Now seems an appropriate time to start a thread on Manchester's latest tower now the tower crane is up.


Development Pall Mall House
Use Residential / ground floor retail and lesiure
Architect Conran and Partners
Developers Stonehurst Estates
Height 67m, 19 storeys
Location Church Street
Status Under Construction


http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/1850PallMallHouse_pic1.jpg



http://www.theprestigegroup.com/components/com_hotproperty/img/std/pall_mall_model.gifhttp://www.prestigeinternational.com//images/stories/press_release/pall%20mall%201.gif




Pall Mall House

NORTHERN QUARTER
MANCHESTER CITY CENTRE, Manchester
United Kingdom

Originally made up of 3 individual buildings, Pall Mall House is being carefully refurbished into one ultra-cool apartment complex in a continuation of the renovation of Manchester's Northern Quarter and Piccadilly Gardens. Ongoing development is regenerating this once busy commercial area to produce a distinctive creative quarter for urban, hip city living.

Consisting of 169 exceptionally priced residential apartments and 1668 square meters of commercial space, Pall Mall House will re-shape the changing landscape around Piccadilly Gardens. The tallest section of the building, a 19 story tower standing 67 metres high, will hold its own as one of the most imaginative tall buildings in Manchester city.









http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/1850PallMallHouse_pic2.jpg

I think this a welcome development in this erstwhile downmarket area.

Aesthetically speaking however, I fear it could turn out to be something of a mishmash, and I don't think I'll be happy with the way the north side of Pall Mall House will be left.

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/1850PallMallHouse_pic1.jpg

http://www.theprestigegroup.com/components/com_hotproperty/img/std/pall_mall_model.gif

Good to see that they're FINALLY getting underway with this :)

The Birchin , which is the converted Colisium part of the Pall Mall site, the arm on the crane as gone up this morning


http://www.thebirchin.co.uk/ug.asp

The Birchin is a separate development Highriser. Its sits behind Pall Mall House, directly to the rear of Debenhams. Easy one to miss!

Scaffolding has come off on one sides on this. Bit disappointing really. On the plus side though I guess it will add to the eclectic mix of styles we have in this area.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d144/legin3/Picture001.jpg

^^ Is this the birchin?

It is cotton.

Scaffolding has come off on one sides on this. Bit disappointing really. On the plus side though I guess it will add to the eclectic mix of styles we have in this area.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d144/legin3/Picture001.jpg


doesnt look too bad..whats happening with the car park?? anyone know

the windows are what throw me a little - don´t seem to match the character of the building. But I´m really likin the copper roof..

It'll be nice when the verdegris kicks in and it goes green.

I'm hoping that's just a bit of water stain on the stone, and it'll dry out and look better.

I really like that building, although somehow it doesn't look modern. Its still a nice addition to the area though.

The Birchin Building isn't a new build - its a conversion - and very neat it looks too. Thanks for the pic. Ill put it in the Northern Quarter thread.


Anyway, back to Pall Mall House.

City Centre Ward 077042/AOH/2005/C1 16/11/2005 Pall Mall House 20 Church Street Manchester M4 1PN Installation of banner fixed to scaffolding externally illuminated for a temporary period of 12 mont

Taken today.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture252.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture251.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture0188.jpg

Was there myself today jrb.
Not over familar with this scheme - is all that 30's warehouse coming down?
Went ot a good party in there a couple of years ago.
All those new tenants in the apartments next door cant be too pleased with the noise and destruction!

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f85/garybaldy/IM000207.jpg

Looks like an old building in Chicago.

Was there myself today jrb.
Not over familar with this scheme - is all that 30's warehouse coming down?
Went ot a good party in there a couple of years ago.
All those new tenants in the apartments next door cant be too pleased with the noise and destruction!

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f85/garybaldy/IM000207.jpg

Shame we missed each other.

Was there myself today jrb.
Not over familar with this scheme - is all that 30's warehouse coming down?
Went ot a good party in there a couple of years ago.
All those new tenants in the apartments next door cant be too pleased with the noise and destruction!

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f85/garybaldy/IM000207.jpg

Thankfully they're not knocking it down, but building it up. adding another 10 or 11 stories - just as on the first illustration on this thread. They're supposed to be doing the same with Lee House off Oxford Street. The more of these 1920s/30s refurbishments we get the better. It's still great to see old towers like this,Lee House, Sunlight House and Manchester Ship Canal House - oh and not forgetting the awesome Midland Bank on King Street, amongst all the fab modern stuff. That plus the Victorian stuff gives Mcr a unique feel. The best in UK IMHO (Liverpool is pretty close - well it will be when it's got more modern towers)

Bit bored waiting for MOTD to start and inspired by skymann's mention of the scheme for Lee House (never gonna happen!) i was wondering if you had seen this. It was the original scheme and was to be for 17 storeys but they ran out of money and we only got the bottom half. Some smart alec decided a couple of years ago that they wanted to carry out the original scheme but i think it was just a ploy to get planning permission and LBC.

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f85/garybaldy/leehouse.jpg

Great pic longhat. Very new york on a smaller scale.

never gonna happen!)

:(

it's a shame, who were going to finish it?

never gonna happen!)

:(

it's a shame, who were going to finish it?

It was refurbed a few years back and it was a listed building so the developer found it was costing more than they anticipated to do the job and wanted to 'maximise potential' on the site. I dont know if it was a serious proposition but structurally the building was designed for 17 storeys so it is feasable.
Saying that it is a listed building and i doubt it would get past English Heritage and the like anyway.

Doesn't EH live directly across the road from this and somehow let through the lovely NCP carpark right in front of their office windows?

Doesn't EH live directly across the road from this and somehow let through the lovely NCP carpark right in front of their office windows?

A carpark that stands on the site of what was Manchester's finest cinema, which was demolished over a weekend when no one was looking and stood as a bomb site for a decade. Criminal!
Good chinese buffet downstairs though!

Pall Mall House 19 storey residential apartment block on Church St.
Summer 2007 completion.

eh?

Anymore info?

Its that one behind The Coliseum isnt it? Been discussed in the NQ thread has it not?

Part of the building is the old Coliseum.

This building's got it's own thread.

This building's got it's own thread.
It seems to have gone and gotten itself another one!

This thread was languishing all the way down on page 9.

not now it's not :)

Carried on from the Pall Mall thread. http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=270555

First images and information of the Lighthouse/Pall Mall tower.(I stand corrected)

MEN article in todays Homes Supplement to follow. Link to site below images.

Erm, wow!

http://www.lighthousemanchester.co.uk/pictures/mainpage.jpg

http://www.lighthousemanchester.co.uk/pictures/second.jpg

http://www.lighthousemanchester.co.uk/

Very nice, cheers.

Yowsters!

http://www.ockstompingmeteorock.com/bulging_20eyes.gif

Cheers jrb, I'm liking that a lot. Looks good behind Debenhams too. (Little bit surprised by the brown though, but it works well with this corner of Piccadilly)

It looks massive on that pic from the gardens.

Good to see detailed images.

Looks nice, didn't know it'd be that imposing on the gardens.

Didn't realise it was so close to Picadilly, some colour too, that will please some forumers!!

Looks good. Do you reckon the crane thats there already will be jacked up more as the building progresses? It looks a lot bigger on the picture than the actual height of the crane thats on the site at the moment.

Does the brown blank wall with the slit windows signal another tower next door ?

No Issac. You can see it better in the MEN render from the otherside of the building.

Designed by Philip Thornton of Contan and Partners.

The tower will stand 67 metres high and only 8 metres wide.

The tower will be constructed of glass and stainless steel.

The tower will illuminate at night in ever changing colours and stand like a beacon.(very NQ)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/lighthouse1xxxx.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/lighthouse23456.jpg

Looks beauitful, a bit like Orion but better

kick ass...

black/brown cladding on the side is a bit funny tough, but i love the silver/metal effect on the rest...

Sticks out a bit doesnt it...

Hmm!

Reminds me of a certain project beginning with 'o' in Birmingham. Looks good.

No Issac. You can see it better in the MEN render from the otherside of the building.

I see nothing on the MEN render

Thanks again jrb.

It's a bit bitty, I don't quite understand why I like it, but I do.

http://www.lighthousemanchester.co.uk/pictures/second.jpg

I love how this one takes adavantage of the old buildings :)

looks very nice indeedy

Am i the only one that thinks this is revolting? It's too over bearing to its surrounding area.

Should be an interesting contrast between the glass and stainless steel and the old buildings surrounding it, over all I like it. It doesn't make me jump up and down but it's inoffensive and works well scale wise with it's surroundings. 8/10

Yup i reckon you are!

I think is great! Its just the right height for the Northern Quarter. I was thinking that there will never be any high rise in this area, but looking at this. This could be the beginning of somthing very special.

I like it , but the view from the Garden's looks a bit odd to me , instead of having that blank wall ,i would have thought the balconies would have been better there of at least more windows.

Apart from that i think it looks great.

I still think theyre leaving space for another next door

http://www.lighthousemanchester.co.uk/pictures/mainpage.jpg


They've just refurbished the building next to though Issac ,,called the Birchin if my memory is right.

http://www.lighthousemanchester.co.uk/pictures/second.jpg

That looks great!! I hope they build another slim, high tower on the car park between this and Afflecks, then knock down that mess of a car park opposite and a nice 30/40 storey job there too. Will all be a great contrast with the great looking 3/4 storey Georgian buildings further into the N/4. Be like in NYC when you an area suddenly switches from towers to brownstones - I love that about New York.

This area, with Dale St and Piccadilly could easily have the most interesting mix of architecture if things go well.

Think this is a great building, but those renders seem to over-cook the height.
Looking at the Picc Gardens render, that's taken from several stories up. I can't imagine it being that visible at ground level. That render also makes it look bigger than the Arndale. Can that be right?

Don't they tend to "under cook" with heights on renders, in case the planners have kittens?

yet another completely unnecessary thread cluttering the place up.

can it be locked and moved to the appropriate one please?

http://www.lighthousemanchester.co.uk/pictures/second.jpg

http://www.lighthousemanchester.co.uk/pictures/mainpage.jpg

don't be like that sleepy, :wink2: it's a new tower, surely it deserves a thread of it's own?

Its not new. It already has two threads!

There's no point posting information if it can't be collated into a single thread so you can look back at its history and evolution.

Just because its been officially launched and given a name does not mean it should have a new thread. There are too many duplicate or unnecessary threads being created which means the old ones just get lost.

Lol, yes, this has 3 threads now.

I was browsing the manc page, and it struck me that we had 5 threads on one page which related to the bbc move.

It needs organisation.

OK we need a mod then, Caw's fucked off so we need to sort a new one out if he can't be bothered. Yes?

I vote jrb.

Exactly. There's just no point in taking the time out to write and post information if someone just comes along and creates a new thread - efffectively throwing away all the time and effort people have put in who contributed to the original thread. Its not on.

They've just refurbished the building next to though Issac ,,called the Birchin if my memory is right.

But look at it, like some something you'd find in a provincial Latin American city, those windows are not meant to be looked out of.

Cheers Sleepy. I know that this has had a mixed reception, but I thought it was excellent the very first time I saw a render of it. It has something of Manhattan about it, which has been said before. Farsight's right when he says it's a 'bit bitty' but that's its beauty; making the best of the old while adding something stunning and new. It works very well.

8 metres wide too!! (not that an old git like me knows what a metre is!! What's that in feet?)

Yes I really like this one too although not overly keen on the aspect from the Gardens with what I presume is a service core extending beyond the roof of the black-clad lower block. The slim, higher tower strikes an exciting form from High Street though. Looks as though it is being clad in the same metallic panels as the CJC.

Good to hear the ground level is being reserved for "independant businesses" thereby preserving the spirit and character of the Northern Quarter too.

Agreed Sleepy. It's a bit of a shame about those old exiled retailers from the Corn Exchange.......times change.

Not really sure which of the two threads to post in, but this one has less complaints in...

Yea, its a shame if that Lee house scheme doesn't go ahead. I remember once seeing it listed as being 'under construction', can't remember where. Because of this I always thought it was a dead cert to go ahead.

The 'light house'? looks okay, but nothing special. If we're comparing renders of this and orion then orion comes out on top by far (in reality its a bit rubbish though). I can't see why they've ruined the side of the tower thats facing the gardens though. Perhaps it'll look a bit better on future renderoids.

We're having concurrent threads and in the true spirit of Manchester, it's a FIRST!! (in SSC history at least)

It is a bit odd that the view of the render from High St/Church St junction is excellent, yet the view from Piccadilly looks like a completely different development......not quite as spectacular, but still I love it. Have I said this before? Ha!

That looks great!! I hope they build another slim, high tower on the car park between this and Afflecks, then knock down that mess of a car park opposite and a nice 30/40 storey job there too. Will all be a great contrast with the great looking 3/4 storey Georgian buildings further into the N/4. Be like in NYC when you an area suddenly switches from towers to brownstones - I love that about New York.


I've always thought that the ground carpark and the Church St carpark opposite would make for a bloody excellent public space, especially continuing the theme of an open air market. How long has it been since Manchester had one of these? Chuck in a few chilled out bars and restaurants, a convenience store and a few small retailers, and it could as cool as Greenwich Village.

NQ possibly needs a couple of focal points like this.

I've merged the two Pall Mall House threads. The past conversations probably won't make sense, but hey! :)

Am i the only one that thinks this is revolting? It's too over bearing to its surrounding area.
No!

I like it!. It is slighty awkward looking - 3 different buildings in one - but it will add to the quirkyness of the Nothern Quarter.

i personally think this is a perfect building for the NQ the mix of shapes and colours - it fits in with its surroundings yet is eye-catching. I'v always said i'd love to live in the new york style grey/brown building --- and who knows? BUT i dont like the black boaring side facing into the centre. blurghh!

Thanks Gareth, although I am a little sad to see the first simultaneous double thread dissapear!

My thoughts are with you I57 - remember time is a great healer.

I vote jrb.

I think JRB puts in enough work as it is. We should do a poll or something....

I love this building. Does anyone have any bigger pics of it?

http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ContentResources/23.$plit/C_17_Articles_214027_BodyWeb_Detail_0_Image.jpg

from the MEN

MANCHESTER is getting a lighthouse. Work has begun on a sleek 20-storey tower in the Northern Quarter that will be illuminated at night in ever changing colours and stand like a beacon at the southern edge of the city. Designed by Philip Thornton from Conran & Partners it will, undoubtedly, be the swankiest new scheme yet seen in this bohemian corner of town.

And the tower, 67 metres high, but just eight metres wide, will slot between two of the areas most loved buildings - Pall Mall House and The Coliseum Shopping Centre.

These are also being converted as part of the scheme into more apartments and above-ground floor space for fledgling independent businesses such as a restaurant and local deli.

Advertisement your story continues below
The site is across from Affleck's Palace and next door to Wayne Hemmingway's The Birchin, which is aimed at key workers.

It's the accessible end of the Northern Quarter, tucked in behind Debenhams, opposite another Conran building and facing the back end of the Arndale, which, thankfully, is looking much better these days.

Exciting

Light House - as it will be called - is the first Manchester scheme by the small independent developer Stonehurst Estates, which has an eclectic mix of projects to its name, ranging from mansions in Kensington to loft apartments in Leicester.

MD Simon Briggs said: "We only do schemes that inspire us in places that excite us and I think Manchester is a very exciting city right now.

"And I think this site is fantastic, just off the main shopping street, close to the tram stops and Piccadilly Station yet with its own distinct neighbourhood of individual shops and bars."

They bought the plot four years ago when it already had planning permission for two smaller towers, but brought in the Conran team to re-work the plans.

Briggs said: "We got the site in 2002, but some of the Royal Exchange tenants were still there, so we held off and decided to re-look at the plans.

"This is a fascinating part of town. Pall Mall and the Coliseum were linked by a central gantry and we decided to replace this with our very slender tower of glass and stainless steel.

"And because of the level of the site it will become one of Manchester's tallest buildings and a landmark to be seen from miles around."

As is always the way, some apartments have already been sold to investors to keep the banks happy, but the 10 floors in the tower have been kept back. Stonehurst are also aiming to make a proportion of units on the lower floor of Pall Mall House available on shared equity which, in perfect tune with this part of town, would see first timers sharing a building with those who have splashed out £500,000 for a top-floor duplex.

The tower will be a mix of one and two beds with prices expected to start at about £125,000. Those above the 15th floor will have access to a huge communal roof terrace topped with grass similar to that at Manchester United's training ground at Carrington.

Inside, the look is going to be industrial with dark wood flooring and white doors, but the bathrooms, which are being delivered as fully-tiled pods from Italy, will boast walls of orange and green. Kitchens, too, will be Italian, this time in white with dark wood tops.

Dramatic

Briggs said: "Our aim here has always been to work with the dimensions of the existing buildings, then add a new and dramatic element which will set new standards in the Northern Quarter.

"We are also looking at making this standard available to as wide a range of people as possible."

To maintain control of the build they formed their own constriction company headed by Barrie Lazenby, who said: "There have been a few surprises, of course. The buildings date back to the early 1900s and had been altered several times, but if we come across a snag it means we can come up with a solution as a team."

Work is already well-ahead and they are aiming for a show flat to be open in September, when sales will start officially. Right now, they are only lodging expressions of interest.

Stephen Hogg, from sales agents King Sturge, said: "The Light House is one of the most exciting schemes to come on to the market in Manchester for some time. There is simply nothing like it in such a fantastic location.

"The apartments will appeal to owner occupiers looking for a central location and at the heart of Manchester's retail and entertainment scenes with Piccadilly rail station a five minutes walk away."

Flippin ek. No. 4, anyone?

this is not even funny. Please see relevant thread (entitled Pall Mall House).

Someone should start a mod campaign like the liverpudlians did.

Thank god some one agrees (Thanks, the longford). I sometimes think that people want 'skyscrapers' too much that they're blind to the actual building in hand.. it's disgusting.

Why does that existing beautiful building need extra storeys put upon it. It's gorgeous in it's own right. (i know i shouldn't be writing this - can of worms etc).

I'm all for exciting modern architecture but it has to relevant to its surroundings.. the northern quarter is great as it is because it's mostly managed to avoid the disasters of the sixties which this horrible crap harks back to.

I've seen alot of designs and concepts on this site an not once thought.. that's crap.. except in this case!

oops! sorry. I thought it was called 'Light House'. and when I didn't see any thread like that I assumed no one had noticed.

http://www.lighthousemanchester.co.uk/pictures/second.jpg



Lets hope manchester gets hundreds more of these sort of buildings. It would give this flat city more scenery.

"flat city"?! erm... compared to most English cities, Manchester is not flat!

built on a hill etc

"flat city"?! erm... compared to most English cities, Manchester is not flat!

Central Manchester is really very flat. The only attempt at a slope is Jutland Street and I'm not sure that that isn't artificial to do with when the canal basin was constructed. Even compared to Birmingham we're flat. It stays flat all the way thru West Mcr to Merseyside and the Irish sea and down through South Mcr and Cheshire. We only get hills when we get past Ashton to the East, though there is a steady upward incline to the North.

I'm just wondering what cities are particularly flatter than Mcr?

Shudehill isn't very flat and Market street provides a gentle slope towards the Irwell. Cheetham Hill Road looks down on both Victoria, Strangeways and the Irk Valley, trains roll into Victoria on a viaduct, find themselves looking up at the Co-op buildings then roll out on another viaduct.

Like all very dense cities, the buildings of central Manchester hide it's topography.

Shudehill isn't very flat and Market street provides a gentle slope towards the Irwell. Cheetham Hill Road looks down on both Victoria, Strangeways and the Irk Valley, trains roll into Victoria on a viaduct, find themselves looking up at the Co-op buildings then roll out on another viaduct.

Like all very dense cities, the buildings of central Manchester hide it's topography.

Like I said North Mcr inclines up from town, but the rest of the city is really pretty flat (or where there is an incline - like Market Street, it's very gentle). It's not San Fran or Seattle or even Bradford. Naturally, the dense buildings hide the topography, but I can't see how in any sense of the word central Manchester could be described as hilly.

http://www.lighthousemanchester.co.uk/pictures/second.jpg[/img]

This render is on a big banner on the scaffolding

http://www.lighthousemanchester.co.uk/pictures/second.jpg

This is what i meant :runaway:

I love it, its just such a ... mix of materials and periods.. plus the block itself looks more futuristic than most... balcony-covered blocks they put up, a bit like the metallic core part of the CJC... Can't wait to know how they're doing this fancy lighting scheme thats been mentioned.. hope it makes a nice impact on the skyline both during the day and night..

Lets hope the pile of shite next door gets flattened, and that car park for good measure.

I think theres a big crane up now.

It's been up for month's ya Irish old fool :)

Think this is fantastic, looks even better now rendered that the earlier drawings, Id guess that to most people when its finished it wont necessarily read as one complex, but will look like a fantastic little cluster of very well developed different buildings.

That hinterland between the Arndale and Oldham St continues to grow into a very distinctive are. Like others have said with the car parks and that monster on High Street sorted out, will be rather bloody good along here in a while. Any one know who designed that thing ?

My only concern is how its viewed from Piccadilly, looks a bit awkward and monolithic without all its constituent parts setting off the tower element. Hopefully the render was over simplistic from that angle and the actual effect of the façade will be far more impressive.

It's been up for month's ya Irish old fool :)

Correct - went up in October 2005!

Click. I've worked out why I like it. It's because the colour and complexity reminds me of this ace movie:

In the colorful future, a cab driver unwittingly becomes the central figure in the search for a legendary cosmic weapon to keep Evil and Mr Zorg at bay.

Think this is fantastic, looks even better now rendered that the earlier drawings, Id guess that to most people when its finished it wont necessarily read as one complex, but will look like a fantastic little cluster of very well developed different buildings.

That hinterland between the Arndale and Oldham St continues to grow into a very distinctive are. Like others have said with the car parks and that monster on High Street sorted out, will be rather bloody good along here in a while. Any one know who designed that thing ?

My only concern is how its viewed from Piccadilly, looks a bit awkward and monolithic without all its constituent parts setting off the tower element. Hopefully the render was over simplistic from that angle and the actual effect of the façade will be far more impressive.

Very nicely put archie but i, on the other hand, think this is a pile of stinking shit! I am really enjoying hating this building already and look forward to many years of hating it in the future.

The building on High Street that everyone hates (except me) was by Leach Rhodes and Walker FYI.

Longbean? what is it that stops you from hating it? were you conceived there or something kooky, coz it's gotta be a grand reason. It ugly, depressing, looks cheap, and did/does nothing for its neighbouring Debenham's and Coliseum.

Longbean? what is it that stops you from hating it? were you conceived there or something kooky, coz it's gotta be a grand reason. It ugly, depressing, looks cheap, and did/does nothing for its neighbouring Debenham's and Coliseum.

Ooh lots of reasons.
I love podiums, i like its sculptural forms, the funny little sticky out bits, the apposing colours of the white and black but most of all i like it for its potential.
Ive said this before but you could clear away the stalls and build out some nice glass boxy retail like the music store on Portland St and the the podium you could create a nice terrace or pavillion a la Restaraunt Bar and Grill on John Dalton St. Give it a lick of paint, put some nice dark grey powder coated metal banded windows in, maybe even put an extra floor on and bobs your uncle - an attractive, useful building.

Very nicely put Longevity but i, on the other hand, think this is a pile of stinking shit! I am really enjoying hating this building and look forward to many years of hating it in the future. ;)

Difference of opinions then. The spice of life.

it's horrid!

it's horrid!

so are you! :baeh3:

Caw , now this has its official name , 20 storey Lighthouse NQ , could you change the thread title please :)

I love podiums, i like its sculptural forms, the funny little sticky out bits, the apposing colours of the white and black but most of all i like it for its potential.
Ive said this before but you could clear away the stalls and build out some nice glass boxy retail like the music store on Portland St and the the podium you could create a nice terrace or pavillion a la Restaraunt Bar and Grill on John Dalton St. Give it a lick of paint, put some nice dark grey powder coated metal banded windows in, maybe even put an extra floor on and bobs your uncle - an attractive, useful building.

What a disingenuous load of old rubbish. In other words you like very little about it.... unless it was altered out of all recognition. Even a garden shed has "potential". :| Fair enough if you are coming from a narrow sustainability point of view i.e. favouring refurbishment over demolition wherever possible but ultimately you probably wouldn't end up with the best end-product either for the end user or the wider city so your sustainability would be compromised as it would need to be redeveloped further down the line anyway. Get rid.

Altered out of all recognition?
Hardly!
Television House for example (another favourite of mine) is currently and needlessly being altered out of recognition. Spring Gardens post office is being altered out of all recognition and that was another adequate building but does seem to be have an above average make over.
I just want this building to fullfill its potential - which it isnt at the moment.
I like it as a building and i seem to remember i was writing that post when i was doing something else and couldnt be bothered to write a full thesis on it.
If i think a building is shit i will say so. If a believe that fashion and current state dictates peoples opinion of a building i will try to be more 'holistic' (is that the right word) and see beyond, in this case, the bad street relationship and its current (mis)use. Its not a great building and i am being pretty perverse i know but worse buildings than this have been re utilised succesfully and i genuinely quite like it.
No crime in that is there?

No not at all. I just thought that considering your list of revisions, you would end up with something that bore so little resemblance to the original, retain so little of whatever integrity the building had, that you might as well just drop the thing. I appreciate your "holistic" point of view but I just dont think this example merits it. Its not, in my view, in the same league as Birmingham Station Signal box, nor Television House, nor even Piccadilly Plaza (all to greater or lesser extents and levels of justification, popularly unpopular buildings). But thats just my opinion.

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/1850PallMallHouse_pic2.jpg

hmm, are they safestyleuk windows?

It's a bit messy, but it's hardly offensive.

Thanks for that KITR because it illustrates what little would have to be done, whilst still retaining the character of the building.
Glass boxes at ground level, enclosing the 'terrace' (again in a light glass structure, paint the grey bits white, and maybe build another light structure on top to bring it up to the height of the service tower.
The more is see of this , the more i like it. Its brutal yes but not oppressively brutal.

The problem is, even if all those alterations were made it would still look like dog shit compared to the new builds around it, the Conran building is superb and enhances that corner no end, Pall Mall house will look a gazillion times better than that heap once it's finished and put together the whole street scape will be spoilt by this, the music store on Portland St is a good example of what your talking about and in some ways it works but I'm not sure a similar scheme would work here.

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/1850PallMallHouse_pic2.jpg

hmm, are they safestyleuk windows?

It's a bit messy, but it's hardly offensive.

Possibly the worst building in Manchester. Infact, not possibly, it is!

definately a hotspot for the bulldozer too me thinks.. could have a nice similiar sized apartment block next to the lighthouse on here, would look very down-towny

Possibly the worst building in Manchester. Infact, not possibly, it is!

You do realise the more you say things like that the more i like it? :poke:

You do realise the more you say things like that the more i like it? :poke:

Let me whisper in your ear then. :naughty:

Any seen the first floor of steel already up here? I have, but none of you photo guys have caught up yet. Its been there for a few days now, I couldnt believe how quickly it had gone up to be honest.

I'm with Longford when it comes to this here building on the right. Yes it's scruffy now, but it could be be made to look good for far less than a new build.

To those who disagree, I'd say imagine that you owned it. Look at it. See it cleaned up. See the new panels in CJC colours. See the podium atrium like the Minshull Street Courts. See the neat new roofline and the penthouse like the Post Office. See those tacky shacks swept away to be replaced by pavement cafes.

See the vision!

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/1850PallMallHouse_pic2.jpg

Oh god, I really hate that building. Demolish it, now.

Farsight, do you realise how much renovation can cost? Often it is actually more economically viable to demolish and rebuild.

You'll change your tune when you're older Caw and you've done up a house or two.

i don't know that area, but based on that building my initial thought is "hmm, this is certainly arse gravy"

It would need a SERIOUS revamp to sort that out, no lick of paint and new windows can save it.

Yesterday,,

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/100_0839.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/100_0876.jpg

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/1850PallMallHouse_pic2.jpg

It is gonna look so much worse when they've finished Pall Mall House and the new Arndale facade there. It is defo in the top 3 worst Mcr buildings and it MUST go!

I'd just hope they'd replaced it with something of a similiar height to Lighthouse, if not a bit bigger.. 70m, just to compliment its height in the area

An update on this one

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/100_1040.jpg

An update on this one

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/100_1040.jpg

Nice photo. Can't wait for this one.

Any new pics on this project?

The tower element seems to be making good progress with a few floors above the top of the existing building having been completed now.




http://www.lighthousemanchester.co.uk/pictures/second.jpg

Yesterday
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/1850TheLightHouse_pic3.jpg

Can't wait to see this reaching a note worthy height, lol... Hope its got a nice clad finish, could end up being a bit CJC-looking?? ..with the likes of this and Chancery dotting up around the area the middle of Manc gonna start bulking up a bit eh?

Yesterday
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/1850TheLightHouse_pic3.jpg

It's gonna look sweet. I know people keep on repeating this, but please god, when are they knocking down that absolutely hideous 60s block in front of it - it's pure vileness and ripe for a nice 30 - 50 storey job on the site.

It's going evetually surely?

The Lighthouse is starting to show itself now .

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/100_1133.jpg?t=1165103061

This is making abig impact on Piccadilly gardens its rises petty high compared to the buildings in front of it.

It's gonna look sweet. I know people keep on repeating this, but please god, when are they knocking down that absolutely hideous 60s block in front of it - it's pure vileness and ripe for a nice 30 - 50 storey job on the site.

Longford likes it though, and I can understand why. Unfortunately, the crappy dark concrete bits put me right off. Were it pure grey concrete, I'd love it too!

Can't explain why I like though.

The Lighthouse is starting to show itself now .

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/100_1133.jpg?t=1165103061

Thanks for the pic H here's one from t'other side

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d144/legin3/DSCN0741.jpg

Longford likes it though, and I can understand why.

Can't explain why I like though.

The Longford likes all kind of weird shit though so ignore him!
He seems to spend half his life trying to justify various things to various people ie you lot, Heather Stott, the vice squad, security guards, the vaguely attractive woman who lives opposite our house and who you can see through the blinds, A and E staff etc etc

I thought the height of the tower in comparrison to the adjoing buildings was strangely exagerated in the render. Now I'm not so sure. There must be at least another 5 stories to go on the existing structure, which can already be clearly seen from the gardens.

Have they said what the lights on the top are to look like?

This one is going to be bigger than we thought in terms of impact and its effect on the skyline!

Today:

http://pichotel.com/pic/4750g5mlQ/99501.jpg

And today from afar:

http://pichotel.com/pic/4750g5mlQ/99500.jpg

Are there really another three/four stories to be added?!! :eek:

This one is going to be bigger than we thought in terms of impact and its effect on the skyline!..........

Are there really another three/four stories to be added?!! :eek:

I make it six from comparing the render to the current photo, oo er suddenly worried if it will look good enough from Picc

yes, i can only count 14 so far...

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c388/Corris_/IMAG0042.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c388/Corris_/IMAG0041.jpg

Quite a bit of progress as been made on the Lighthouse since Mancguy's pic last month .

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/100_1309.jpg?t=1172415766

Has it reached its maximum height though?

No. Another four storeys yet

Has it reached its maximum height though?

Nope. I think the tall part has topped out - 14 stories. The lower part which they are working on now will go to 19 stories so 5 more above the tallest part. It will be petty impressive on the skyline because of where it is. It will be easily look as tall as the Arndale building from Piccadilly gardens because of its position.

I've walked past it afew times and that area is full of crappy old buildings. Am sure we'll see some more planned for there. Also the fact its not near the town hall means you can have taller buildings.

Oh right - I didn't know it was the bit they're building now that will be taller. Thanks.

Will be pretty impressive!

Pall Mall as seen from shudehill.

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w88/Hussain_07/pallmall.jpg

http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/3723/lhxi9.jpg

From a roof top in Piccadilly

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/ANTEATPETE/100_1352.jpg?t=1173811123

I see all the scaffolding as come down from the old Collosium facade , Church St looks a lot cleaner all of a sudden .

http://www.lighthousemanchester.co.uk/pictures/location/pic2.jpg

It didn’t occur to me when this image was first posted that the photo had been taken from one of the upper floors of one Piccadilly; the actual effect this is going to have on views from the gardens is pretty minimal. Intrigued as to how the final cladding will look, I still think this is just a poor render. I'm still very keen on the form, and think it would be a very nice spot to live.

think it would be a very nice spot to live.

I was thinking the other day that this must be the best located apartment block in the city. Well for me it is anyway.

Are there any notes of the lighthouse effect, itself?

Is it not just a marketing name, was there talk of some lighthousey top?

Is it not just a marketing name, was there talk of some lighthousey top?

Something tells me you're not going to like this but...

MANCHESTER is getting a lighthouse. Work has begun on a sleek 20-storey tower in the Northern Quarter that will be illuminated at night in ever changing colours and stand like a beacon at the southern edge of the city.
(old link)
http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/homesearch/latest/s/214/214027_the_light_house_family.html

Sounds like it could just be spotlights shined on the plain walls that face Piccadilly gardens.

Something tells me you're not going to like this but...

(old link)
http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/homesearch/latest/s/214/214027_the_light_house_family.html

Sounds like it could just be spotlights shined on the plain walls that face Piccadilly gardens.

Sounds a bit shite! Was my response so predictable lol? Didn’t notice them making any play of it on the website, so maybe I was right and it is just marketing spiel, cant really see the residents being too chuffed at their maintenance charge paying for fancy lighting they will never see.

At least its not a screen….

A new Lightouse picture taken 24/03/07 by me.

The Lighthouse
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/bca3fea8.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f335/markydeedrop/04b4a79f.jpg

Thanks for all the pics, by the way, Marky

http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/homesearch/latest/s/237/237802_building_beacon_in_northern_quarter.html

Building beacon in Northern Quarter


BEACON: LighthouseTHE great thing about the Northern Quarter is its eclectic character . . . and the great fear is that it will be lost to corporate redevelopment.

It’s survived pretty well so far with most of the new residential schemes either conversions of existing buildings or low key new builds.

But now something that has come along that is neither corporate nor low key, but that also manages to capture the very spirit of the area mixing everything up into one development that is as fresh and quirky as anything else in the neighbourhood.

Light House on Church Street, behind the Unicorn Pub, is a slim column of glass that will soar 20 storeys high, sandwiched between the old warehouses of Pall Mall House and the Lloyd Rees Building.

It’s a jigsaw of buildings, cleverly combined by the Conran Partnership in the shape of northern born architect Philip Thornton, who designed both the tower and the conversions.

There will be 169 apartments here in total, but it’s probably one of the few truly egalitarian schemes in the city, where you can buy a place whatever your budget with prices ranging from around £16,000 for a 12.5 per cent share in a one bed to three quarters of a million for a big penthouse.

And it is being built by a similarly-individual developer.

Common

The only common thread to past schemes by Stonehurst Estates is that all are different and range from a modern one-off new build to the conversion of listed buildings in Putney and the restoration of a mansion house in Barbados.

They have also just been appointed to the sensitive task of creating a new promenade, ticket office and four restaurants next to the Cutty Sark at Greenwich in time for the 2012 Olympics.

Development director Clive Lynton said: “We only take on projects that interest and inspire us and this interested us very much. We love the atmosphere of the Northern Quarter and were determined to add to the mix with a development that both respects the history and creates something bold and new.”

It’s not been easy marrying the old with the new and they have been on site for two years, Pall Mall house shrouded in scaffolding while they restored its imposing stone pillars and lion head gargoyles, repaired and replaced the distinctive windows and doorway and added two more floors on to the top.

Lynton said: “It was built as a basic carpet warehouse, but at a time when wealth was displayed through architecture, so the owner added columns and big windows.

“And when it came to the lobby he thought: ‘I know. I’ll cover it in marble!’ It’s both mad and wonderful really!”

Intact

Through the original double doors the marble foyer is beautifully intact, so too is the art deco stair rail and wide stone stairs.

The first six floors here have been sold to Asset Trust Housing to create affordable homes on a shared option basis and have been fitted out to exactly the same standard as the rest of the building – with dark wood floors, super sleek sophisticated kitchens of white and dark wood and some of the funkiest bathrooms in town.

Designed by the Conran team, they are built in Italy as pods, complete with lime green tiles, towel rails, mirrors and even the toilet roll holder, then slotted into place on site.

The show apartment is on a corner, benefiting from two huge windows, but every apartment here is different and another floor up is a 1,800sq ft, three bedroom penthouse with a 700sq ft wrap around terrace.

Below them all are two commercial units, one a two storey restaurant space that will have original columns and floor to ceiling windows on two sides and the second a retail space – the developers hope to entice independent businesses into both.

Light House is still a skeleton of scaffolding, just nine metres wide, and it will be interesting to see what apartments in this section look like. The first nine floors have already been pre-sold, but the remaining 17 units go on sale next week with prices starting around £137,000 for a small one bed.

The entrance lobby to this building will be a dramatic glass double height space and while there will be no expensive concierge, there will be an on-site caretaker looking after all three buildings.

But the most dramatic thing about Light House are the plans to make it live up to its name, with bands of pulsing coloured light running the height of the building. Also, the part of the side of the tower facing onto Piccadilly will be used for a giant light show. It will be a creative use of technology that fits this funky end of town.

Lynton said: “Technology enables us to do amazing things and we will be talking to the planners about how best we can use the light to make this an iconic building.”

Lighthouse?
Shitehouse if you ask me - nice picture though! :horse:

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f85/garybaldy/CRW_0531.jpg

...yer just sayin' that aren't yer....

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c388/Corris_/P22-04-07_13-4.jpg

today.

that view from picadilly looks rancid!:ohno:

Shithouse??? i dunno know... if you' ve got a fondness for Metrolink stops then this could be yours...

loving those colours..... so 1990.....

just added an extra section into the crane tower.

this building still has quite a bit to go before it reaches full height

just added an extra section into the crane tower.

this building still has quite a bit to go before it reaches full height

Really? Roughly how many more floors to go? I was already surprised at how visible it was from Piccadilly Gardens and assumed it was at its full height...

The last time I stood on Church St in my anorak and counted the floors, I reckoned about 5 more to go! Summat like that.

Its noticeable from Picadilly station I realised last week, a little stump of a thing in the shadow of city tower and the other buildings in that cluster, still.. its a bump in the sky and now matter how little, its contributing a little

With this and the redevelopment of that 17-16 storey off market street by HKR (is it?) its going to look pretty good from the gardens

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/039-2.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/047-3.jpg

Have they started building the higher section now? (It looks like it.)

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/1850TheLightHouse_pic1.jpg

got sent this yesterday.

An abortion of a building.
Awful for so many reasons.

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/039-2.jpg

Fantastic view that is.

What a great building. It's nice to see a few of these developments which actually have some interesting features rather than the usual square blocks.

Reminds me of Latin America where thin slabs of cheap appartment blocks seem to appear on any piece of spare land.

At least there's no bare surfaces here but it's not going to be the most admired building in Manchester.

I worry a bit about the cladding and the fact that we've heard so little as to what this 'lighthouse effect' will look like, and if they're going to shine lights onto it at night, will it look like a plain, blank canvas by day.

I do however love the scale of ths building (I know many don't). I like the way it punctures the skyline when viewing from Piccadilly gardens and why not? It might detract from the Primark sign? Piccadilly gardens is perfect for having buildings tower over it and I look forward to the SB building on fountain street adding to the streetscape.

Its impact onto High street from the entrance to the Arndale market is also dramatic, giving the road more of a 'big city' feel and helping to raise its profile as a street for pedestrians, which its rapidly improving as since the market opened.

I look forward to it.

Some from today -

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee85/mancplanner_2007/9.jpg

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee85/mancplanner_2007/14.jpg

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee85/mancplanner_2007/15.jpg

Not quite there yet?

Come on, chant with me: "Higher... HIGHER... HIGHER!!"

You could easily forget how central this tower is. I love it.

I count 17 stories now (20 in total) - so another 10m or so higher to go! :)

Is looking good also noticed in the pictures from Manchester Planner that one of the gardens side of City Tower is now painted white

I'm quite looking forward to this one. If only they would build something on that surface car park and get rid of that fuckawful multi storey, then maybe the northern quarter can start actually passing itself off as more than just a couple of streets.

I like this development although I hope the common areas within the older buildings have retained or had restored some of their grandeur.

I also hope that the cladding for the tower element will have the sort of high quality more shinier finish of the metallic panels used on the CJC building rather than the duller grey panels they seem to be attaching around the top of the lower buildings.

"polished aluminium tiles" says the architect's (Conran and Partners) website. Good.


http://www.conranandpartners.com/content/home/work/architecture/recent/pallmall/pallmall_01.jpg

In 2004 we began converting Pall Mall House on Church Street Manchester into apartments, shops and restaurants. This turn of the century eight storey building will be rejuvenated by the addition of 5 storeys of loft apartments at the rear with three penthouse apartment floors to the Church Street building. The signature building on the site is the radical 19 storey tower, one of the tallest buildings in the city centre, clad in polished aluminium tiles and spliced into the 7m wide gap between the two old warehouses. On the edge of the Smithfield conservation area and marking the western edge of the rejuvenated Northern Quarter of Manchester, the scheme has been designed to acknowledge both the strategic objectives of the masterplan and to reinforce the character and atmosphere of the area.

I count 17 stories now (20 in total) - so another 10m or so higher to go! :)

You are right - more steelwork going up today. Getting higher.

I really need to get a camera!

"polished aluminium tiles" says the architect's (Conran and Partners) website. Good.
Worryingly from the render the silver clad is the same on the tower as it is on the lower sections, and that seems to be quite plastic looking silver powder coat. Lets hope the clad for the tower is distinctly different, because if it is the same it will look terrible; polished aluminium in a similar panel system to the Picc Place clad would be a different story.

Worryingly from the render the silver clad is the same on the tower as it is on the lower sections, and that seems to be quite plastic looking silver powder coat. Lets hope the clad for the tower is distinctly different, because if it is the same it will look terrible; polished aluminium in a similar panel system to the Picc Place clad would be a different story.

You cant polish a turd.

Ya gotta just love this building, a virtual 'House that Jack built'...:)

Anyroad, some turds are already quite shiney and don't need polishing..:cool:

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/014-6.jpg

The Lighthouse makes a huge impression when in Piccadilly Gardens. It must be the most prominent build in Manchester city centre currently.

This is shooting up now. As Manny Planny says it will really will have a presence over the Gardens when finished, particularly if it is well lit.

It also fills quite a gap on the skyline when seen from the edge of town. Not sure about the cladding yet though!

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b64/Chorltonred/ResizeWizard-20.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b64/Chorltonred/ResizeWizard-19.jpg

PS I hate this building on High Street--------------------------------------------------^^^^^^^^

Any plans to get rid?

Taken yesterday from Piccadilly Gardens metro...

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee85/mancplanner_2007/manc6.jpg

Pall Mall House

Lynda Moyo looks at some affordable designer apartments in the Northern Quarter

Pall Mall House couldn’t be positioned better. A stone’s throw from the hustle and bustle of the Northern Quarter, a short walk from the Arndale Centre, and just down the road from Ancoats and Piccadilly – you really can’t get more central.

Surely such a location comes at a cost? Not so. Once out of reach to many, central Manchester prices are now achievable thanks to the innovative “shared ownership” scheme being operated by Assettrust Housing. Prices for a 2 double bed, 2 bath luxury apartment are from £799 pcm and a spacious 1 bed apartment from £512 pcm. Prices are based on a 25% share, enabling people to get on the housing ladder, in the location they want, in the most affordable way possible.

The smart, Conran-designed apartments are light and spacious, maximising every nook and cranny with storage and decorative features. Floors are fully laminated giving a modern feel to the place, while the walls are kept crisp and white; a blank canvas for the new owner. Each new apartment is complete with a fully kitted-out kitchen, a design bathroom, and carpeted bedrooms.

Situated on Church St, between Tib St and High St, Pall Mall House is in Manchester’s most up-and-coming area. The thriving urban community of the Northern Quarter is the place to be for anyone who enjoys the creative buzz that makes this the independent heart of the city. Home to designers, artists and galleries, the area boasts contemporary bars, cafes, live music and boutiques.

Interest has already been high with only a few of these stylish one and two-bed apartments remaining, of the 43 originally released.

Best of all, Assettrust are offering fantastic deals on Pall Mall House apartments, including £500/month mortgage subsidy for the first year, £6000 cashback, or a furniture pack and £2000 cashback.

http://www.manchesterconfidential.co.uk/property/index.asp?Sessionx=IpqiNw86JlfrNwB6IaqiNwA&realname=Pall_Mall_House

Looking rather ugly I must say.

Lets hope the cladding will be as good as it sounds.....

Saw if from ILVA yesterday. Now looks similar in height to the Arndale tower.

does anyone know of or have any renders of the building from other angles. im slightly concerned by how much concrete is on the side that faces picadily gardens. the last thing we need is more concrete to be seen there.

does anyone know of or have any renders of the building from other angles. im slightly concerned by how much concrete is on the side that faces picadily gardens. the last thing we need is more concrete to be seen there.

Sadly, it looks shit no matter what angle you look at it.

I know I wanted it to big and visible from the gardens but it has got, erm, quite big :sly:

I think the new level on the structure is the last now as its not a full floor in height.

I still think it'll be fine from the NQ and high street. I just hope the piccadilly-facing light show does not look cheesy by night and plain by day. I'ts gonna be a very large, solid view from the gardens. I just hope its a good one.

Apartments evacuated in fire

20/11/2007


A BLAZE started as part of an apparent arson spree in Manchester city centre could have had `catastrophic consequences' for residents, a fire chief has warned.

Firefighters was called to the Lighthouse apartments being built on Birchin Lane, in the Northern Quarter. A fire had been deliberately started in the basement which contained a number of building materials including several canisters of liquid petroleum gas.

Around 40 people from adjoining apartments were evacuated to a nearby hotel while the early morning fire was tackled. Police believe two other blazes nearby were also started deliberately.

Officers received a call at 3.30am about a man acting suspiciously on High Street close to the Arndale Centre.

Five minutes later fire crews responded to reports that a vehicle was alight on the eighth floor of the NCP-run car park above Arndale market. Then a crew was sent to the fire at Birchin Lane.

They found a small amount of insulating material on fire in a sealed off yard in the street - but soon realised that another fire had taken hold in the basement.

Police were questioning a 37-year-old man arrested on suspicion of arson.


How old is Longy btw? :lol:

Oh dear - Longford "the heritage Nazi" taking affirmative action! ;)

The Church St view of this is nothing more than spectacular. Not only was the Lighthouse a particularly nightmarish piece of civil engineering (you can see that just by looking at it) it also adds a whole new level of urbanity and density to the Church St/High St area.

Let's just say......It's never been the most glamorous side of town and it never will be.

Given a choice of living in an apartment high above Church St and Afflecks, or a sterile flat somewhere along the Irwell, or in Salford Quays, or in New Islington, or even Greengate (wherever that is supposed to be!)........where would you chose?

I rest my case.....

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/032-8.jpg

The view from the top apartments will be amazing.

Tiz now visible from COMS.

Flickr pic

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2251/2057696008_89cee475fe_o.jpg

Flickr pics

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2251/2057696008_89cee475fe_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2124/2057695848_4678d4a5b9_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2124/2057695848_4678d4a5b9_o.jpg

Proper

there'll never be a weirder building!

Walked past this one today - it's bloody massive! :eek:

it bloody is!

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/040-4.jpg

Thanks for all the pics Marky , you've done a stirling job :applause:

its falling oveer!!!! :O

A love the massing of this development, to me it sums up all I love about that Urban/City vibe... thats not to say I'm saying this is the ideal, but then I don't necessarily believe Urban was ever intended to be an ideal

I know a few people detest this, but the mere concept of it is really doing it for me. It's basically shoving a whole load of new density on top of what was already there, and I seriously think it will add far more interest to the street scape than any amorphous 'nice' office block currently under construction in either Spinningfields or Mosley St/the half square mile.

The whole premise of this development seems to be to be as brutal as possible, and in the NQ this seems to work.

This is amazing. Never imagined it would make such an impact!

It is turning out much better than anticipated, looking forward to seeing it finished.

I still say it's a bit of a mess. Nice cladding could save it somewhat though...

do we have a height of this in metres, seems a lot taller than a 20 storey residential building. although i have to admit im a little undecided on this, i like the different components of this building and its visual interest, but it does look a tad messy!

I think its about 67m tall, seems much bigger though.

Yes, it's very suspicious.. 67m officially - but it does seem more like 80 or 90 metres.

Reached full height now - soars above other buildings...

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

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/063.jpg

I just can't get over how domineering this is from the gardens, I took a few snaps in manc yesterday but I'm not on my laptop so dunno when can add em, not that they're anything we aint seen before.. but its just a beast! really gives a vibrancy to the area when you have a few extra building poking above the streetscape.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2291/2220946500_918d091aa3_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2349/2220151521_48da12996d.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/029-1.jpg

...........and another.

http://www.boomspeed.com/dan_england/Manchester/Lighthouse.jpg

this is so cool from these latest shots, proper urban high rise living.. its new, its modern but theres something really old mancunian about it, a grittiness.. its brilliant

I know this has been mentioned before, but the building in post 226 on the right REALLY needs something done on it or to be rebuilt. Must be one of the most grimey buildings in the city.

Are there any proposals or possible developments?

Btw great photos guys, keep up good work!

got about 14 pics of it today

they are here -> http://www.skyscrapernews.com/gallery.php?id=1850&idi=The+Light+House&images=all

here's two

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/1850TheLightHouse_pic14.jpg

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/1850TheLightHouse_pic15.jpg

ok well three :)

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/1850TheLightHouse_pic2.jpg

From Piccadilly Gardens you can now clearly see that a fair bit of cladding has been put onto this side.

From Piccadilly Gardens you can now clearly see that a fair bit of cladding has been put onto this side.

true
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/1850TheLightHouse_pic8.jpg

The sunshine makes a hell of a difference....can't wait for summer.

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/1850TheLightHouse_pic2.jpg

Could be New York. Fantastic building. We need more developments formed like this. Proper density.

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg270/SteKnight/Lighthouse140208002.jpg?t=1202996901

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg270/SteKnight/Lighthouse140208001.jpg?t=1202997023

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/015-2.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/014-1.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/City%20Centre%202008/005-1.jpg

nice photos marky, really like the third one :)

I really like this building but what's gonna happen with the cool sculpture on the corner? I hope it doesn't just get disgarded

nice photos marky, really like the third one :)

I really like this building but what's gonna happen with the cool sculpture on the corner? I hope it doesn't just get disgarded

i hope it gets maintained more often, the paint is coming off. not looking too good

nice photos marky, really like the third one :)

I really like this building but what's gonna happen with the cool sculpture on the corner? I hope it doesn't just get disgardedIf the MBLA scheme for the car park gets built it will go, but that has gone quiet.

Worrying about the lighthouse cladding, looks very matte and dark, although only a few pannels have had their plastic taken off so far.