It's got to be said that The Palace Hotel wins that little battle.

they have some shitty 171 metre tower which really is one of the worst examples of modern architecture of that scale to dominate a city skyline.
Well, you know what they say, it does look like box that Hyatt and Quayside came out of.

I have stood on Deansgate & had a good look at this tower, & I have to say that not many regional cities, let alone major 'international' cities (as Manchester strives to be) would've allowed this awful building to have been built. In 20 years time your city planners will look back & ask why on earth was it allowed to be built. I had a good look around Manchester a couple of months ago, & I have to say your city is being ruined by terrible 'one off' pieces of architecture, all vying for attention, & all will look ridiculous in 20 years time. Manchester is making the same mistakes that Birmingham made 40 years ago, that only now is Birmingham beginning to rectify.

Manchester .... you are a mess!!!
Actually you are on a loser with this if you are comparing Brums and Mancs streetscapes, there is not much in Brum to compare with Mancs huge and plentiful Victorian and Portland stone buildings,Sunlight house,Palace,Midland hotel etc are just the tip an archetecturaly wealthy iceberg of such buildings.However,this is a skyline thread and I will admit Brums has more density of 60's/70's midrises blocks,the likes that can be found in places like Preston (sorry Accurra) and Stoke on trent etc,its just that Brum has loads of them to make a good skyline.Thats if you like such buildings.... call me weird but it just so happens I do like such buildings when they are clustered together like in Brum....I do like Brums skyline if the truth be known,but it needs some height.

You actually think that Birmingham is nothing but 60s buildings? There are vast areas of Victorian architecture with terracotta and red brick design. One of the tallest buildings in Birmingham is 106 years old - Chamberlain Clock Tower. The Colmore Conservation Area is a vast expanse of Victorian buildings. Another area is Digbeth with some real hidden gems. Others are dotted around. You just have to look for them. I am sure you have to look for half the buildings you just named to actually see something of them.

You actually think that Birmingham is nothing but 60s buildings? There are vast areas of Victorian architecture with terracotta and red brick design. One of the tallest buildings in Birmingham is 106 years old - Chamberlain Clock Tower. The Colmore Conservation Area is a vast expanse of Victorian buildings. Another area is Digbeth with some real hidden gems. Others are dotted around. You just have to look for them. I am sure you have to look for half the buildings you just named to actually see something of them.

Look, the point was that they were interesting, elegant and classy tall buildings, not just random lowrises, that list would be endless. Birmingham can't compete with this. Glasgow and Liverpool maybe. Manchester's got tons of spires, struts and towers on its skyline. Spose Brum's got the clock tower (but am i right in saying that it's out of the city, in the uni or summat?), and the pretty building stephen just posted (ours is taller :) ). You can argue that the slabs on brum's skyline add to it, i spose at some angles it'd seem more impressive when it's packed like it is. But do the buildings really add interest, or at least look nice together? This, in my opinion at least, is an essential element of a skyline.

check it:

http://www.eyeonmanchester.com/zoomify-beetham-tower-dusk/index.htm

Look, the point was that they were interesting, elegant and classy tall buildings, not just random lowrises, that list would be endless. Birmingham can't compete with this. Glasgow and Liverpool maybe. Manchester's got tons of spires, struts and towers on its skyline. Spose Brum's got the clock tower (but am i right in saying that it's out of the city, in the uni or summat?), and the pretty building stephen just posted (ours is taller :) ). You can argue that the slabs on brum's skyline add to it, i spose at some angles it'd seem more impressive when it's packed like it is. But do the buildings really add interest, or at least look nice together? This, in my opinion at least, is an essential element of a skyline.

Glasgows the best for that. Street level and (relativly) short spires/domes etc.

And just how tall is the Central Methodist Hall, I couldn't find that in the interweb in the 2 1/2 minutes I spend looking for it.

I saw Pulp, David Bowie and Massive Attack there, but not all the same time, that would have been daft.

http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/victoria/townhall.jpg

http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/victoria/jacuzzi.jpg

http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/colmore/grand.jpg

http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/images/corpst/citadel.jpg

http://www.*******************/photography/birmingham/fullsize/07-28-2006%2023%20Birmingham.jpg

http://www.*******************/photography/birmingham/fullsize/07-28-2006%2021%20Birmingham.JPG

.... add to this cluster the 2 New Street Towers, Arena Central & nearby Broad Street Tower.

http://www.*******************/photography/birmingham/fullsize/Bullring%2014.JPG

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e283/Dex40/b1004.jpg

Taken from the 18th floor of the new Radisson SAS Hotel, which forms part of Birmingham's new central-Western cluster of towers....... the word 'cluster' cannot be applied to Manchester's skyline!!!

Thanks for all your work there FLD but I think it may be more appropriate in the city bashing thread.

http://www.*******************/photography/birmingham/fullsize/07-28-2006%2021%20Birmingham.JPG

.... add to this cluster the 2 New Street Towers, Arena Central & nearby Broad Street Tower.

Oh dear.

:lol:

Oh dear.

Oh dear oh dear

http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/images/400/chucklevision_3.jpg

I love this image

http://img49.imageshack.us/img49/3091/479577fq4.jpg

Alright MSP ,, hows it going matey ?

Ey you were worried a few months back with lack of action in Brum ,,, you've had a few good peice's of news this last few weeks :)

Love your Snowhill Tower's ,, i might nick em for Manc :laugh:

Hows the nipper ?

Some recent photos of Manchester city centre.

First the West Towers (Beetham, Central Salford, GN Tower, Civil Justice Centre, etc)

http://www.pichotel.com/pic/4750g5mlQ/77059.jpg

And now the East Towers (The "old guard" plus the u/c Skyline Central)

http://www.pichotel.com/pic/4750g5mlQ/77060.jpg

Oh and Beetham is now pretty much finished - the hotel is open (as is the skybar on the 23rd floor) and only the apartments are left to be completed in full

http://www.pichotel.com/pic/4750g5mlQ/76989.jpg

The Central Salford skyline is more visible in this one ^^

Enjoy! :)

http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/2044/zunitywestbi9.jpg
I say no more, Beetham West with the yellow Doka will be off this picture as it is only 290ft on it now, will be 440ft, Alexandra tower is only 7 stories and not visable yet, will be by May next year

Birmingham Skyline Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbnA9m2IQ24&mode=related&search=

Birmingham Skyline Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbnA9m2IQ24&mode=related&search=

Not bad - would have been better if it was taken further away from the Beetham Tower.

Dramatic music.. ;)

Well I suppose you're limited to the building it's taken from really, misses out the Bull Rings, sorry, Bullring, and selfridges and all that. It's taken from on of the 90M Dorthy Towers, from the look of it. Music is a bit swelling init?

Did you notice someone trying to start a Manchester/Birmingham bitchfest on the comments?

http://static.flickr.com/99/269470780_caf0df129d.jpg?v=0

http://www.pichotel.com/pic/4750g5mlQ/76989.jpg


Beetham Mcr reminds me of a policeman standing with his hands behind his back (almost going up on tiptoes saying "evenin' all").

After much deliberating, swinging on to both sides of the arguement, I have decided that I really do like this one (I have said it before but I am now very firm about it).

Manchester, please PLEASE don't let Simpson build too many around town though, because this one will lose its special status. And don't let anyone come up with fake copeis either! :)

Not sure if we can guarantee that ;) but I don't think there are any skyscraper proposals that are so near to Beetham as to crowd it. The nearest geographically will be at Spinningfields and Central Spine.

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j159/rolybling2/DSC_4177ssc.jpg
Nice

^^Nice shot but I still dont like Beetham... But as I say, its a matter of taste. I think its that fact that I have grown up around building that shape that I have started to hate them when i see what other designs can be used.

Actually, i like that shot, it stands out too much on its own in day light. At night it looks cool.

Sorry there late but better than never

HILTON MANCHESTER

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/2512/beetham001xq6.jpg

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/5072/beetham003mn8.jpg

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/7779/beetham004yv9.jpg

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/4423/beetham005sb2.jpg

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/8174/beetham006wb3.jpg

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/4157/beetham007xa7.jpg

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/9594/beetham008jh7.jpg

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/7416/beetham009jp4.jpg

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/4991/beetham010me7.jpg

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/450/beetham011ja4.jpg

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/9171/beetham012ly7.jpg

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/287/beetham013it3.jpg

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/4379/beetham014ct8.jpg

Not bad eh

If there was another sort of overhand near the top, that hole in the bottom of the floor would have a much bigger impact.

Liverpool
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/robinsonworld/HPIM0872.jpg

If there was another sort of overhand near the top, that hole in the bottom of the floor would have a much bigger impact.

What!? :dunno:

I mean, if there was an overhang at the top with a hole in the floor like :

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/450/beetham011ja4.jpg

Then the view down would have a bigger impact. That view looks poor.

Ewww it's 171 metres, when It should have been 172!

...

Walking on a glass floor 80m up scares me,even though its toughened glass.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/robinsonworld/HPIM0872.jpg

I think that if somebody were to post a pic from near Ardwick station looking towards city centre manchester, then there wouldnt be much debate imho....but, this hasnt happened, so long may it continue!

The glazed 'hole in the floor is even scarier looking at those white shoes with the freakin' velcro closure straps!!!!!:puke: ;)

I think that if somebody were to post a pic from near Ardwick station looking towards city centre manchester, then there wouldnt be much debate imho....but, this hasnt happened, so long may it continue!

I've posted some from there.

The view ain't up to much.

wait till you see this certain view from Digbeth high street looking up the top end of Digbeth meeting Selfridges & seeing HCT, Orion,St martins, the rotunda and many more its insane amazingly dense more than any pic on this thread, Its serious stuff to blow away any other city view for looking dense wait till it comes (coming soon) :guns1: youv'e been warned.

Liverpool
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/robinsonworld/HPIM0872.jpg

Liverpool looks amazing from further up at everton brow at night time.We need a pic of that with the two cathedrals and st johns beacon in the shot.

I'm not going up on Everton Brow at night!

I'm not going up on Everton Brow at night!

Ha Ha i dont blame you its like brooklyn round there at night thats why we dont have any pics.

Why? What goes on after darkness falls?

Why? What goes on after darkness falls?

Ive been up there a couple of times at night the first time a stolen audi a3 being chased by the police nearly crashed into me.The second time the armed response unit had someone stopped up there its seems very dangerous.

Skimmpy clad women, apparently.

And a load of Lacoste incrusted monsters all armed with 50 quids work of industral strength larger, cannabis and at this time of year enough fireworks to blow up the local police station. Again.

Hawh, only joking it's fine. Accura, Why don't you go there next friday night to take somepictures, don't worry if you get lost just ask for directions.

I would just love to... but sadly, I'm working.

Skimmpy clad women, apparently.

And a load of Lacoste incrusted monsters all armed with 50 quids work of industral strength larger, cannabis and at this time of year enough fireworks to blow up the local police station. Again.

Hawh, only joking it's fine. Accura, Why don't you go there next friday night to take somepictures, don't worry if you get lost just ask for directions.

Oh yeah forgot about the prostitutes.

Heres a different angle from the normal shots. Taken by foxtrot.

http://i13.tinypic.com/2ngtqu0.jpg

^^I think if Arena Central ever arrives, birmingham will have something approaching a north american skyline. Although by that time, numerose other towers will probably have been built.

Dont mention AC. It seems we have all lost faith in that and are looking at the Pinnacle which seems a lot more possible.

Good God, from that angle ive just realised how amazingly big BST is going to look.

Manchester (doesn't include the Central Salford area) from the SW...

http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/7066/ohyesgoonthence2.jpg

:D

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/747/4fv2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The Liverpool shot really isnt a skyline shot but its bloody good looking.

Heres a different angle from the normal shots. Taken by foxtrot.

http://i13.tinypic.com/2ngtqu0.jpg

If you superimpose Manchester's 168 metre Beetham Tower on to here, & add another 15 metres or so, you can see how big Arena Central will be in relation to the other buildings. To put it in to perspective, the BT Tower is 152 metres tall. With the arrival of the 140 metre Snow Hill Tower, the 176 metre Pinnacle Observation Tower, the 110 metre Martineau Tower, the 134 metre Broad Street Tower, the 2 New Street Towers that will be between 130 & 180 metres high, plus the Cube, plus the new tower to be developed at Holloway Circus ....... Birmingham will have a stunning skyline!!! But this is the best present skyline link, but Birmingham still has the best .... by far!!!

Birmingham will have a stunning skyline!!! But this is the best present skyline link, but Birmingham still has the best .... by far!!!

Beetham in a spot of bother


LIVERPOOL developer Beetham is facing a revolt by investors at its luxury Birmingham skyscraper.

Investors who bought flats "off plan" said they bore no resemblance to sales information.

The brochure for the 39-storey Beetham Tower boasted "the highest quality apartments ever seen in Birmingham."

But one investor, Bal Dardi, who bought three flats before they were completed, likened the development to a council block.

Beetham chairman Hugh Frost said the development "has the highest quality overall specification of any residential or hotel building in Birmingham."


Mr Dardi and his brother Kully agreed to pay £725,000 for three flats in the tower and said they now faced big losses.


Disgruntled investors claimed they were misled on prom-ises of slate floors, solar-powered heating, a large health club and the opportunity to order room service from a five star hotel within the tower.


Mr Frost said changes were made for style reasons. He went on: "Individual points raised by the investors are being dealt with by our lawyers."

maybe the line

"has the highest quality overall specification of any residential or hotel building in Birmingham."

is true, maybe all the apartments in Brum are shit holes?

The Radisson Hotel Rooms in Beetham Birmingham were great when I stayed there in February.

As for the apartments, Beetham (being a Liverpool based developer), perhaps they were basing their "best" standards on what has already been built in Liverpool, maybe?

As for Beetham Manchester, the residents have yet to move in, so we'll wait & see what the "posh" people of Manchester think of their "stunning" apartments, shall we??

Actually you jealous bunch of numpties they are talking about the faciltiies and finishings in some of thier apartments. For instance when they brought the flat before completion they were told they would have a double space shower, but instead beetham installed a hosepipe and a trough.

Its not our fault this is how northerners think the definition of luxury is ;)

The Hotel is superb. The tower is superb, the apartments spaces are superb, however, the finishings done by a northern developer are being questioned by residents.

Ohh ...

What a shock, people are being robbed by scousers. Give them thier money back.

Now now.

And Metrolink - I expect better of you! ;) As with everything other city, the apartments in Brum are on a wid range of quality. I can safely say the Beetham ones are not the best in Brum, by a long shot.

I think some of the investors are a little hysterical, but so would I be if I bought and things that were in the sales patter were not there. Unfortunately the developer always has the line "final specification may differ from that shown". Pity the buyer can't have a similar one "the final price paid may differ from that agreed".

Taken by foxtrot.

http://i13.tinypic.com/2ngtqu0.jpg

That's a great (and unusual) angle :carrot:

I was impressed by the skyline of ...

http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/8205/dscn6081pi0.jpg

Coventry.

^^I agree. That was a pleasant surprise. Shame there aren't any highrise developments for the part of the world.

http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/8205/dscn6081pi0.jpg

Indeed if they were to build, say 4, big ones

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j270/caw12345/P9070070copy.jpg??


:)

:lol: :rofl: :lol:

Uncanny!

You know in the Coventry shot, you see the second high rise from the right, what is the settlement above that on the horizon?

Leicester possibly.

:lol: :rofl: :lol:

Uncanny!

You know in the Coventry shot, you see the second high rise from the right, what is the settlement above that on the horizon?

I wondered whether it was HCT that you could see, but it could be Rugby cement works?

Do we know what direction the photo was taken?

I'd say this photo was taken about 2-4pm. The shadows point east. So I say that the this settlement is in the north west... Uh oh. Confused myself.

Yer, it's Rugby. I've looked on Google Earth.

That Brum angle of Foxtrot's doesn't include Five Ways incidentally. Great shot though. In fact all of the pictures lately, Manc, Liverpool and Coventry show that skylines are important in marketing cities.

Glad you liked them. The Coventry shot was from the 14th floor of Massey Fegusson's old offices which they have just moved out of at Banner Lane. The shot is looking northwards and I thgink the settlement in the background must be Nuneaton or at a push Hinkley. Here's an old photo of the tower http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2233104.stm

The West Brom one was from the roof of a very well designed Madin building called Hawthorns House (1968) by the football ground. I sort through my pictures and post some more shots on the bham forum when I have some time.

I was also up a strange Eastern-blocky structure called Brunel Tower in Swindon the other day too. It's the tallest thing in the town and offers stunning views from the middle of the town centre. Didn't have my camera but I'll be back there at some point. Not a nice tower and in a cheapy 80s Hitech style. Oddly felt a bit like the Mir Space Station.
http://www.openswindon.co.uk/graphics/gallery/brunel-from-rec.jpg
http://www.strum.co.uk/pix/brunel.jpg

^^I agree. That was a pleasant surprise. Shame there aren't any highrise developments for the part of the world.

Belgrade Plaza is fairly tall.

http://www.coventry.gov.uk/ccm/cms-service/stream/image/?image_id=7303004

^^Ooh I see. Thats quite nice as well. Is meant to look that thin?

It's nice and pointy and a delight to see something like that going up in Cov :)

http://www.jonreid.co.uk/images/400D/skylinefrommaxwell.jpg

How about that...

The Radisson Hotel Rooms in Beetham Birmingham were great when I stayed there in February.

As for the apartments, Beetham (being a Liverpool based developer), perhaps they were basing their "best" standards on what has already been built in Liverpool, maybe?

As for Beetham Manchester, the residents have yet to move in, so we'll wait & see what the "posh" people of Manchester think of their "stunning" apartments, shall we??

I see.

Scousers live in slums eh.

Actually you jealous bunch of numpties they are talking about the faciltiies and finishings in some of thier apartments. For instance when they brought the flat before completion they were told they would have a double space shower, but instead beetham installed a hosepipe and a trough.

Its not our fault this is how northerners think the definition of luxury is

The Hotel is superb. The tower is superb, the apartments spaces are superb, however, the finishings done by a northern developer are being questioned by residents.

Ohh ...

What a shock, people are being robbed by scousers. Give them thier money back.

Scousers are robbing bastards.

Racism alive and kicking on SSC. Well done.

Just thick cunts, Toad. There's plenty of them around I'm afraid.

Remarkably, SimLimpletons appear to think that Beetham (whose presence in his city he should be grateful for, btw) didn't build the tower and hotel, only the interiors.

The rest appeared by magic. :ohno:

Talking about stereotypes, aren't Brummies meant to be backwards and stupid? I don't think so. Unfortunately SimLimpleton and FLiD, aren't doing very well in dispelling that particular myth.

Anyway, when are any Birmingham-based developers going to give the rest of the country anything, let alone the wonders that Beetham has brought to cities around the UK?

Along the same lines, I note that Liverpool's Neptune have won the contract to develop Coventry rail station and surrounds.

How did that happen Awayo, I thought enterprise and dynamic capitalism was dead in Liverpool.

There are a surprising number of developers based in and around the West Midlands (the recent rich list in Estates Gazette surprised me!). St Modwen is probably the most prominent at the moment.

I think I am going off Ian Simpson Architects - everything seems to be the same, but in a slightly different shape and pallette.

Btw - since when is being anti-Scouse (or anti-Brummie etc etc) been racist? ;) :tongue2:

Alright BabyBio. :) Yeah, I'm sure there's plenty of West Mids developers at large. The thrust of my attack was aimed straight at the middle parts of FLD the flid and his simple sidekick, not at Birmingham.

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q46/ricardofoxsano/74476849_6a4a402ec2_b.jpg
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q46/ricardofoxsano/golcombe.jpg

There are a surprising number of developers based in and around the West Midlands (the recent rich list in Estates Gazette surprised me!). St Modwen is probably the most prominent at the moment.

Who are they?! I best start doing my homework.

Oh and there is Ken Shuttleworth who hasnt just given the country something but has even spread his wings to projects in Hong Kong, Germany and Russia. He has also worked with Norman Foster on many projects.

There is also Crosby but they are somewhat part of the axis of evil when you consider they were responsible for the Orion Building.

Cool photos Ricardo. Is that snow on the hills on the second pic?

Anyway, I've just found out that the capital of Canada is Ottowa. :eek2:
I used to know that but had forgotten it. Shocking!

http://www.jonreid.co.uk/images/400D/skylinefrommaxwell.jpg

How about that...
Unfortunately though, that view is only available from the 9th floor of the Maxwell Building in Salford University, which is a shame because it looks good in the daytime too. Still, I think it looks pretty good aye. Here's another Manc skyline shot I got, from my balcony.

http://www.jonreid.co.uk/images/400D/skyline.jpg

Cool photos Ricardo. Is that snow on the hills on the second pic?

Anyway, I've just found out that the capital of Canada is Ottowa. :eek2:
I used to know that but had forgotten it. Shocking!

Yes it is. Every winter there is always a bit of snow on the tops. If you drive round the M60 anti clockwise from urmston/stretford/traffordcentre to stockport you can get a great view of the foothills.

thats really lucky you get to see a bit of snow up there, Here we have a place named snow hill but it looks alot different to that lol!


Whats that better up North? well not with as much grey skies as you get ? I hear it's worse than scotland for rain in Manchester? Thats quite deppressing isnt it? the 2 best cities in the world to live for temperature is Vancouver & i think its Geneva some city in Switz anyway? It can never be better up North, You cant beat the sunny south & to not sound too negative you cant ever be the ideal place to live or most convinient because
bad weather always puts people off, pretty much the same for most places in the Uk maybe too? Also you'll never be officially the second biggest city so dont sprout that b******s, You have sooo much more to claim for been better for many things...... but dont forget the green cross code 1,2,3 - A,B,C London 1, Manc no 3
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q225/downtownmark/Brumsmallerversion-1.jpg
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q225/downtownmark/Img0036.jpg[IMG]

This city could be your Big brother isnt it? Santiago (Chile)
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q225/downtownmark/img3077mr4.jpg

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q46/ricardofoxsano/golcombe.jpg

Beautiful:crazy2: :crazy:

Alright BabyBio. :) Yeah, I'm sure there's plenty of West Mids developers at large. The thrust of my attack was aimed straight at the middle parts of FLD the flid and his simple sidekick, not at Birmingham.

Excuse me smart mouth, but HCT has been littered with problems. Its all very well them building in Brum and other regional cities but the quality has been pretty shoddy.

If you take such offence to such a sentence in such an irrelevent part of life, poor you. Maybe you've had a hard day but common. Be serious. lighten up. You sound like a toddler.

Beautiful:crazy2: :crazy:

The snow covered hills look beautiful but there's no skyline to speak of.

thats really lucky you get to see a bit of snow up there, Here we have a place named snow hill but it looks alot different to that lol!


Whats that better up North? well not with as much grey skies as you get ? I hear it's worse than scotland for rain in Manchester? Thats quite deppressing isnt it? the 2 best cities in the world to live for temperature is Vancouver & i think its Geneva some city in Switz anyway? It can never be better up North, You cant beat the sunny south & to not sound too negative you cant ever be the ideal place to live or most convinient because
bad weather always puts people off, pretty much the same for most places in the Uk maybe too? Also you'll never be officially the second biggest city so dont sprout that b******s, You have sooo much more to claim for been better for many things...... but dont forget the green cross code 1,2,3 - A,B,C London 1, Manc no 3


What the fuck was this post about?

I hear it's worse than scotland for rain in Manchester? Thats quite deppressing isnt it? the 2 best cities in the world to live for temperature is Vancouver & i think its Geneva some city in Switz anyway?

There is nout wrong with a bit rain, and to be honest its just a statistic.
You are probably right in what you say, but when its sunny up here its fantastic and i dont just mean in manc. The whole of the north and scotland.

Vancouver is often said to resemble a similar climate to manc because it is the same latitude. I have been there and it gets lots of rain and just enough sun. Fantastic city.

Whats that better up North? well not with as much grey skies as you get ? I hear it's worse than scotland for rain in Manchester? Thats quite deppressing isnt it? the 2 best cities in the world to live for temperature is Vancouver & i think its Geneva some city in Switz anyway? It can never be better up North, You cant beat the sunny south & to not sound too negative you cant ever be the ideal place to live or most convinient because

Lol. You obviously don't know what your on about. The North is great. Mostly cause it contains God's own county.

Anyway. Birmingham isn't in the south. It's in the Midlands.

:baeh3:

Whats that better up North? well not with as much grey skies as you get ? I hear it's worse than scotland for rain in Manchester? Thats quite deppressing isnt it? the 2 best cities in the world to live for temperature is Vancouver & i think its Geneva some city in Switz anyway? It can never be better up North, You cant beat the sunny south & to not sound too negative you cant ever be the ideal place to live or most convinient because
bad weather always puts people off, pretty much the same for most places in the Uk maybe too? Also you'll never be officially the second biggest city so dont sprout that b******s, You have sooo much more to claim for been better for many things...... but dont forget the green cross code 1,2,3 -

Mate are you on drugs or just jealous or somthing?

Im sure manchester isnt far away enough from birmingham for there to be a drastic change of climate, and im sure theres just as many things to be depressed about in birmingham as there are in manchester...

Lol. You obviously don't know what your on about. The North is great. Mostly cause it contains God's own county.

Anyway. Birmingham isn't in the south. It's in the Midlands.

:baeh3:

I never said we wer ei nthe south you twit, I was just saying south is better because atleast you get more sunshine. I also said pretty much anywhere in the Uk is even still not so good weather, Dontmiss read my lines you donkey's. You quote me on something when you obviously didnt read and take it all in. cheeky monkey :|

well even we arent too far from Manchester we miss alot of all that rain you get from the penines so thats a relief, the reason i was a bit angy was beause again some t**t again said that childish bollocks Manchester is the 2nd biggest city.

^^Um, I think you need to read up on Atlantic weather patterns :) The majority of rain goes north/ north east. So we give Manchester the rain mroe than anything. But when it comes from Wales, it does gather some momentum and attack Manchester and Liverpool. Birmingham gets mixed weather because it is so high above sea level. Hence the tornadoes.

its more of a west/east thing in britain, the lake district for example will have a lot more rain than say, newcastle, because of prevailing winds..

Manchester recieves less rain than Cardiff Glasgow and Plymouth for example in fact much less than Plymouth,look at the stats. Yet that does not get called rainy city.The term rain city comes from the fact that the McIntosh was invented there(like so many other things)and nowt to do with the weather but the southern biased madia made sure that got twisted and all the sheep believed it. BTW Chicago is called windy city but its not anything meteorlogical.

Manchester recieves less rain than Cardiff Glasgow and Plymouth for example in fact much less than Plymouth,look at the stats. Yet that does not get called rainy city.The term rain city comes from the fact that the McIntosh was invented there(like so many other things)and nowt to do with the weather but the southern biased madia made sure that got twisted and all the sheep believed it. BTW Chicago is called windy city but its not anything meteorlogical.

Brummie term there mate. I see it is spreading its wings into Manchester too.

Brummie term there mate. I see it is spreading its wings into Manchester too.

Nowt? That's been around for fucking ages. It's UK wide.

Brummie term there mate. I see it is spreading its wings into Manchester too.


:lol:

What you've been smoking?!

I think that's probably more a Yorkshire term than a Brummie one :-P

Nope certainly a Brummie term. My Carl Chinn book tells me this too

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yorkshire_accent

About half way down the page, under the title 'Vocabulary and grammar'.

I wish I had an online copy of this book here but I dont. Shame. Maybe we now have to start a thread - "Nowt - Who started it?"

and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yorkshire_colloquialisms#Words

http://www.peevish.co.uk/slang/n.htm <--bottom (says northern)

If you look on google, you'll soon see that it's a very yorkshire word :-P

I wish I had an online copy of this book here but I dont. Shame. Maybe we now have to start a thread - "Nowt - Who started it?"

Lol. Maybe we should.

Nope certainly a Brummie term. My Carl Chinn book tells me this too

Nowt is most definitely a Yorkshire term.

The snow covered hills look beautiful but there's no skyline to speak of.

Don't start this bollocks again, I don't think 3 buildings on a river is much to aspire to either.

Carl Chinn the traitor. I'll never trust that fake ever again...

Erebus, read the article about Birmingham being the UK equivelent of Okalahomas tornado alley. Not as bad yet, but they predict over the next 50 years we could see significant t3/t4 each year. If thats the case, all future buildings will cost alot more.

I heard something about that a month a go or something. Small Heath and Kings Heath will be hell holes. It would really be surreal seeing a t4 weaving its way down Broad Street.

Don't start this bollocks again, I don't think 3 buildings on a river is much to aspire to either.
http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/1130/resultingimagecrop290c1hp4.jpg

You'd trade places in a flash stop the bitterness it'll eat you up.

Now start the insults go on but we don't need your approval our World famous waterfront has Unesco's World Heritage approval so your words will mean nothing.

^^I just wish you would knock down that big grey building (sun alliance or sommat). Then you could build a few towers on the site :-P

:speech: Liverpools skyline is far superior to Manchesters and it's proven by the amount of votes it has gotten by forumers on this thread. Fair enough, Manchester has got the better buildings over all, but they aren't positioned well and aren't set on a waters edge.

I've not seen one photo of the Manchester skyline that has blown me away, yet I have seen many Liverpool ones which have. I don't have a personal vendetta against Manchester and after visiting the place this week, I've taken quite a liking to it, but it really doesn't have an impressive skyline. Certain forumers just have to admit that their city isn't the best at every thing. :speech:

Night tme shots always look better,this would be awesome if it had a waterfront like Liverpool,with the larger scale towers
http://www.jonreid.co.uk/images/400D/skylinefrommaxwell.jpg

Some Preston shots....

http://static.flickr.com/61/200904317_4c734ad0bf_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/72/200560497_ffb2d1b1fb_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/71/200559921_a3a3c61cd4_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/97/279781373_1f20412eaa_b.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/69/225402899_2f18e4eeff_b.jpg

Is that last one Leeds?

:yes:

Is that last one Leeds?

Lol. Why? Cause of the Sheep? :-P

Nah, all the sheep around Leeds are dead, and/or dying. Have you not seen our coat of arms? We keep them all hanging up in various places around and about. That's what Lumiere is really, it's just a huge sheep-hanging rack. The whole resiential/office thing is just a ruse.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/Nicholas_Varley/Leeds/c-of-arms.gif

Subliving.

Whats Leeds got to do with sheep :S I thought that was Wales =/

Whats Leeds got to do with sheep :S I thought that was Wales =/

The wool industry maybe?

=/ ooh ok; I think that just proves though how much the city isn't even associated with what it used to represent.

It is common for most cities. It is very rare for anyone outside of Birmingham to associate it with the Jewellry industry but Birmingham has the largest concentration of jewellers in Europe.

Well yeah Birmingham still has jewellery; but Leeds- does it even have a woollen mill anymore? Does it even have a mill?

When I think of Birmingham, I think of cars, and the skyline.

When I think of Leeds, I think of... ooh... erm... Leeds United.

http://www.jonreid.co.uk/images/400D/skylinefrommaxwell.jpg


:drool:

sorry it's only small

http://img103.imageshack.us/img103/4953/mslzo6.jpg

Taken by my mother (!) from the train from Moor Street Station in Birmingham

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/robinsonworld/HPIM0758.jpg

Heres a night time panoramic courtesy of snappel from the yoliverpool forums, from the beetham west crane.

http://www.forties-design.co.uk/photos/sw1/bwestpan1.jpg

NOW THEN.. the above is impressive and worth a mention , the manc one is quite dissapointing considering they now have Beetham, something seems to be missing.

Manchester has got the better buildings over all

Has it? I'd say it has taller buildings overall, but apart from Beetham Slab, there's not much to write home about.

Has it? I'd say it has taller buildings overall, but apart from Beetham Slab, there's not much to write home about.

They're all that beautiful and iconic and yet not one of them is famous nationally,the word deluded springs to mind,they believe their own propoganda.The obsessed will throw about 30 pictures up now that's what usually happens.

None of them are famous nationally? Well if not they should be if the liver building is a national treasure.

Here is the first of the frenzied manc picture response:

http://static.flickr.com/77/189032387_7325497908_o.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j270/caw12345/P5050153copy.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j270/caw12345/P5050153copy.jpg

Goood grief, where's that?? Nairobi??!!

Lol, do ya know, I actually had a look at Nairobi on Emporis and they do actually look similar. There's not a single good looking high-rise in that shot and to think that is the majority of Manchesters skyline.

http://www.mountkenya.org/photogallery/nairobi/34.jpgGoood grief, where's that?? Nairobi??!!

Actually, that was a bit harsh on Nairobi, it has a far better skyline than Manchester!!!

Btw, do you see that building second from the left on the Nairobi picture, isn't that what the top of Beetham Birmingham should've looked like?

Interesting, Nairobi actually does look quite like Brum from the air:
http://kijabe.org/nairobi/nairobi_an.jpg

^^less sand in Brum

Goood grief, where's that?? Nairobi??!!

:lol:

Leave it out lads - that is a good street scene and you know it!

I just don't want anyone saying "ugh Birmingham's full of ugly concrete boxes" btw...

FLD is certainly on mission today.

Interesting, Nairobi actually does look quite like Brum from the air:


Indeed, although I think Birmingham can learn something from Nairobi about the architecture of highrises. There are similarities but the Nairobi talls are considerably better looking. I don't think Birmingham forumers are in a position to be preaching to others about highrise architecture.

Nairobi's even got a taller (albeit brown) Rotunda!!!! :lol:

Not only that but it has a five ways tower too. (Tower left of cooperative house)

In the summer. Brum does look like Nairobi ;)

http://static.flickr.com/65/209429445_2632a73641_o.jpg

http://www.scandicafrica.envy.nu/images/nairobi-skyline91.jpg

Actually, that was a bit harsh on Nairobi, it has a far better skyline than Manchester!!!

:yes:

Isn't it sad when Nairobi has a better skyline than all uk cities apart from London.For one of the worlds richest countries the uk is really behind times with highrises, with just one skyscraper outside the capital.

Interesting, Nairobi actually does look quite like Brum from the air:



HAHAHA...

Sry im under...

^^I am inclined to agree - I am surprised that Nairobi has so many tall buildings!

Indeed, although I think Birmingham can learn something from Nairobi about the architecture of highrises. There are similarities but the Nairobi talls are considerably better looking. I don't think Birmingham forumers are in a position to be preaching to others about highrise architecture.

I know you are baiting, but I am going to take it anyway.

I commend you to this:

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j270/caw12345/P5050153copy.jpg

Not exactly a huge difference eh?

And we don't really plan on building many more slabs...

And we don't really plan on building many more slabs...

By 2010, Manchester are going to make your average builders merchant look obsolete with all them slabs coming along.

None of them are famous nationally? Well if not they should be if the liver building is a national treasure.

Here is the first of the frenzied manc picture response:

http://static.flickr.com/77/189032387_7325497908_o.jpg

The Royal Liver building is a gorgeous building.

I don't know what in that picture you think should be nationally famous. Out of all of them, City tower is the nicest, and that's just a 100m slab.

P.S. I really hate that Portland tower. It make's me think of 'Del Monte' Banana's or sommat. (NOt a city bashing point, just a general comment.)

The Royal Liver building is a gorgeous building.

I don't know what in that picture you think should be nationally famous. Out of all of them, City tower is the nicest, and that's just a 100m slab.

P.S. I really hate that Portland tower. It make's me think of 'Del Monte' Banana's or sommat. (NOt a city bashing point, just a general comment.)

You think city tower is the nicest building on that photo?

Can you not see the triplet of towers aligned on the left down oxford road, all 60m +

Oh. Lol. Sorry, didn't spot them. Wasn't really looking in the corners.

They are nice building's, but I still don't think they're a patch on the Liver building. I mean, we've got similar buildings in Sheff (although not so tall if they are over 60m).

Oh. Lol. Sorry, didn't spot them. Wasn't really looking in the corners.

They are nice building's, but I still don't think they're a patch on the Liver building. I mean, we've got similar buildings in Sheff (although not so tall if they are over 60m).

The Manchester town hall is more than a patch on the liver building. They are the same height aswell FYI, and put them side by side there is only one winner. The liver building's would not be nearly as famous if it were located where the manchester town hall is.

Other noteable buildings on that pic:
St James Buildings
Palace Hotel
Minshull St Courts
Lancaster house
University of manchester main buildiing
Sunlight house

Well personally I prefer the Royal Liver building to Manchester town hall. I prefeer Leeds town hall to both, and I prefer Sheffield town hall to all three (the tower bit isnt as good though).

^^Sorry, Not that I don't like Manchester Town Hall. It is a beautiful building, but I was trying to prove a point that everything in Manchester isn't better.

The Manchester town hall is more than a patch on the liver building. They are the same height aswell FYI, and put them side by side there is only one winner. The liver building's would not be nearly as famous if it were located where the manchester town hall is.

Other noteable buildings on that pic:
St James Buildings
Palace Hotel
Minshull St Courts
Lancaster house
University of manchester main buildiing
Sunlight house

Don't forget the recently refurbished John Rylands Library aswell Jerv.

The Manchester town hall is more than a patch on the liver building. They are the same height aswell FYI, and put them side by side there is only one winner. The liver building's would not be nearly as famous if it were located where the manchester town hall is.

Other noteable buildings on that pic:
St James Buildings
Palace Hotel
Minshull St Courts
Lancaster house
University of manchester main buildiing
Sunlight house

Herein lies the problem. You could probably line the grandest building in each of the major UK cities up and show them to the public, and my betting is they will only pick 2: the Liver Building and the Palace of Westminster.

Why? Well, the London one is obvious, but the Liver has been sold as "Liverpool" and Liverpool's exports (music, TV) have featured it. And it is quite unique, whereas IMO Leeds, Manchester and Sheffield have similar town halls - dark gothic structures.

For the record, I would nominate Birmingham's Town Hall above the Council House, and I guess most people would think that is in Greece or Italy...

ta-da!

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/robinsonworld/HPIM0818.jpg

just popping out of the covers after a very-very long clean/tidy

By 2010, Manchester are going to make your average builders merchant look obsolete with all them slabs coming along.

At street level Manchester probably has more curved buildings than Birmingham.

How can you come out with a statement like that? It's a bit of a ridiculous claim isn't it? How could you possibly know? It's like me saying that Birmingham has got more gargoyles then Manchester or Liverpools got more hookers then Glasgow.

How can you come out with a statement like that? It's a bit of a ridiculous claim isn't it? How could you possibly know? It's like me saying that Birmingham has got more gargoyles then Manchester or Liverpools got more hookers then Glasgow.
Its not a ridiculous statement at all.

ta-da!

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/robinsonworld/HPIM0818.jpg

just popping out of the covers after a very-very long clean/tidy

Are you sure that wasn't taken in the 70s? (Look at the kids in the pic and their attire)

1970s Rome! :)

...It's a bit of a ridiculous claim isn't it? How could you possibly know? It's like me saying that Birmingham has got more gargoyles then Manchester...

Have you ever been down broad street? :lol:

Its not a ridiculous statement at all.

I'm affraid it is :pet:

Have you ever been down broad street?

:lol: I have. I've also been to the Arndale Centre :puke:

Don't forget the recently refurbished John Rylands Library aswell Jerv.

:lol: You have eyes like a hawk jerb!

http://static.flickr.com/77/189032387_7325497908_o.jpg

I'm affraid it is :pet:
No... it isnt :pet:

ta-da!

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/robinsonworld/HPIM0818.jpg

just popping out of the covers after a very-very long clean/tidy

Sorry, but I preffer Manchesters Town Hall, the Liver building, Leeds town hall and Sheffield town hall to that :tongue3:

Anyway, we've got our own one of those:
http://static.flickr.com/64/158185450_bdc73c75f7.jpg?v=0

It's only one quarter as good though!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Biosonic
And we don't really plan on building many more slabs...

By 2010, Manchester are going to make your average builders merchant look obsolete with all them slabs coming along
Erebus your full of shite, you really are.

Your own facking skylines littered with Slabs to begin with, and they date back to the bleeding 60's-70's...!

I'd have 40 storey glass 'slab' towers over any concrete bullshit Birmingham has to offer :nuts:

Go jump off your fake glass blade. I also notice that most of you twisted Mancs have voted for Liverpool in your bitterness for Brum - what a fucking shower of shite you are he he!!

Fake?

It's glass... it's a blade... its a glass blade. Dunno where your going with that one :dunno:

Theres 'far' more shite up in the brummie skyline than there is the Manc one...and god willing, as long as this is the situation what real fucking case has the average brummie got in terms of comparison? It's dense... theres more... theres more brick...We have more than you...

You have a larger amount of tall buildings on your skyline -accepted- though, realise your just sucumbing to the fact you have more shit upon it than we do! :)

Your own facking skylines littered with Slabs to begin with, and they date back to the bleeding 60's-70's...!

Which makes even worse on Manchesters part. The slabs are 40/ 30 years old and you are starting to build them now!

...
Theres 'far' more shite up in the brummie skyline than there is the Manc one...and god willing, as long as this is the situation what real fucking case has the average brummie got in terms of comparison? It's dense... theres more... theres more brick...We have more than you...

You have a larger amount of tall buildings on your skyline -accepted- though, realise your just sucumbing to the fact you have more shit upon it than we do! :)

I think that statement says it all - hidden agenda full of venomous drivel that quite possibly invalidates anything this person has to say about nearly anything.

Disappointing.

To tell you the truth I couldn't give a S*** about either skyline at the moment, their both crap. Saying that, so is every other skyline in the UK. Fast forward 10-15 years and we''ll all have something to boast about and argue over.

In the summer. Brum does look like Nairobi ;)

http://static.flickr.com/65/209429445_2632a73641_o.jpg

http://www.scandicafrica.envy.nu/images/nairobi-skyline91.jpg


That's a great picture of Birmingham Sim, where was it taken from?

For the Manc chaps, I didn't post that picture of Manchester in the "Best Present Skyline" thread, it was a Manc guy ....... and think if it were me, I'd have left that one in the bottom drawer!!!!!!

To tell you the truth I couldn't give a S*** about either skyline at the moment, their both crap. Saying that, so is every other skyline in the UK. Fast forward 10-15 years and we''ll all have something to boast about and argue over.

We hope! ;)

Everybody keep spending! That way the economy stays buoyant... :)

I'm gonna through myself back into the mix with an inpartial view of what I'm feelin at the mo.. lol,

On sunday I won tickets to go see a show at the Dominion in London, and so it gave me a nice chance to see glimpses of a few of the usual suspects.. Manchester, Birmingham, London and back..

Manchester, It's been my home city (you could say) whilst I lived in Wigan, as it was the place I went to the most for days out, shopping, etc.. It's hard to picture it without the Civic, Beetham and Great Northern.. they've made a good impression but at the same time, the skyline is still poor, until it gets the new towers going up it's just not good enough.. Having said that it is FULL of stunning buildings and there's so much to look at..after all the trips I've had there I feel I've barely touched the surface.

Birmingham, on the way passed to London it looked very dissapointing from the line I was on, just seemed to be all council blocks.. HCT wasn't making any impression on the skyline, didn't notice Orion (probably a good thing) and was dissapointed, when I pointed to my friend that we were passing Birmingham, it took her ages to actually see the place! But it all fairness we were passing the city, rather than going through it like we did with Manc.

London, we had very little time there as we got there 5 mins before the show (timed well) and had to leave as soon as it finished. It was my first time in London, it was in the evening so couldn't see owt.. the only towers I saw where Euston tower and Centrepoint, and I was impressed by them alone.. lol, seem massive! Really wish I'd gotten to see some real towers but its the way it goes.

On the way home we had a 4 hour wait between trains at New street (my God it was hell!) So we had a quick twilight tour of Birmingham. HCT, I LOVE the cladding, it seems busy on pictures but up close in person, its so funky.. The tower is stylish but still, not much perception of height. The sentinals are, well.. they're fair, Orion.. still barely able to make it out in the dark but, not patch on those initial renderings. Overall I did like the vibe of the city, (what I saw of it) looks promising but a lot to improve on..

Whether I see Birmingham or Manchester as the 2nd city? Well, Just dunno.. still not seen Birmingham properly (well not since I went during the day when I was about 8!) Manchester does seem to have more charm and chic, a cosmo place.. were Brum was more.. Business as usual, feel..

It gives me a good excuse for more days out to decide mind, lol..

Thanks for the thoughts Ferg - what happened with the 4 hour wait !?! :lol:

I suspect the topography was do blame for not seeing HCT as you passed Brum the first time - from the north (by road) it is hardly visible as it is the other side of a hill, whereas from the south it dominates the skyline.

Hope you enjoyed the show! :)

Hi Ferge, when you refer the the "line" you were on, were you on a train passing through New Street Station? If so, coming from the north you wouldn't get a good view of the city centre because the tracks go under the city centre.

How can you come out with a statement like that? It's a bit of a ridiculous claim isn't it? How could you possibly know? It's like me saying that Birmingham has got more gargoyles then Manchester or Liverpools got more hookers then Glasgow.

Is balls a ridiculous claim.Remember I said probably:) When I went to Brum a couple of years ago I only remember seeing Selfridges as a prominant lowrise building but of course I could have missed some stuff,but in Manchester there are dozens of prominant street level (if you can call then that) curvy buildings such as BT building,Central Library,Piccadilly approach,Royal Bank of Scotland, Urbis ,Triangle(yes it's curved) some u/c stuff at Spinninfields, and loads of others I cant even think the names of them. Gargoyles and hookers are hardly noticable...correction hookers are:lol:

It's only one quarter as good though!

Lol. it's only got pillars on the front, but it's still good round the sides. And it's got a curved back. :-P

Is balls a ridiculous claim.Remember I said probably:) When I went to Brum a couple of years ago I only remember seeing Selfridges as a prominant lowrise building but of course I could have missed some stuff,but in Manchester there are dozens of prominant street level (if you can call then that) curvy buildings such as BT building,Central Library,Piccadilly approach,Royal Bank of Scotland, Urbis ,Triangle(yes it's curved) some u/c stuff at Spinninfields, and loads of others I cant even think the names of them. Gargoyles and hookers are hardly noticable...correction hookers are:lol:

I think the point was not which city has more curvey bits, but someone saying that they KNOW which one has more curvey buildings, without any study*, is a bit daft.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/robinsonworld/HPIM0922.jpg

*And like who's going to go round counting the curves anyway? Even I'm not that sad.

Lol. it's only got pillars on the front, but it's still good round the sides. And it's got a curved back. :-P

But does it look like "The building they put the dead popes into" to quote an Ex-girlfriend...

whereas IMO Leeds, Manchester and Sheffield have similar town halls - dark gothic structures.


Yes it is 'IMO' because Leeds town hall is neo-classical :tongue: (excuse for a gratuitous image)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a8/Leeds_Town_Hall.jpg/800px-Leeds_Town_Hall.jpg

I think the point was not which city has more curvey bits, but someone saying that they KNOW which one has more curvey buildings, without any study*, is a bit daft.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/robinsonworld/HPIM0922.jpg

*And like who's going to go round counting the curves anyway? Even I'm not that sad.

No ones actually counting curves Stephen,it just seems to have more curvy lowrise buildings like the Rbos as above,just an observation, not sad at all. Of course with towers it's different,Brum has two curved towers,Manc has slabs or boxy shapes two of which are rather good IMO (Beetham,CIS).If anything is sad to bicker over two skylines that are still both pathetic.

It's so close between Liverpool and Brum! They both have so much potential :)

If anything is sad to bicker over two skylines that are still both pathetic.

Shall I put that picture of Chicago skyline up in this thread as well as the best future one?

Hawh, too depressing!

We should have a 'best present streetscape' contest

Bias aside, Glasgow is pretty good at streetlevel.

We should have a 'best present streetscape' contest

Big Top would lose the contest for Birmingham...

Shall I put that picture of Chicago skyline up in this thread as well as the best future one?

Hawh, too depressing!

Lol. You obviously don't know what your on about. Chicago's skyline (if you can call it a skyline) isn't a patch on Sheffields. :nuts:

http://static.flickr.com/38/124295160_690d1e4624.jpg?v=0:lol:

Yes it is 'IMO' because Leeds town hall is neo-classical :tongue: (excuse for a gratuitous image)



There's no need for a nasty tongue!! Bitch! ;)

Apologies - maybe I was thinking of Halifax?

Leeds Town Hall is very big! Needs a clean though...

Leeds Town Hall is also very impressive.

LIVERPOOL

From the Waterfront:

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/9873/zseacombe85en8.jpg

http://img428.imageshack.us/img428/3854/lplnightoc3.jpg

http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/9394/pink15rj.jpg

And on the other side...

http://img354.imageshack.us/img354/8226/unityaugust0016ie.jpg
And this was before Unity was completed, and West Tower started.

There is no competition. Architectural splendor, a good mix, a great scale.

Unity still hasn't finished. They've jumped the gun putting it in the rate a scraper section. :)

I still dont like Unity. The design is too boxy and growing up around boxes has really made me hate them. Good thing they are disappearing off Brums skyline.

Great pics of Liverpool ,, all our cities are doing fantastic .

I think Liverpool will rival Rotterdam soon :)

This image looks very Liverpool to me:
http://images.waarbenjij.nu/files/waarbenjij.nu/d/danoontje/402f6d0b8ae9f3.56061594/file93679887.jpg

Unity still hasn't finished. They've jumped the gun putting it in the rate a scraper section. :)

I think me or T0M, proably T0m will make a new one when it's finished. Don't think I'll change my vote much though to be honest.

The good thing about Unity, Stephen, is that it provokes debate. Most people either love it or hate it. It might as well be covered in Marmite. In regards to it not being finished, I think a lot of people have assumed that the metal framework for the gantries are part of the building design. It'll look much better once that has been removed, although the portakabin remains shite. IMO. :)

Photo by smileyface:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%203/Bham4th11200612.jpg

We might not have a waterfront like Liverpool, but all of those trees are a consolation. It also must be said that if we didn't have all those ugly tower blocks located around the city, we wouldn't have so many skyline shots like the one above.

Photos by the legend that is Smileyface...
Stitched together into this amazing panorama by SimonTheSoundMan...

http://inthemac.com/simon/odd/ssc/stitch_smileyface.jpg

^^Want to do your photoshop wonders on that one van?

I'm seriously considering it. Most of the new buildings will be easy to add on but once again, the area where the Pinnacle is supposed to be is missing and people always moan when I don't include the Pinnacle. It wouldn't be impossible to include it, but it would mean creating a few hundred pixels worth of the skyline from scratch, that's very time consuming. If I do decide to make it in to a future skyline shot, I doubt I could get it done for a couple of weeks yet cause I'm kinda busy at the moment. Maybe someone else will have a go?

They're all crap at the moment... this is starting to change though.
My Vote:
1) Birmingham
2) Liverpool

Birmingham - Slab Central :yes:

^^ How little you know. There are probably half a dozen city centre slabs. Plenty of council flats outside the city centre, but virtually every other large city has it's share of those.

Of course, the innovative tower shapes that Mcr is erecting are something the rest of us should imitate :lol:

Birmingham - Slab Central :yes:

Some of the things drugs make you say :ohno:

Of course, the innovative tower shapes that Mcr is erecting are something the rest of us should imitate :lol:

:lol:

Birmingham - Slab Central :yes:

He's not wrong though is he,it's council block,maisonette,low grade warehouse central too.

^^That shot was taken from the area which has mainly tower blocks. Its probably the only place which has escaped the mass demolition of tower blocks and 60s housing in the city. Not for long though...

Since when has Liverpool been an innovator in architecture?

Between 1860 and 1914.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=10344524#post10344524
and whenever it was they put up the Liver building.

But the Oriel Chambers rarely seen as symbol of Liverpool. Liver Building is very nice and may have been pretty tall for its day up in Liverpool but it hardly was the first something was it?

The Brum skyline looks ok on that picture but the scene in the foreground is quite grim and takes the focus off the city centre. It seems to be a bit of a problem when taking pictures of the Brum skyline- as I say it's a good skyline by British standards but the inner city is blighted by hideous tower blocks and council estates. I suppose it's a problem in most large British cities though.

But the Oriel Chambers rarely seen as symbol of Liverpool. Liver Building is very nice and may have been pretty tall for its day up in Liverpool but it hardly was the first something was it?

I'm not certain but I'm pretty sure it was the tallest office building in europe when it was built, something about maybe the first reinforced concrete structure? Or was it biggest reinforced concrete structure? hmm, it was a pretty innovative building anyway and 'tall for its day'? Its still tall today really, most of the towers in the provincial cities are around the 80-120m mark - same as Liver bdg.

I have a horrible feeling I'm going to say the wrong thing and everything will cave in on me so I'll stop here.

One side to Birmingham alot of people dont see is the greenery - check out that skyline pic again. Its a lot greener than many people think.

I like that panorama of the Birmingham skyline,the foreground is grim as mentioned, but I have a strange fascination with these factory districts.Overall thats a great urban scene.

One side to Birmingham alot of people dont see is the greenery - check out that skyline pic again. Its a lot greener than many people think.

yea but lets face it as green as it actually is how often its destroyed by f****G dickheads & hoodies and young guys thinking there hard because they are holding a chain with a grizzly bulldog on the end of it, I'll stick up for the Liki hills everytime mate but lots of parks in the Uk have lost there comfortable image, This society now is twisted corrupted and further & further away from the old England christian morals. I stopped my local walks in my near by beautiful park time ago for the sake of not seeing topless twats thinking there hard & wat not. It should be well realised its hard to find a peacful lovley old park in the big citys anymore but yea ok atleast we should remember them for what they are but then again if you dont feel like relaxing in them so much then they are just trash like this trash society.

sorry for throwing a bit of a greek salad on the topic but the parks images shouldnt be viewd as peacful or something anymore because that would be really bollocks.

We know Birmingham is a manufacturing city, but it seems most of the city centre is surrounded, almost 'choked' by ugly factories and warehouses of brick and corrugated steel, not the nicest buildings to be surrounded by.

Cut them out of the skyline shot (or replace them all with trees, like the left hand side of the photo!) and it would enhance brums skyline immensely!

Manchester for example got away very lightly, as most industial warehouses were concentrated in Trafford Park or in satellite towns relatively quite far away from the city centre.

Just to validate my point (cheers to Caw123 for the pics btw)

The following photos are taken from the city centre starting by looking SW (towards trafford park)


As you can see below, the nearest 'factory/warehouse'-style buildings are in the top right of the pic in Trafford Park (approx 3-4 miles away, beyond Salford Quays, which were of course former docks with factories and warehouses until about 15/20 years ago)

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j270/caw12345/PB010029copy.jpg

Moving the camera more over to the west, Trafford park can be seen in its glory on the left side of Beetham, with the resi/office towers of Eccles in the distant to the right (about 4 miles away again, but no warehouses etc between here and the city centre)

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j270/caw12345/PB010031copy.jpg

Now a bit more to the west again, eccles in full view now, 2 gas holders near the city centre though, but nearby is light industrial and retail warhouses, quickly dwindling due to resi developments at Middlewood Locks.


http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j270/caw12345/PB010027copy.jpg

Now below, we're looking directly west, towards the Pendleton District, of course mainly resi blocks and houses, with some light industrial dotted here and there.

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j270/caw12345/PB010018copy.jpg

Another view:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d102/chasedwar/IMG_4862.jpg


Looking North west, then North, towards bury, there is a little more concentration of industrial, but nowhere near as much or as dense as brums so close to the centre, hence stil a lot of houses. This similar view continues if the camera was panned around the north and east more


http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j270/caw12345/PB010016copy.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j270/caw12345/PB010043copy.jpg


Change of Viewpoint now, cheers the Chasedwar for these

Now we're looking North East, mainly resi, spattering of industial here and there again, odd gas silos too.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d102/chasedwar/IMG_4830.jpg


Now looking east, simlilar views, largest concentration of industial so close to city centre is situated near piccadilly station at the right hand side of the photo below. Even that isn't very dense, a little run down yes, but with Eastgate on the way, expect massive changes here soon.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d102/chasedwar/IMG_4831.jpg


Looking South East/South now, a lot more leefy and residential, uni suburbs, towards Didsbury

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d102/chasedwar/IMG_4848.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j270/caw12345/PB010023copy.jpg

And we finish with the South view & airport!

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d102/chasedwar/IMG_4834.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j270/caw12345/PB010036copy.jpg

A bit more to the right agin and stockport may have crept in, but no photos for that!

Hope you enjoyed that!!!

But yeah, dense industial does no favours near a city centre for aesthetic purposes!!

Im sorry, but yes there are a few council blocks and warehouses in the foreground, some of which have plans to be taken down as half 70% already. for example where opal court is to the left we could see another 90m spiral tower rise, with a few others planned. I think people are being a bit harsh due to the reality that skyline is quite simply the best skyline in highrise terms outside London. Every city has areas like this. Birmingham is getting rid of them. Might take a while but soon you wont even notice it with the menacing highrise block which hits you from this view.

Van, do a quick sketch up then work on a more detailed one. It'll be very intgeresting.

We know Birmingham is a manufacturing city, but it seems most of the city centre is surrounded, almost 'choked' by ugly factories and warehouses of brick and corrugated steel, not the nicest buildings to be surrounded by.

Manchester for example got away very lightly, as most industial warehouses were concentrated in Trafford Park or in satellite towns relatively quite far away from the city centre.

:hilarious: you must be joking Chogmook.. not meaning to be rude but how the bollocks do you see a difference between the outer city centre pics of Manc and Brum other than the Brum pics maybe look slightly more leafy and more uniform as they are all red brick 19th century style factories and victorian buildings??? I looked at your pics thinking you were about to educate me lol.. Manc is just as mish mash as Brum, I sometimes mistake these pics for either city, I think Brum skyline gives it away with the rotunda (its round) and BT tower (tall and skinny).

That's my point, there's cohesion, as resi, industry and commercial are fabricated well together, so you don't see wall to wall factories! I'm not putting brum down by the way, manufacturing was brums nature, so it is expected that you will find more industrial, i was only pointing out that fact!:ohno:

And i know, you have a few council blocks, so does manc, fact!, Leafy areas too, fact! but Manc does not have (not now anyway) a massive industial collar around it's central core.

Look at cities across the world, to be honest, i've not seen many, with such a huge industrial presence so close to the city centre, derelict or not!

And yes it will take time, but brum will find its balance eventually, preserving what is best and demolishing what isn't, like Manc with its Mills, Brum will do with its factories and warehouses, and if it's as half as good as your canals, then you'll be on a winner! And it WILL enhance your skyline (admittedly, as good as it already is!):cheers:

And if you're wondering which way your city centre will expand in the future, just look at that photo and honestly say to yourselves, what of those warehouses will still be there in 15/20 years?

Would you want them all to stay?

Thought not.

This is what's happening to the Southen and Eastern Gateways of Manc, Factories and warehouses, becoming more vacant and obsolete making way for HUGE development, Residential AND Commercial.

That's your city's future right under your noses.


http://inthemac.com/simon/odd/ssc/stitch_smileyface.jpg


THERE'S POTENTIAL IN THEM THERE SHEDS!!!!

And this is the largest concentration of factories on the edge of the city centre, piccadilly. (not exactly wall to wall factories eh!)

http://www.pichotel.com/pic/4750g5mlQ/77298.jpg

Keep industrial wastelands away from the centre i say, give it a designated area away from the core, then you get a nice blend from residential to city centre, and it LOOKS nice! (like edgbaston, if only brum was surrounded by edgbaston, then you would be laughing!)

http://static.flickr.com/55/148411936_2d8d4e18fb_o.jpg

Last pic, i promise!!

Factories and derelict warehouses cleared long ago, ripe for development, don't worry Brum, it'll happen where you are too!! :banana:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture037.jpg

What's wrong with light indusry buildings? Sure some are pugly, but it's better, and more intresting than the suburbs, at ground level. Just take a look at the Jewelly and to a lesser extent Gun Quarter in Birmingham for a very good example, but even the metal bashers down Digbeth are ok, at least it shows it's still has manufactory base. This is what made Birmingham, I find it hard to slag it off because the metal roofs, often hiden behind Victorial redbrick frontages look a bit rough from the air.

I walked back from town to Bournville a couple of years back with a mate (at about 4 am) he dragged me through Digbeth - Highgate and on out through all these back streets, what amazed me was the amount of these old shed type looking bioldings from afar are actually very interesting areas with some really good Victorian architecture and I would guess only half of them actually are used for industry now but its worth a look, can't remember the names of the best streets but it reminded me of the Jewellery Quarter except completely untouched by progress.

http://inthemac.com/simon/odd/ssc/stitch_smileyface.jpg

nawww. Shit tip! I dont mean those warehouses either...

Its a shame theres so much spite and jealousy on this forum. :ohno:

:lol:

HAHA

Jealous? I'd have to be off my facking rocker mate!

http://inthemac.com/simon/odd/ssc/stitch_smileyface.jpg

nawww. Shit tip! I dont mean those warehouses either...

Yeah.. you're bright, that must have taken all your one brain cell to come out with that.. "durr.. shit tip .. hur hur" :lol:

The truth is that many city centres in the UK look drab, hotch potch and uninspiring IMO, but they are improving vastly with buildings such as Selfridges and Beethams, I certainly can't see much difference between Brum and Manchester other than Birmingham has more tall buildings and that's about it really, I think that some people do suffer from delusions of grandeur though.

I'll address Chog & Liam on this because they have something to say :)

I agree that parts of Brum are blighted by wrinkly tin roofs, bit the problem (or non-problem depending on which way you look at it) is that they are all occupied. Birmingham's largest sector is still, I believe, manufacturing. The Heartlands have most industry (flanking the M6 and Aston Expressway) but there is quite a bit left to the east & south of the city centre.

The photo is taken from a tower block in one of the least salubrious areas of Brum, so it is not a surprise that there are maisonettes, flats & workshops dotted around. The Digbeth regeneration is sending its first tendrils into this area, and the southside creep will meet up with it. I would say it will still take another 15 years to transform the area though. I agree that it does detract from the skyline though.

Birmingham city centre isn't really choked with industry - the northern edge is the Jewellery Quarter which is Victorian and Georgian workshops and apartments (lovely). The western flank is Edgbaston so green with large commercial presence. The east (north) is modern business park and east (south) is Digbeth and more Victoriana. There are some bad bits though, and it isn't ideal that the main approach from the motorway is via the industrial heartland, but then again that is what puts our dinner on the plates :)

I don't know the figures, but I wouldn't say Brum has a particularly high number of tower blocks per capita than many other post-industrial cities (any more!)

I could think of 15-20 that I would like to get rid of though ;) (Butterfield will kill me!)

:lol:

HAHA

Jealous? I'd have to be off my facking rocker mate!

Nah, not of you rocker. Just a Mancunian. Same old.

Yeah.. you're bright, that must have taken all your one brain cell to come out with that.. "durr.. shit tip .. hur hur"

O' please just do one if you dont like what i said. How else should i descibe it to you lizzybethy?

It's full of -shit faced- ugly buildings, which is evident in that shot (is it not?). If I ever on this forum have an opinion on anything, its that. I seem to remember the brummie lot pissing on ours more often than not. Obviously nothing to brag about still...

Nah, not of you rocker. Just a Mancunian. Same old.

Ewww ughhh i'm Mancunian (quee the :rolleyes smiley)

It's the immediate foreground which makes the buildings look bad. I must say that apart from cheetham hill road, manchester does not have any inner suburbs that look as bad as this. FLD said a particular Manc photo that I reposted in this thread was worse than Nairobi, Kenya. Well I suggest he looks at the above again.

But FLD is from Worcester I think..

Having said that, there is no denying that Brum has some nice modern buildings in amongst the less aesthetically pleasing. It definately has the bulkiest skyline, if not the tallest and deserves to be winning this thread.

I like the following:
Alpha tower
Colmore circus tower (?)
Hyatt
Mclaren
Natwest
Most of the Hagley road/five ways towers
Not sure about beetham because of the crown and the stripy simpson cladding.

With a few pinnacle towers brum could be impressive on a european scale, escpecially with having the advantage of a ridge through the city centre.