If the MBLA scheme for the car park gets built it will go, but that has gone quiet.


Ohhh that rings a bell. I think I dimly remember a thread on here about it long, long ago. Anyone able to give me a name to search under or better still a link (if you're feeling generous and/or are unemployed or unemployable and are currently sat at home in your dressing gown watching Jeremy Kyle)?

Much appreciated.

Cheers

Thom

Here is the thread for the MBLA scheme

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=447528

Thanks Flange, much obliged.

Cheers

Thom

Wow!!! Really Like the look of this project. Gives Manchester a new york feel. Not seen this kid of development in the North before. Great stuff!

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/038-2.jpg

Light House apartments go on sale

By Simon Binns

A London-based development company is launching its first Manchester city centre residential scheme today.

Stonehurst Estates’ The Light House building is situated on Church Street in the Northern Quarter and the 20-storey building comprises 169 two and three-bedroom apartments. The penthouses feature a 1,500 sq ft sky terrace on the 15th floor, and the building cost £32m to redevelop in a project that was part restoration, part new-build.

Clive Lynton, development director at Stonehurst Estates, said: “We have worked hard to make the penthouses at The Light House really stand out.”

Graeme Woods, from selling agent King Sturge, said: “The best properties in the best locations are still selling well, but there has undoubtedly been a change in the city’s fringe locations.

“Out towards Ancoats and down on the southern edge of the city centre sales have slowed dramatically, but the demand in the city centre will always be strong.”

http://www.crainsmanchesterbusiness.co.uk/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080313/FREE/878970541/1114/-/-/light-house-apartments-go-on-sale

Just wondering if any of you guys know the estimated completion date for The Lighthouse? Its an amazing building, but I'm getting fed up of the crack caused by building vibrations in my wall, and I want to fill it, but no point in doing it before its finished (I live at The Birchin)!

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/064-2.jpg

That photo is very New York, apart from the tractor! Love it!

A couple from Shudehill today:

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee85/mancplanner_2007/Shudehill4.jpg

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee85/mancplanner_2007/Shudehill6.jpg

Wahey its as tall as city tower... (well ok but the non mancs needn't know, shhh)
it is massive mind, also on the far far left.. is that the infamous new sarah tower crane?

Indeed.

At look at that first pic and I think 'we need more tall buildings there, there, there and there'.

Then I think well there's the Sarah crane which is fucking massive (first time I've seen and that must be 90 meters at least). Then next to it we'll have Piccadilly Tower, then Crown tower if Virgin and Branson sort it out, along with Gravity Tower just to the left we'll be on our way. Am sure I've missed one or two.

anyone got any idea when this is set for completion?

i love the mish mash look of this thing,it reminds me of a favella in brazil whereby they keep adding bits and it becomes much more than the original idea and you look and think where will it end?

You know, I have been on and off this project since I first saw it, but seeing it in these nearing completion stages. It has really grown on me, it's something a little differant.

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/010-6.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/016-6.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/021-7.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/032-6.jpg

Looking good.

Looks superb in those first shots but am not lovin the view from the gardens, looks far too wide..

the top shot is a top shot. reminds me of upper east-side manhattan.

e.g. madison avenue

http://www.nybits.com/images/photo/ues_madison_1.jpg

Top notch.:okay:
Love how it contrasts with the older buildings.

Looks superb in those first shots but am not lovin the view from the gardens, looks far too wide..

In the original plans they were supposed to be doing a light-display on the Piccadilly facing side. I haven't since heard anything to the contrary, so it could potentially be the piece de resistance if done well.

^^

Aye, hence the name Lighthouse, so it better be a shining beacon on the skyline!

I see they've started cladding the upper floors:

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44656000/jpg/_44656732_constructionsite_getty.jpg

^^:lol::lol:

With all the Union flags around town there's no doubt the visiting Russians will know by now they're playing a 'British' team and not a Scottish one...:lol:

hehe

This is fast becoming one of the most prominent towers in central Manchester!

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee85/mancplanner_2007/Lighthouse01.jpg

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee85/mancplanner_2007/Lighthouse02.jpg

Cladding quickly going on. It's looking good. :)

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg270/SteKnight/Lighthouse160608001.jpg?t=1213741951

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg270/SteKnight/Lighthouse160608002.jpg?t=1213742153

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/061-4.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/057-4.jpg

I'm really not sure about that. (view from Piccadilly Gardens) The wall of chocolate brown tiles don't help either.

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/061-4.jpg

I agree, I think it looks cheap and vile from that angle.

pity that, cos its a brill high rise apart from that view, which should be its most prominent

I'm undecided on that angle...

I think it might be nice to have a prominent modern tower which isn't covered in glass. But we'll just have to see what it looks like when it's completed. Are there any renders from this angle?

From the development website

http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/645/pic2hl9.jpg

ew.

thankfully it already looks a little bit better in real life.

im sorry but enless something is coming up along side the tower that angle is awful!! they could have made the apartments really special with lovely views across manchester but instead they put poo coloured tiles and tiny square windows??? mmm whats that about! such a let down after it looks so good from the other sides!!

I'm pleasently surprised by this one. The MFI-esque build suits the NQ mish mash boho vibe, in my book.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/faggotbrain/Lighthouseedit1.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/faggotbrain/lihgthouseedit2.jpg

The NQ, and especially Tib street views work quite well. The Piccadilly Gardens view on the other hand......... :ohno:

Even more reason to get the IRA back in, bomb the piccadilly gardens site, and we can start to make a proper city space and cover up that horrible view as well.

Even more reason to get the IRA back in, bomb the piccadilly gardens site

nob head

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa267/abraham_benyosef/terrazas/Aqualina.jpg

Does the blank Piccadilly Gardens side not suggest a future neighbour to this building ?

Look at Rosario above, a typical south American skyline of blank walled towers waiting for a neighbour

Would a neighbour not require Debenhams to come down? Cant see that happening soon.

The blank wall for the 'lighthouse' effect, remember? They're gonna raid some nightclub for spotlights and disco balls, face them at the gardens to turn it into an all night rave.

That may be a bit of an exageration put they are going to be lighting it up somehow - hence 'the light house'. You can't light up the wall if it's got windows in it. It would make it a little difficult to catch some z's at any time its dark.

It better be fuckin' good though because loosing all those city views is a hell of a price to pay for a giant disco ball, or whatever the hell it is they're planning.

The effect is only supposed to be for the top of the tower hence the "Lighthouse" tag. The upper floors aren't so much of a problem, it's the shit coloured blank wall.

nob head

Cheers :cheers:

Aw, it's OK.

Peaking out as it does from most areas of the city....http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v404/andysimo123/Manchester%2030th%20July%202008/IMG_4682.jpg

Wow not really looked into this building but its mighty impressive, much better than those that have lost funding...sex god

ok here's a couple. the rest are on skyscrapernews. no time to post them all.
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/1850TheLightHouse_pic29.jpg

this is one of my favourite views of it, from trinity way
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/1850TheLightHouse_pic26.jpg

there are quite a few close ups here andy. they're from january though.
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/gallery.php?id=1850&idi=The+Light+House&images=all

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/013-8.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/041-6.jpg

poses as a bit of an unfriendly wall in that first pic marky, what do you think?

I think on the first picture the black/ brown is actually a covering over the tile that is revealing the silver underneath as in the middle of the wall.

it's not the colour i'm refering to, just the flat empty face onto piccadilly, which just some small windows that look like bathroom windows.

i'm standing next to canopus

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/2008_09_02/the%20light%20house%20manchester/IMG_6628%20copy.jpg

http://www.nickgrayson.net/ssc/2008_09_02/the%20light%20house%20manchester/IMG_6628%20copy%20crop.jpg

Yep, it's OK. Again a shame it wasn't a bit taller.

that thing is fucking vile

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/1850TheLightHouse_pic33.jpg

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/1850TheLightHouse_pic31.jpg

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/1850TheLightHouse_pic30.jpg

I absolutley love it! :cheers:

thanks for posting all your pics comdot.

Church St is completely closed off today and what I can only describe as a big fuck off crane is hoisting something into place on top of the Lighthouse, didn't have my camera with me.

I wonder if it has anything to do with the light show that is supposed to be at the top of the tower.

The crane was removing the tower crane from the site, and I got photos. It's probably the biggest mobile crane I've ever encountered (though its not saying much as I'm from a low rise city)

Section of the tower crane on its side...
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3116/2892505350_de58d6c860.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3124/2891667461_f85748fe01.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3267/2891668197_101ec0aa15.jpg?v=1222526552

post number 1...
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii205/ibelee84/S6300444.jpg

That picture is amazing! :cheers:

Wow. Love that! :)

That area has so much potential with the plans for the NCP and the multi-storey opposite. Hopefully they will come to pass.

Taken yesterday:

http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/5711/lighthousegc3.jpg

(poor visibility I know)

this not complete yet?

Is that a multi Story Carpark your on? If so is it the one next to Portland Tower? Cheers for the pic btw.

Nope, sorry, no where near! It's from the Sackville Street Building of the University of Manchester.

Ah ok, abit further away than I thought then. Think it's definately starting to finish off now, cannot believe how long it has taken, although I suppose it was a facelift as well as an extra section (the tower).

Taken today from Shudehill.

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee85/mancplanner_2007/manc04.jpg

It really does add well to the skyline. Glad it was built.

It's just a shame about the other side of it........

Serviced apartments The Light opens

By Simon Binns

The Light, an £11m serviced apartment building in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, opens for business this week.

The scheme, by London-based Stonehurst Estates, is being pitched as an alternative to five-star hotel accommodation and comprises 41 apartments over five floors of the Sir Terence Conran-designed Light House building on Joiner Street.

The Light offers a 24-hour reception and concierge service and includes two 2,500 sq ft penthouses on the 15th floor with outdoor terraces and a hot tub. A deal is available where both can be hired together for £1,000 a night.

The floor can also be hired for daytime events with room for up to 75 people.

Prices for apartments start from £99 per night.

Clive Lynton, director of Stonehurst Estates, said the company planned to roll out The Light serviced apartment concept across the UK.

http://www.crainsmanchesterbusiness.co.uk/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090127/FREE/901279949/1062

http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/daily-news/manchester-light-house-finished/1994146.article

wording going on the piccadilly side of the tower today. It looks like it will say 'light' or perhaps lighthouse. Don't know yet.

The sign will say Light, an application was online for the signage a while back.

http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k348/Toetallix/240420092759.jpg

http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k348/Toetallix/240420092760.jpg

It actully looks pretty hideous imo. Fancy choosing yellow against that wall, would go well with the Arndale House...

It actually looks quite nice at night. European somehow.

I'll see if I can upload my pic of it.

Look forward to it, show us :)

It actually looks quite nice at night. European somehow.

Banlieue Stylee?

I get the feeling there was a serious conversation about this on the lines of "How can we possibly make this building look even more shit? Oh, I know.......".

Well if they actully decide to have the word light 'lit up' in 'yellow', would actully make me laugh, beyond so bad its good..so is this actully going to be permenent?

The word is lit up at night, yes. I can't find my usb lead for my phone but I'll try and dig it out tonight.


Even during the day it looks a bit tacky but I can't bring myself to hate it. Previously it was bland and a bit brutal. Now it's just wierd, which to me is preferable.

lol don't get me wrong I'm not complaining, there is no point, may as well accept everything that goes up. The only thing that really dissapoints me is when approved buildings (Piccadilly tower a good example) get put on hold or cancelled alltogether.

I saw this today and its shocking, it just looks daft. There's no reason I can think of for that sign to be there, if it was to break up the bland side of the building they would have been better installing a big LED screen and rented out ad space, it's on full view across Piccadilly so why not?

Would look pretty funky having a second LED screen go up facing piccadilly gardens, especially being as high as that. I might be going into manchester later on today so if so I will get some more pics from other angles see what everyone thinks.

Almost looks like it should say 'Strongbow' or 'Boddingtons' :|

It's a real pity in some respects, because from some angles this is a superb addition to the cityscape that promotes a real urban feel, yet it just falls flat on what should have been its most prominant viewing point, the gardens.

I agree when you say about the bodingtons or strongbow comment. Also reminds me of one of those gadget things saying 'bar'.

http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k348/Toetallix/DSCF6466.jpg

http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k348/Toetallix/DSCF6467.jpg

http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k348/Toetallix/DSCF6490.jpg

Now doesn't that look more like it ^^

http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k348/Toetallix/DSCF6491.jpg

http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k348/Toetallix/DSCF6492.jpg

http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k348/Toetallix/DSCF6493.jpg

http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k348/Toetallix/DSCF6494.jpg

I think it would have looked alot better had this side of the building had more architecural features. As it is looks desperate to get 'something' onto it. ^^

^^ How about five big illuminated letters that spell H O U S E

:)

lol tbh I think they may as well spell 'house' on the other blank part of the building (the dark part, right and down from 'light'. All together I reckon it would 'actually' look better, maybe illuminated blue, although then it would look like one of those fly killers out of the butchers :) lol.

I'm speechless. I can't describe how tacky that sign looks. It's embarrassing.

That wasn't in the original plans. They only recently renamed it The Light instead of The Lighthouse. Do they even fucking have planning permission for it?

They could have at least used a font that's a bit classy. It looks like it's been taken from food packaging. Is it an advert for this?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/00623/news-graphics-2006-_623561a.jpg

I honestly don't reckon that is permenant, it just can't be, maybe its something temporary while they are designing something spectacular to replace that crap.

My girlfriend has just moved out of this development, not bad inside IMO.

Her apartment was quite cool and had a view of the wheel and the arndale centre etc.

There were some issues with appliances and the balcony door not working.

It looks so rubbish from here.

http://www.photo-pimp.com/dgnr8/manc/lighthouse.jpg

Gotta give it you that it looks pretty cool at night, but they could have at least made it 'slightly' less dominating in a bad way for the daytime. O well, I'm already used to it now, just a matter of time before one of the lights fails and that REALLY will look crap, will probably take them the best part of a year to sort it, or better still change their minds and remove it.

Gotta give it you that it looks pretty cool at night, but they could have at least made it 'slightly' less dominating in a bad way for the daytime. O well, I'm already used to it now, just a matter of time before one of the lights fails and that REALLY will look crap, will probably take them the best part of a year to sort it, or better still change their minds and remove it.

Thats what will happen, City To ver anyone lol

They should have gone all belgian and put an illuminated image of Count Duckula on the side of the building...

http://www.mysticmedusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/duckulaweb01.png

http://image59.webshots.com/59/3/91/27/2423391270093700872wLKidv_fs.jpg

from the other day...
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/1850TheLightHouse_pic41.jpg

Cool, uve made it look pretty good there, even in day, must be the vivid colours, and the the other mixed buildings shown just before it, cheers :)

:)

you can see for miles though that no other building has such small windows as it has on its lower south side.

the top does look quite cool though, nice and shiny.

I dont know what it is exacly but they have improved the appearence of 'light' on the building. Looks like a sort of outliner or something, looks much better, Ive got a couple of pics so il upload them when Im home, writing this off my phone.

I still reckon if that 'light' sign was in france or something people would bum it.

Call me an aesthetics loving bitch, but the only thing I hate about it (and for me it's a bloody big thing) is the font. The font just makes it look naff, and could only be worsened by changing it to comic sans serif.

http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k348/Toetallix/15072009819.jpg

http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k348/Toetallix/15072009820.jpg

http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k348/Toetallix/15072009821.jpg

http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k348/Toetallix/15072009822.jpg

Sorry if it doesnt look that different, the quality is terrible. But on the last pic you can see the outline reflecting the sun. Was that there before? Maybe I was wrong about the whole thing.

Nah matey, no different.

Sigh...I dunno, there was definately something different about it in my eyes yesterday may have been the way the sun was shining on it or something. Ah well.

From some angles this is really impressive. Went passed today and noticed something wrong with the brown/black? panels on the side. Looks as though air has got trapped inside and bubbles had started to appear. This was seen at a distance.....so i could be wrong

http://i37.tinypic.com/2s5y8pi.jpg

http://i319.photobucket.com/albums/mm469/carlf18/Manchester%2012%2012%2009/IMG_1516.jpg

can anyone help me find the original planning application for this and The Birchin if possible please?

I think its these two, no docs online for them though.

071101/FO/2004/C1 (http://www.publicaccess.manchester.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/dcapplication/application_detailview.aspx?KEYVAL=HUB0TGBCW1000&module=P3&hidereturn=true)
11-23 Bridgewater Place

067447/FO/CITY1/03 (http://www.publicaccess.manchester.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/dcapplication/application_detailview.aspx?KEYVAL=ZZZZE0BCXT575&module=P3&hidereturn=true)
Pall Mall House, Church Street


Edit:

Looks as though the Pall Mall app was revised to this:
072298/FO/2004/C1 (http://www.publicaccess.manchester.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?keyval=HZI97PBC62000&searchtype=PROPERTY&module=P3)

Planning Application Property Related Information for: 18 Church Street (http://www.publicaccess.manchester.gov.uk/publicaccess/propdb/property/property_history_summary.aspx?module=P3&lpikeyval=JIGS0SBCLI562&blpukeyval=JIGS0BBCBU562)

thanks

http://i319.photobucket.com/albums/mm469/carlf18/Manchester%2012%2012%2009/IMG_1516.jpg


I like that angle a lot more than some others fir the lighthouse :)

From Flickr
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2466/3868409695_d5dafd0383_b.jpg
taken by Vintage Lulu

can't wait to get back over to manchester to see this one. its brilliant how it emerges from the older building. literally shows the continuation of the development of Manchester. it would have been so easy for the developer to flatten the site first, which would have been such a shame. Ive never seen a newer building supplanted on a older one so well. i hope this is a precedent for developers to really integrate new builds into the existing fabric.

From Flickr
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2466/3868409695_d5dafd0383_b.jpg
taken by Vintage Lulu

I love this building..it really could be somewhere in New York

I'd love it if this format of building became Manchester's trademark. rather like New York has its art deco, manchester could be known for striking modern towers emerging from gloomy industrial old manchester at street level. I believe they call it post modern.
i reckon this would embody a lot about manchester's character and would bring global notoriety to the city. More like this please!