Flax Place

Carey Jones have acquired planning permission for this unique looking residential building in the East Bank area of Leeds City Centre.

It will comprise of 194 apartments and will feature a landscaped area as well as retail outlets.

Data

No. of floors 9
Height -
Building type - Mainly residential
Year of construction - 2006?
Architect - Carey Jones
Developer - Oakgate PLC
Location - East Bank, Leeds City Centre

http://www.leeds-cityscape.co.uk/flaxplace_275_01.jpg

Looks more like a Piers Gough design than Carey Jones. Interesting looking building though.

This one got full planning permission last week.

wow - that's unusual. Weird even!

wow - that's unusual. Weird even!

Better than the identikit blocks sprouting up on Whitehall road. Something with a bit of identity.

This design would have looked better without the oblong block on the top. Something more rounded would have looked better there, but ha ho what do I know.

I must say, i like this one, a harmless and interesting little development, bravo. Where exactly is this meant to be going if built?

This design would have looked better without the oblong block on the top. Something more rounded would have looked better there, but ha ho what do I know.


r u mad!!!????? that oblong thing on top is what makes this building what it is!! but hey that sjust my opinion!!

He might have meant he wanted an egg shaped thing on there instead

To be built on the left of East Street (as you head out of town) opposite TrinityOne/ Fearn Island Mills I think.
An egg shape on top would have looked like Lord's.
It will be interesting to see the plans for this one. I wonder if they are going to make some communal space on top of the 'podium'?

i know where you mean now, thanks. A communal space on the podium would rock. when i lived in Manhatten a lot of the roofs had psuedo communal areas, one had a weekly film night, with a projector and sound system, the illuminated empire state building and midtown in the background! that kinda stuff really makes for a good community feeling to these developments.

when i lived in Manhatten
!!
I'm going in 3 weeks.
Staying in Tribeca, looking for an inside into what's cool to do midweek, other than the usual touristy stuff. Any thoughts?
Feel free to send me a PM/email.
cheers

Lucky you Stig, New York rocks! im not a fan of America, and especially the Americans that live there, but you cant help but love New York, with all its grime, seedy and shady places right next to grand wealth. the diversity makes for a big mess of brilliance, all one one sweaty (in summer) island!

Anyways, if ur staying in Tribeca ur pretty close to Downtown, its a nice place to walk around, but quite boring for anything else except for buying a Rolex for $10 in Battery Park.
China Town and Little Italy are amazing, interesting places with loadsa good cheap places to eat. smells about that, but that adds to the charm.
i lived in the East Village on 1st and 1st st. i love it round there, clubs and restaurants on every block, right underneath ur apartment, u could stay in that area and never get bored. then if you go up 20/30 streets ur into the Touristy bit again, very nice looking buildings there, posh are, then as you go north it gets posher and posher up to central park. go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and go on the balcony, good views there

there is loads to do and see, just wander around, thats what i did

This one got full planning permission last week.

Good stuff, yet another new scheme for the East Bank. The design is very un-Carey Jones like. The podium does look like a McDonald's branch that has been helicoptered on to the base, but I like the contrast. Somehow reminds me of Charles Deaton's pedestal house perched over Colorado, as seen in Woody Allen's Sleeper.
Charles Deaton's Sculptured House (http://realty.mariah.com/uploaded_images/sculpted-706763.jpg)

Actually, in retrospect, not sure what caused that strange comparison. Maybe its the curved nature of the design, something we don't often se in Leeds. Still, nothing like it really, but you learn something every day.

I must say, i like this one, a harmless and interesting little development, bravo. Where exactly is this meant to be going if built?

I think it will slot in between Gateway and the Checkerboard building. Looks good and a little querky, and one of this design in this location will add a bit of variety.

What are peoples opinions of the Checkerboard building? i think its horrific, very cheap looking, and the colours and contrast doesnt sit well in my stomach! even students deserve some beauty, hehe.

I quite like it, but one in it's style of finish is enough for one city.

it's horrid

Hmm couldn't see any images in this thread so thought I'd copy in some renders from CJA...

http://www.careyjones.co.uk/images/upload/arch_res_lrg/1_flax%20place_410.jpg

http://www.careyjones.co.uk/images/upload/arch_res_lrg/2_flax%20place_410.jpg

http://www.careyjones.co.uk/images/upload/arch_res_lrg/3_flax%20place_410.jpg


Flax Place, Leeds

Client Oakgate Group PLC
Status Ongoing
Construction cost £20 million

The Flax Place scheme is set to further regenerate the east of Leeds city centre that is currently under utilized, delivering 1870 sq m (20,000 sq ft) of commercial amenity space together with a residential development.

The residential element of the scheme comprises 198 one and two bedroom apartments and 12 duplex. There will also be 160 parking spaces incorporating underground parking for residents use. Both new and enhanced areas of open space will also be included in the scheme.
source (http://www.careyjones.co.uk/portfolio/details.php?page_id=573)

Note the 3rd photo and the colour of the cladding

http://www.careyjones.co.uk/images/upload/arch_res_lrg/3_flax%20place_410.jpg

...now compare with Gateway;

http://www.careyjones.co.uk/images/upload/arch_res_lrg/6_gateway_410.jpg

Are we to be suprised considering the are the designed by the same firm?

Maybe CJ have a very close connection with the firm that supplies this rendering ?

Are we to be suprised considering the are the designed by the same firm?

As these are neighbouring developments, it could be a deliberate attempt at some 'conectivity' between the two ... which may be a good thing.

Note the 3rd photo and the colour of the cladding

http://www.careyjones.co.uk/images/upload/arch_res_lrg/3_flax%20place_410.jpg

...now compare with Gateway;

http://www.careyjones.co.uk/images/upload/arch_res_lrg/6_gateway_410.jpg

Are we to be suprised considering the are the designed by the same firm?

Looks like turquoise is the new terracotta :(

I thought Portland Stone was the new terracotta ¬_¬

The Gateway's cladding is the lastest in building material, it turns from a metallic silver to green once PP is approved. Maybe Flax place will turn from green to terracotta, very clever stuff. How do they do it?

..

Hmm couldn't see any images in this thread so thought I'd copy in some renders from CJA...

http://www.careyjones.co.uk/images/upload/arch_res_lrg/1_flax%20place_410.jpg

http://www.careyjones.co.uk/images/upload/arch_res_lrg/2_flax%20place_410.jpg

http://www.careyjones.co.uk/images/upload/arch_res_lrg/3_flax%20place_410.jpg

source (http://www.careyjones.co.uk/portfolio/details.php?page_id=573)


oooh, really like that - love the sweep hugging the corner, like the wooden cladding elements, like the prefab type box on top providing an angular contrast to the smooth lines of the base section, like the boxy protusions. All in, think its great - really mix of stuff happening in this section of town.

In-fact it seems designed with a nod to the old council blocks behind that are to be refurbed by Urban Splash.

I feel much more positive about this than the Barrett Echo scheme, Trinity 1 or even the Gateway itself.

... old council blocks behind that are to be refurbed by Urban Splash...

Are they? When?

Are they? When?

yes, and starting fairly soon, but I'll be buggered if I can remember where it was posted.

Our property man Stig knows about it and I'm sure he posted details of what was happening and even renders, but that's the problem with so many threads, its on here somewhere, but quite where, I'm not sure.

Yep. tis old news JO, but I don't have a timescale to hand - I'm writing a new thread about it now - called "Parade & Drive"

I thought Portland Stone was the new terracotta ¬_¬

Bloody hell, you can't have a different material on every building, there's only so many available materials out there. People's problem with terracotta was that it was cheap looking, portland stone looks much, much classier, and they can use it everywhere for all I care. Pretty much all pre war buildings were stone or brick, they managed pretty well with barely two types of 'cladding' for hundreads of years, we'll be fine/ You can't suggets turqouise cladding is the new terracotta just because it appears on two buildings.

3 if you include Jimmy's new wing... :whistle:

I stand mistaken, it's spreading like a disease.

I dont mind it though. Bricks worked coz they had intracate designs. Some buildings made from that stuff the dome is made from would be interesting. More steel too.

This sign has just appeared on the site


http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a178/apm22/7%20Nov%202006/P1010211.jpg


It does make me wonder slightly why proposals on the East Bank seem to move relatively quickly from development to being on site: think Echo, East Street Mills, the Gateway, Roberts Wharf. Any ideas why this should be?

And it looks as if the New Year has brought a new start on the East Bank. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the Flax Place advance party:


http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a178/apm22/10%20Jan%202007/P1010205.jpg?t=1168468823

..

That's a nice start for a year!

i so wish they would knock down those horible flats in the second pic. they seriously need to go.

sorry if anyone lives in them lol

Do you like anything remotely urban?

..

And it looks as if the New Year has brought a new start on the East Bank. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the Flax Place advance party:


http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a178/apm22/10%20Jan%202007/P1010205.jpg?t=1168468823

good spotting there aviator - hurrah and huzzah! Alternative they could be digging up and replacing drains. New Year optimism springeth forth. I agree - they're making a start on site.

Big fan of this development, lovely sweeping shape at the lower level and a Captain Funky top bit with mix of interesting cladding. The views will be of, er, big roads, and the Gateway, but not to worry. The renders look superb, and as a Carey Jones designed scheme, I'd suspect that they are from our man dibbers. Lets hope that reality looks as good.

????? i dont know what makes you say that.


A case of mistaken identity, apologies.

There's been an unusual amount of 'don't like anything' attitudes around lately, it's all got a little confusing. :nuts:

..

............Alternative they could be digging up and replacing drains. ......

Bum, I think you could be right. All the lovely activity has gone quiet, though there are still some portacabins on site. Guess it's back to the waiting game for a while yet.....ho hum.

Bum, I think you could be right. All the lovely activity has gone quiet, though there are still some portacabins on site. Guess it's back to the waiting game for a while yet.....ho hum.

dang, I'll trust you as the sensible eyes and ears of East Street to keep us informed. Was back briefly last weekend flying out skiiing but the weather was so abominable, as it was at Xmas), that I singularly failed to even attempt to get any update construction photos. Where's the sun in Yorkshire these days?

Looks like things might be moving into the next stage... the drains work is probably enabling works (services diversions) before site works starts. A new 'Flax Place' site board also seems to have appeared recently.

The website (www.flaxplace.com (http://www.flaxplace.com)) also seems to have been updated. Not sure to what extent, but it mentions things dates Feb 07 on there.

..

I wonder what happened to this one?
We know it passed from Oakgate to Scanmoor, and last we heard was a start on site Jan 07.
Seemingly they were still there in March and then.....................

Shame if it's fallen by the wayside, it was one of Carey Jones' few interesting schemes in my opinion.

I drive past every day and for a time was excited, especially given the design. I seem to remember there is still some work on site, but I have to admit that my eye is always drawn to the burgeoning Gateway opposite. I'll check out on my way to work in the morning

They still have a web site - but u cant see from my brief look whether there is a start date quoted . . .
http://flaxplace.com/index.htm

They also appear to still be selling them so the project is definatly not abandoned - its just a little quiet . . . .
http://www.propertyfinder.com/cgi-bin/rsearch?a=o&id=502170753

..

According to all the latest reports (well, the recent Leeds Uni one), a number of lesser schemes in less central areas are likely to fall by the wayside. Could this be one of them? The Propertyfinder page could be an old one, sometimes I find stuff on the 'net that I think is new, and later realise it's been there for years.

If you look at some of the info on the leeds page its dated feb2007 not that old really.

This project isnt particularly far from the city centre Echo which is currently onsite is further than this, plus its opposite the gateway!

Unfortunately, all you can see from the road is the advertising hoarding for this development without any real activity on site. Some of the site appears to be given over to parking for an adjacent development.

I don't know why people have a downer on this design. I think it's excellent and its shape makes it very distinctive. The colour also looks to complement the Gateway and being right opposite that means this is not as peripheral as some might think. The development of the East Bank stretches far behind this and shows no sign of being halted.

I've just spotted this on the Flax Place website:


Toby Underwood & Graham Newton of BDO Stoy Hayward were appointed as Joint Administrators of Flax Place Limited on 25th October 2007


And a quick scan of the HMC website shows that the company has been wound up. So, I guess that's it for this site for a while :ohno:

Looks like a confimed casualty then, as Rob predicted above. Well spotted aviator. I have to say, I did think the units looked a little small on the floorplans.

I guess something else will emerge on the site that better suits the current market.

A shame, but in fairness, we don't do too bad to date for cancelled schemes (touch wood). Where some schemes have been cancelled they ended up with better proposals in the end anyway...

Well, someone's been busy here. The site has been fenced off to stop people parking on the grass. My guess is that a lot of the workers on the Gateway site across the road have been using it as free parking. And there's a For Sale sign up!

I'd noticed that - the 'Flax Place' sign was replaced by the 'For Sale' sign last Friday. The fly-parking had got mental on the site over the months - I'm guessing the administrators want to ensure they max value for the site which is why they've secured it?

A shame, but in fairness, we don't do too bad to date for cancelled schemes (touch wood). Where some schemes have been cancelled they ended up with better proposals in the end anyway... Did I say that one or two days before Greenbank was cancelled?:bash:

People will recall that Flax Place was one of the first victims of the recession (or the oversupply of 1/2 bedroom flats in the city centre) and the site has lain vacant since 2007, albeit still fenced off from the surrounding open space.

Driving into work this morning, I noticed that there were excavators at work on the site. Now I'd be surprised if any other developers have picked up on this so I'm assuming that there's some infrastructure work going on, water mains or sewerage pipes or something like that. Does anybody have any knowledge or ideas about what might be happening here?