I guess it matches the rest of that dreary street though... who would want to live down that end anyway when the street is so dark and primarily used all day for deliveries and commercial rubbish?!

I like it. I also think its agood location. Delieveries will be made when residents are at work. Its very close to the station and the Mailbox yet is very quiet at night.

I also think its a good location.

OK, I'll reiterate my post: I live at the top of this street, and in no uncertain terms is Cava in a good location, it's really grotty down that end and the deliveries are a real nuisance at all times. It smells like rubbish a lot of the time as well. :ohno:

Same goes for Scholars Gate. This whole side of the mailbox was really badly thought out, as it really is just a service road for the royal mail, tesco, and restaurants/hotels.

I never had to go down this street until they started the Cube, and once that's finished, we'll have direct access to the canal again... it can't come soon enough :)

I quite like it - simple design that works quite well.

The stupid planters in the courtyard are shit though. They just need a couple of well-placed trees and be done with it.

I think this is one of those schemes that will look better on a bright sunny day..

I have seen this as it went up and never thought it was horrible but they do seemed to have copped out a bit with the colour...

http://i17.tinypic.com/29cw03q.jpg

http://i17.tinypic.com/29bogmt.jpg


From those photos it looks like a decent enough design marred by cheap materials and finishing IMO. The render all looks a bit blotchy (a la Orion), doesn't it?

I'd stick a tenner on that being a classic case of a "trophy architect". The original scheme was by J&G Land and Estates - I bet they used somebody fairly good to work up a design and get PP, then sold it to Earthquake, who got another architect in to "value engineer" it and cut the costs to the bone and get a bit more profit than the viability assessment gave scope for. Anyone with any inside information want to tell me I'm talking shit?

There's a few schemes in Brum that might be at risk of this sort of thing eg i-Land (original designs Glenn Howells, executive architects Weedon Partnership) and Latitude (also a Glenn Howells design, but apparently being executed by some firm in Cardiff whose portfolio on their website looks execrable).

CABE reckon it's possible for planning authorities to set conditions that can stop this sort of thing happening - maybe the council ought to give it a go?

Interesting point Biley and something I have been pondering a lot recently.

The thing is, if a Client is so willing, they can write the high quality into the contract, so a cheaper architect can be used as executive (and increasingly, the "Trophy" architects are seeing themselves as too important to be involved with the nuts & bolts stuff) but the finishes/appearance can remain. Interestingly, I think Glenn Howells are one of the ones that like to see it through.

In all fairness to this, I think the pics don't tell a true story (sorry Foxy) as there is a bit more colour to it.

It isn't render AFAIK - I think it is a pre-finished concrete panel? Can anyone confirm this? I think, and hope, that it will age well (ones I have been involved with are designed to look their best after a year or so).

Interesting point Biley and something I have been pondering a lot recently.

The thing is, if a Client is so willing, they can write the high quality into the contract, so a cheaper architect can be used as executive (and increasingly, the "Trophy" architects are seeing themselves as too important to be involved with the nuts & bolts stuff) but the finishes/appearance can remain. Interestingly, I think Glenn Howells are one of the ones that like to see it through.

In all fairness to this, I think the pics don't tell a true story (sorry Foxy) as there is a bit more colour to it.

It isn't render AFAIK - I think it is a pre-finished concrete panel? Can anyone confirm this? I think, and hope, that it will age well (ones I have been involved with are designed to look their best after a year or so).
Cheers Bio - I was jumping to a few conclusions there...

Also possibly being a bit unfair on Weedons. Does anybody know how Skyline on Bath Row is looking? That seemed to look a lot better on the 10 foot 300dpi hoardings around the site last summer than it did on a 72 dpi jpeg on the information superwebway - there seemed to be lots of elegant detailing going on. How's it shaping up?

Hi

walk past this most days and have watched it built, those pictures do it no justice, it actually looks good in the flesh, as Bio said its pre cast concrete or reconstituted stone panneling and the gray windows set it off...

Skyline actually looks quite good, you can see glimses of it under the scaffolding

and the brickwork is already going up on i land, but too early to see what this will end up like

I think my trusty nikon is on a odd setting. It's easily one of the best schemes under construction and does look much better in real life.

From those photos it looks like a decent enough design marred by cheap materials and finishing IMO. The render all looks a bit blotchy (a la Orion), doesn't it?

Other people have beaten me to it-its concrete and looks better close up. Reminds me of the stuff they were sticking inside Shoreditchy type bars a few years ago. Much as i like it I was still expecting more negative views than weve seen here. I think the finish is pretty brave and wont appeal to a lot of people.

Above it-Im not a fan of the grey panelling stuff they seem to use evrywhere (is there aname for it )but at least it looks better here than on St Martins gate.

The glass balconies look nice IMO.


There's a few schemes in Brum that might be at risk of this sort of thing eg i-Land (original designs Glenn Howells, executive architects Weedon Partnership)



I'm a bit worried about i-land. the brickwork is going up and looks very very ordinary . None of that vertically stacking that featured in the first renders-it reminded me of Dean House. Still southside looked very bland when it started going up. This will rely on the spacing of the brick sections to make it I think.

That's a pity - I was looking forward to i-land. Glad to hear that the finish in Viva is better in real life though (and that Skyline's looking promising). Does anybody know who the architects for Viva were?

Went for a walk at lunchtime behind the mailbox and took some pics!

Viva in the sun:
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w143/gi_chris/Vivainthesun.jpg

New ones on Granville Street, better then I thought they would look from the renders:
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w143/gi_chris/GranvilleStreetApartment1.jpg
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w143/gi_chris/GranvilleStreetApartment.jpg

Here is one down the street behind the mailbox randomly!
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w143/gi_chris/ViewbehindMailbox.jpg

Birmingham looks great in the sun!

Sorry, but Viva looks terrible in that shot. It's architecture just doesn't seem to fit into the surroundings and it has a Dubai-esque feel.

Yeh it does seem very out of place there!

Maybe it is just my camera work! I agree tho it does seem very stark

It's not your camera work. It's got pointed windows whilst the other windows in the other building are rectangular. The rendering is all wrong and the window frames are too dark for the area.

I think Viva works reasonably well in that shot! I see your point about the pointy v. squared windows, but for me the square ones enhance the Victorian building (which looks radiant in that photo!).

Don't forget there is the Mailbox opposite, and this area is traditionally industrial so I am pleased it harks back to that era.

Thanks for the photos Chris - much appreciated :cheers2: . The Granville St one does look much better than the renders suggested :happy:

I like Viva a bit different from many of the BBLB appartments

I went for a walk behind the Mailbox on my lunch in the sunshine so thought I would take a few snaps!

Skyline:

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w143/gi_chris/Skyline1.jpg

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w143/gi_chris/Skyline2.jpg

Across the road from Skyline.. am assuming more apartments but there were no renders up?!

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w143/gi_chris/AcrossfromSkyline.jpg

Some steels going up for Granville Something!! Judging by the state of the hoardings this site has been quiet for quite some time!

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w143/gi_chris/GranvilleStreet.jpg

Looks like this.. apologies for rubbish pic!

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w143/gi_chris/GranvilleStreetRender.jpg

And finally some Steels going up behind the Five Ways leisure bit..

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w143/gi_chris/SiteBehindFivewaysLeisure.jpg

There was a render up but the sunshine was reflecting off it so couldnt take a decent picture! Not that I am moaning about the sunshine!

thanx for the pics, nice suprise......

...liking skyline, the only damn problem is its name!

I'm not too keen on Skyline (name and design). I don't know why exactly, but it really puts me off.

I really like Skyline. I went and had a look about 2 weeks ago and got a glimpse of the balconies and thought they looked good. I think they/the whole thing looks even better with the cladding uncovered.

Whole thing looks very Dutch :banana:

Much as I hate to say this, Skyline looks quite nice :)

Lost opportunity on the site though :(

Oh I like the balconies. I think it maybe the large numbers of bricks used. I have an aversion to bricks used on new builds at the moment...

I think there's enough other types of development that doesn't use bricks around at the mo to let this slide.

If anything the use of brick in new build must be on a downward slide if not at a 25 year low.

im not sure if the skyline site is wasted, im pretty sure a tower would never get permission here as it stands as too many residents around and light etc... but i suppose it could have been a lil more imaginative.... but hey, im happy

There's a committee meeting on 6/7 storey resi block on Granville Street next week. Think its the same one thats been dormant for a while. Might be a bit of help.

Skylines looking good. Remember when I got some details through a year or so back when we were shy of renders. To say dissappointed was an understatement. :lol:

Thanks for the pics Chris :cheers1:

Not sure what this is:

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w143/gi_chris/GranvilleStreet.jpg

The synagogue & apartments are next door (over the road toward the cinema) unless this is also part of it?

Bio it's Granville Court, on the junction of Holliday/Granville street.

Sorry - I lost my orientation :doh:

There's a committee meeting on 6/7 storey resi block on Granville Street next week. Think its the same one thats been dormant for a while.

Which one is that then? I can only think of the one where the Arts Council are. It would be a conversion if that was the case because it is quite a nice building.

how about pics of centenary plaza :-)

New one from flick

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/189/481865680_6ce39ac1da_o.jpg

Very nice :)
Perfect postcard pic.

Dont you think its awesome how five years ago there was almost no postcards of brum and now there are so many you get official and cheaper versions.

Some piccys of apartment stuff I took today...:)

The Spires...
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m149/Mr_Glide/DSCF1096.jpg

I Like how they have retained this - but it sits rather awkward here IMHO
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m149/Mr_Glide/DSCF1097.jpg

The Post Box...
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m149/Mr_Glide/DSCF1098.jpg

After a rather heated argument, the chairs thought it best the table go outside and cool off a while...
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m149/Mr_Glide/DSCF1099.jpg

Thanks for the pics Mr Glide.

That last pic really needs some greenery - they should've put some trees in.

Thanks for the pics Mr Glide.

That last pic really needs some greenery - they should've put some trees in.


I think tumbleweed would be more appropriate... :lol:

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m149/Mr_Glide/DSCF1099.jpg

Isn't that strange!Are they expecting residents to fill those marked plots with flower pots or something ?

You'd want to do something wouldn't you?

So cold, grey & drab!

The fencing is a bit shit. A taller timber fence would soften the landscape a bit more.