This isn't it's best angle no, probably because it's featureless and as viewed from outside the city. The best views are from the front and sides of course, but not only because of the overhand/set backs, but also because the city is in front of it. You could say the faceless side responds to the lack of much behind it, whilst the interesting side responds to the city.


Do you think that could be a Simpson trait? The back of HCT in Birmingham overlooks New St Station so it has very few windows on that side, and the lift cores although clad in zinc, also run up the back. Some people like it, others don't, but it seems very shortsighted considering New St is due for an overhaul, and I am sure the bit behind Beetham Mcr will fill eventually.

I don't really like the front of HCT but I've only seen it a few times but its best view is from the side, it looks really slender and sleek. It would look ace if its spikes weren't stunted.

I think even the most ardent Beetham Mcr fan would admit, that photo isn't its best angle (sorry).

Is this better Bio?

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/t.woof/gen/BeethamNiteOX3P8306-a-tx.jpg

The pictures of this building on the net are not very flattering are they?

The pictures of this building on the net are not very flattering are they?


Erm......yeah.....ok. :nuts:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/t.woof/gen/MMSI_OX3P1671-av-tx.jpg
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/t.woof/gen/Barbirolli_OX3P1695-av-tx.jpg
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/t.woof/gen/StJohns_OX3P1668-av-tx.jpg

The pictures of this building on the net are not very flattering are they?

:|
If the ones of Beetham Manc arnt, then what are the ones of HCT? Certainly not flattering. Usually a grey sky, with the building surrounded by depressing 60's car parks, blocks of flats and dual carriageways...
Of course, I'm being an anti-Brum drama queen. There are in fact some very nice pics of HCT. But I dont agree that pics of Beetham Manc are not flattering... I also think its much easier to get nicer pics of the Manc tower than the Brum one, and I wasnt joking that time ;)

Dual carriageways you say; they are ugly and too "concretey" (ie there could be trees or some grass as a central reservation etc) but I do think they can make places exciting. If the whole of Queensway were to be skyscraper lined it would make a vibrant and metropolitan style scene.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/t.woof/gen/MMSI_OX3P1671-av-tx.jpg
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/t.woof/gen/Barbirolli_OX3P1695-av-tx.jpg
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/t.woof/gen/StJohns_OX3P1668-av-tx.jpg

Hey in my opinion... the pictures of this building "to me" look "uninspiring"... for a tall building, I'm not bashing Manc but from the pics... :toilet: :lol:

What can I say... I try to be truthful, if it looked wicked I'd fucking well say it, but it looks shabby and my reasons are.

1. It's not in Birmingham
2. I'm biased
3. Fuck You All!!! :lol:

excuse me... the real reasons.

1. Its a big... box
2. It looks awkward unlike HCT which overall? looks slim slender.
3. Whats the thing at the top, looks horrible
4. I am sure you have your own gripes...

maybe I am old fashioned but I would rather have seen a sheer face, no step, no unnecessary plastic looking sheet thing at the top, just a big slab of glass.

Is this better Bio?

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/t.woof/gen/BeethamNiteOX3P8306-a-tx.jpg

Much better :) Beetham Mcr does something that many UK skyscrapers don't - it looms. I guess it is a combination of height, colour, architecture and setting :)

1. Its a big... box
So? Its a big, slender, glass box which looks very nice.

2. It looks awkward unlike HCT which overall? looks slim slender.
What?! HCT looks very stumpy when viewed from the front. It only looks slim/slender from the side! Beetham Manc looks slender from all sides.

3. Whats the thing at the top, looks horrible
The blade may not be perfect, but it looks a lot better than the 'spikes' on the brum tower!

maybe I am old fashioned but I would rather have seen a sheer face, no step, no unnecessary plastic looking sheet thing at the top, just a big slab of glass.

I've got to agree with that. The step just makes it look unbalanced or something, I don't dislike it but it just doesn't sit right with me. The blade might look better if it was a different shape as well.

Beetham does look much better in the flesh than in picture. Plonk it down into the City of London and it would be the second best building after the Gherkin.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v371/IsaacNewell/bee.jpg?t=1168516946

So? Its a big, slender, glass box which looks very nice.

No it doesn't.

What?! HCT looks very stumpy when viewed from the front. It only looks slim/slender from the side! Beetham Manc looks slender from all sides.

Well that isn't helped by the fact that it was chopped from 191 metres down to just 122m by the CAA during planning. Fact is, HCT has gathered alot of support from members of the public who wouldn't usually give to stuffs if a tower was being built in Birmingham. However, I seem to recall Beetham Manc making it onto the "Wasted opportunities" list...

The blade may not be perfect, but it looks a lot better than the 'spikes' on the brum tower!

They cannot be viewed from all the way round however and they are not a major piece of the design that catches your eye every time you look at it. Those spikes are probably the best way of finishing off the column as it rises.

As Beetham Manc's blade, that adds an extra 20 (in approximate terms) metres to the height whilst the spikes add barely anything. I dont think they even do add to the height at all...

Beetham does look much better in the flesh than in picture. Plonk it down into the City of London and it would be the second best building after the Gherkin.

You. Are. Nuts. :nuts:

It would be considered a national disaster.

Yeah. While I don't think beetham manc is a distaster by any means, in the city of london it would stand out like a sore thumb and look awful.

That's what I meant. In London it would be seen as a national disaster.

Oh and guess who designed the Gherkin - yes, a Brummie - Ken Shuttleworth who also happens to be designing the Cube. He has his own architects practise now - MAKE architects.

well i preffer the one in brimingham (although its not perfect - i hate the top of it, looks like a hat). Manchesters one is so awkward looking, and only looks ok in most pictures as they show how beautiful Manchester is. Take a pic of a glasgow tower block with a rose garden in front of it will make it look good, take a pic of the gurkin with a council estate in front of it will make it look bad.

Manchesters one is only good because of the hight, the cladding is interesting but not really different from Birminghams. AND NO Manchesters beetham would not be the second best building in London (go have a lie down for a bit if you really think that) - HSBC, Citygroup tower, even the one at the end of Oxford rd is nicer looking.

HSBC, Citygroup tower, even the one at the end of Oxford rd is nicer looking.

Were in the City are these, I go through it every day and haven't noticed them.

Fine if you want to restrict it to the city, then Tower 42 has a much better shape, and was on its own for a while, without looking as if it needed others around it to make it homoginise with the city skyline

Fine if you want to restrict it to the city, then Tower 42 has a much better shape, and was on its own for a while, without looking as if it needed others around it to make it homoginise with the city skyline

Well I did say City of London so I did assume what I said was clear.

None of the towers on Canary Wharf are remotely aesthetically pleasing. It looks like Downtown Indianapolis has been rebuilt in East London.

Centre point, looks like something that should be placed on top of a provincial shopping centre.

Tower 42 is dated and awkward looking.

Beetham Manchester will stand the test of time

That's what I meant. In London it would be seen as a national disaster.

Oh and guess who designed the Gherkin - yes, a Brummie - Ken Shuttleworth who also happens to be designing the Cube. He has his own architects practise now - MAKE architects.

Correct me if I am wrong but didn't Ken design the original design?The design that got built was Norman Fosters creation.A Mancunian born and bred.

The pictures of this building on the net are not very flattering are they?


I couldn't agree more with this statement.

I haven't seen a picture yet that accurately represents the true beauty of Beetham Manchester. There's no denying it's boxyness, and this comes across as bland in just about all the photos I have seen of the building, but it is far from bland in real life. I see the building just about every day and its scale never fails to impress. Depending on the weather and which angle the building is viewed from, the glazing seems to change colour daily and the cladding has a suprising amount of detail. Then again, on an overcast day, viewed from the 'wrong' angle, it can look quite bland.

But I dispute that any forumer would not want this building in their city. If you want to criticise, that's fine, but come and have a look at the building first hand and you might change your view.

Correct me if I am wrong but didn't Ken design the original design?The design that got built was Norman Fosters creation.A Mancunian born and bred.

It was designed by Ken Shuttleworth however this was whilst he was working with Norman Foster's architects practise so naturally, Norman Foster would get the credit. Norman Foster did have an input and the design was changed slightly. Shuttleworth himself has claimed he was the designer and many news articles referring to him, often refer to him being the architect of the Gherkin.

It is possible that it was a large group of architects designing the Gherkin and Shuttleworth supervised them and then Foster had the last say on the matter. But all the articles and biographies etc point to him being the architect.

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m30/chansau/Salford%20Quays/DSC01946.jpg

One day they'll join.

^^

Manchester looks vile there :puke:

Is that big, grey, dirty looking building the Civil Justice Centre?
If so then oh dear. :no:

What? says you, from Birmingham?

I like the water... I'm struggling to find a compliment here about Manchester.

Just saying they'll join, for fucks sake.

even people from Manchester say the best thing about Beetham is the size and the cladding. No i wouldnt want Beetham in Cardiff - i would want a building that tall (maybe a bit shorter as Cardiff is smaller) and would be happy with the cladding (our new library is going to have similar cladding), but definately not that design.

even people from Manchester say the best thing about Beetham is the size and the cladding. No i wouldnt want Beetham in Cardiff - i would want a building that tall (maybe a bit shorter as Cardiff is smaller) and would be happy with the cladding (our new library is going to have similar cladding), but definately not that design.

Exactly when did you visit?

What? says you, from Birmingham?

Hey, Van Heckler's right. Brum might have its fair share of shit tower blocks but at least its not dull. God gave Manchester Boxes. God gave Birmingham colour ... (and boxes) ;)

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

...and ambition. :yes:

^^ :lol:

and dellusion...:)

Don't kid yourself mate. Birimingham's probably got the least amount of ambition of all the uk's largest cities. I'll post this again, from Twiz

Originally Posted by twiz

Birmingham forumers seem to be getting so pro-birmingham they're delusional. Birmingham's quality of architecture is quite clearly not coming close to Liverpool's, and I dont mean towers vs towers I mean overall, streetscapes, new architecture and old architecture - Liverpool wins. And saying brums is the best beetham is madness, I know its subjective but come on! The best is between manc and liverpool west. Personally I prefer liverpool's but I won't lie - it's close. I saw the manc one just before x-mas and was impressed by the size of it (I saw it from the back and with the blade it was just one massive wall!), it looks classy aswell. So I'd say, and think most people would agree that it's 1. liverpool west/manc, 3. brum, 4. liverpool one.

Architecture in Birmingham at the moment isn't exactly groundbraking is it? Birmingham's doing what i think it's always done (?), heavily styled (styled to now), large schemey projects. I don't like this mentality that it's some sort of haven for thoughtful, ambitious design, and certainly Erebus has portrayed this - having 'Birmingham - putting thought into highrise' in his signature and this comment just now. Cities like Liverpool and Manchester are creating timeless buildings, creating thoughtful responses to each unique context. Birmingham's context and environment, imho, isn't exactly sensitive, i see it as abit of a toy shop of design due to this schemey design ethic handed down from the 60's. So whilst you can harp on about variety in colour and shape, i'd argue that in 20 years - they'll all look fucking shit. But hey, that's birmingham.

(with the exception of those snow hill towers, which are alright.)

If one thing's aged and got boring already its your ridiculous comments. Blah Blah Blah ...

Whatever will he say next.

^^ Well actually I think it's got quite alot logic to it. Who's gonna agree with me. Or at least acknowledge some of the ideas??

If one thing's aged and got boring already its your ridiculous comments.
Really? How about Brum forumers banging on constantly about how fantastic their skyline is, even though its a complete pile of shite. Ever since I joined this forum, Brummies have been wandering around talking about how their skyline is better than everybody elses, and how it always will be because of a load of projects in the pipeline, none of which seem to come to fruitition. Lets face it, there is such a pathetically small amount of construction in the so called 'Second City' that Brummie forumers have got fuck all else to talk about.

Woahh, just because the new series of Shameless has come back doesnt mean we all need to start swearing like hard ass jippos do we?

Brum has plenty going on. Never you worry.

lol we should do a Brum/Manc meet up sometime? Or at least a city swap, as I can't imagine many are too familiar with the other's city. What say?

That sounds like it might be fun or it could turn into a mass brawl.

Woahh, just because the new series of Shameless has come back doesnt mean we all need to start swearing like Lard ass Hippos do we?

Brum has plenty going on. Never you worry.

Such as?

What's going up now? I can only think of Peat House, Orion 2 and the new Brindley Place building that are definatly doing something, and they're all less that 80 Meters. Of the possible tall lot, Broad Street, the Pinical, Snow Hill, possibly even the cube, may not even start this year.

Opal Court looks half decent, Post & Mail is to shabby either, Rotunda's got a nice refurb going as had Brindley House. However, I was talking in general. Low rise Brum is making huge strides.

Of the tall stuff, no you're quite right. None are rising at the moment but Snow Hill has a developer and work commences in Spring. The Pinnacle is never far off, already developing thier website for launch and BST just needs the go! go! Dont see anything really significant rising in Manchester do you?

^^ Well actually I think it's got quite alot logic to it. Who's gonna agree with me. Or at least acknowledge some of the ideas??

I'd agree, there seems to be no bother about sensitivity there and that a building could be designed and then a location chosen, other cities really wouldn't get away with that.

^^ Well actually I think it's got quite alot logic to it.

SimLim's posts are just as logical, a prime example is this reply to your post:
If one thing's aged and got boring already its your ridiculous comments. Blah Blah Blah ...

Whatever will he say next.

Touché.

Is this the manc gay-a-thon! Bloody hell, Kiss each others backsides much more and your fuse into one giant ass!

I need a drink.

Touche.

Really? How about Brum forumers banging on constantly about how fantastic their skyline is, even though its a complete pile of shite. Ever since I joined this forum, Brummies have been wandering around talking about how their skyline is better than everybody elses, and how it always will be because of a load of projects in the pipeline, none of which seem to come to fruitition. Lets face it, there is such a pathetically small amount of construction in the so called 'Second City' that Brummie forumers have got fuck all else to talk about.

Hey guy's lets listen to the kid from a small northern town who earns minmum wage in a crap clothes shop. His opinion must be based on something??


Oh hang on maybe not eh??

Accura, untill you vist brum, shut the hell up!

As for kids in the riot

That last picture backs up the old saying "its grim up north".

Really? How about Brum forumers banging on constantly about how fantastic their skyline is, even though its a complete pile of shite. Ever since I joined this forum, Brummies have been wandering around talking about how their skyline is better than everybody elses, and how it always will be because of a load of projects in the pipeline, none of which seem to come to fruitition. Lets face it, there is such a pathetically small amount of construction in the so called 'Second City' that Brummie forumers have got fuck all else to talk about.

That's because British skylines are shit. It doesn't take much to be top fo the heap.

And drop the 'so called'. We are the Second City.

And finally - the ones we talk about DO come to fruition. The only one you can hold us to is Arena Central and that will happen.

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m30/chansau/Salford%20Quays/DSC01946.jpg

One day they'll join.

Well, I like that pic :)

Manchester, you say your buildings are timeless however 40 years after construction, you're recladding and refurbing City Tower and CIS Tower. They were, and essentially still are, heaps of shite though they have improved.

Manchester has no skyline to talk of. Ever since Beetham popped up in your city, you've spouting shite pretending that you finally have a skyline. Them three towers are too spread out to even classify as a skyline.

Liverpool. I got nothing against Liverpool. They know where they want to go and they do have ambition but in size. It is just too small. You can walk from one side of the skyline to the other in under 15 minutes.

But Birmingham takes chances. Even 40 years ago with Rotunda, that was taking a huge risk. It actually failed as an office tower but 40 years on, its Grade II listed, a landmark and now being converted into apartments which were all sold in 3 hours. Selfridges was another risk and this time it has paid off. It is another landmark and nationally recognised - it is the 3rd most photographed landmark in the country for heavens sake! The Cube is a risk as is unlike most things ever seen before. The Digbeth Coach Station is a risk because you dont get building like that sprouting all over the place. Arena Central will be a risk because it is going to be one of the most unique skyscrapers in Britain behind the gherkin. So excuse me Manchester, go take your uninspiring Kelloggs box and shove it where the Sun don't shine because it is not doing anything to help you in your argument.

You could say the start of the liverpool skyline is alexandra tower and the end is the anglican cathedral - you would struggle to walk between them in under 15 minutes. And the fact that the skyline ends where it does doesn't mean the city ends, there is potential to expand at either end, and that potential is being realised now and in the future with towers going up around kings dock and sefton street in the south and a massive plan for central docks further north past alex tower.

Every city has potential. I can see that. Manchester is realising it, Liverpool is realising it and so is Birmingham. The removal of the inner ring road in Birmingham which effectively strangled development in the city has prompted massive expansion plans now.

The 15 minutes it took me was from one side of the cluster which is always photographed and placed on here. You'll be hard fetched to walk Birmingham's skyline in 15 minutes as well. Especially in the future :nuts:.

If anyone can walk two miles in 15 minutes Seb Coe should have a look.

Well you always say brums skyline is 2 miles long, the distance from alex tower to the cathedral is about 1.7 miles (I searched and it said 1.8 miles, but thats with roads not just a straight line distance). Not much difference, and when I say future I dont mean 5+ years, I mean this year, already 2 approved towers to expand the skyline southwards and king eddie soon to be submitted to expand north.

Van did this a few weeks back. Did'nt think Liverpool was that long. :dunno: This is'nt the complete skyline by the way. Just reaches Colmore.

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j129/van_heckler/mmmmm.gif

Route summary
Start: L1 7BT
End: L3 1QW

* Total distance: 1.8 mi
* Estimated time: 6 Minutes

I couldn't find a postcode for alex tower so thats from the Liver building pretty much.

http://www.talkdesign.net/distance.JPG

I know that route is longer than the actual distance but the distance between alex and the liver building makes up for that and then some.

http://www.talkdesign.net/distance2.JPG

I think people underestimate liverpool's size because the angle from seacombe where most shots are from makes it look small, remember the city was built for 850,000 people.

Compare the potential Liverpool banner...

http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/8409/skylineau8.jpg


to todays banner of Shanghai....

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/images/headers/13.jpg

Just goes to show that when it comes toskyline pics, heights of buildings are all relative. If you look at that weird globe topped building in the Shanghai pic, thats probably the equivalent of the Radisson hotel Liverpool - only about 5 times taller!

Opal Court looks half decent, Post & Mail is to shabby either, Rotunda's got a nice refurb going as had Brindley House. However, I was talking in general. Low rise Brum is making huge strides.

Of the tall stuff, no you're quite right. None are rising at the moment but Snow Hill has a developer and work commences in Spring. The Pinnacle is never far off, already developing thier website for launch and BST just needs the go! go! Dont see anything really significant rising in Manchester do you?

Chapel Wharf 125m. Clearence work has commenced :cheers:

Greengate 150m ish. BIG hole in the ground at the mo, so anything can happen

Eastgate 188m. Demolition/Ground works underway in feb!

Nothing significant really:)

Route summary
Start: L1 7BT
End: L3 1QW

* Total distance: 1.8 mi
* Estimated time: 6 Minutes

I couldn't find a postcode for alex tower so thats from the Liver building pretty much.

http://www.talkdesign.net/distance.JPG

I know that route is longer than the actual distance but the distance between alex and the liver building makes up for that and then some.

http://www.talkdesign.net/distance2.JPG

I think people underestimate liverpool's size because the angle from seacombe where most shots are from makes it look small, remember the city was built for 850,000 people.

I love your photoshop work twiz :cheers:

lol, MS Paint > Photoshop. I'm actually sitting on my computer at work with photoshop open but still chose ms paint!

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/5197/plot3avc1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Latest image for plot 3a Princes dock,hopefully if approved it will sit between the 2 Beethams on this skyline shot.

http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/8409/skylineau8.jpg

wow

It's not approved yet but that would be some shot in the future with the proposed king eddies tower to the left.

Liverpool. I got nothing against Liverpool. They know where they want to go and they do have ambition but in size. It is just too small. You can walk from one side of the skyline to the other in under 15 minutes.


It's about two miles between Old Hall Street and the cathedral. The fucking Flash couldn't walk that in 15 minutes.

Van did this a few weeks back. Did'nt think Liverpool was that long. :dunno: This is'nt the complete skyline by the way. Just reaches Colmore.

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j129/van_heckler/mmmmm.gif

Why are you comparing a tiny portion of London's skyline with practically the whole of Birmingham's ?

I didnt really understand the point of that either lol.

Umm, incase you havent read it properly, it's the City of London. And also, that is not the whole of Birmingham's skyline.

Umm, incase you havent read it properly, it's the City of London. And also, that is not the whole of Birmingham's skyline.

The City of London is a part of London. What's missing from that Birmingham skyline then, Coventry Cathedral ?

Some council estates no doubt. We know it's the city of London, but why compare them?

Some council estates no doubt. We know it's the city of London, but why compare them?

Who's actually comparing them? 2 skyline shots, 2 Google Earth screen shots, lined up next to each other, no evaluation, no conclusion, no comparison.

As for the council estate point... no.The furthest tower on the skyline to the right is Lyndon House, whilst furthest to the left is Colmore Plaza, both office buildings. I could have quite easily have included the Aston Uni blocks, you can even see 1 of them on the very far left, but I didn't.

Well, I like that pic :)

At first sight I thought that was Leeds. Looking to the centre I see an almost exact clone of West Central (West Point).

I think the comparison was because London doesn't have a particular skyline (not that many talls for a world/capital city) - it has a cluster at the City and another in Docklands. That's all.

Anyway, I think Shanghai's skyline looks silly - like a comicbook. Hong Kong's is much nicer :)

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/5197/plot3avc1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Latest image for plot 3a Princes dock,hopefully if approved it will sit between the 2 Beethams on this skyline shot.

http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/8409/skylineau8.jpg

Wow!!

Now were talkin! Few more like this and yes, you will have a superb skyline.

lol, what do you mean will have superb skyline we already do, any buildings like this are now just making it better

Sure :). I say get rid of the building in the banner which is between the two Beethams (the long one) and everything in the centre of the pic (Sandcastle, Unity and Radiocity to name a few) and then you'll be well on your way to that superb skyline :).

Dont see anything really significant rising in Manchester do you?

Ummm... there are 2 towers with work on site that are both taller than anything (except BT) in Birmingham! Not to mention about half a dozen other buildings over 20 storeys. Not to mention lowrise development.

Sure :). I say get rid of the building in the banner which is between the two Beethams (the long one) and everything in the centre of the pic (Sandcastle, Unity and Radiocity to name a few) and then you'll be well on your way to that superb skyline :).

Nah. I wouldn't wanna knock down unity. You might not like it, but it inspire's debate. And I like Radiocity. You can get rid of the other two though.

I don't see why people complian about Liverpools skyline being small. Atleast it looks nice. (Although Birmingham's is definately more skyline like).

Both Liverpool and Birmingham have a better skyline than Manchester at the moment, I'm sure most of us would agree right?

Liverpool has the best big city skyline skyline outside London period. Too many big bad buildings to say Birmingham has a particularly striking skyline and Manchester is the same but without the council blocks in the centre.

If you were actually in Birmingham city centre, you'd actually have a tough time trying to find a council block in the city centre. If you were in Manchester city centre, you'd have a tough time seeing anything tall unless you were right beneath it.

If you were in Manchester city centre, you'd have a tough time seeing anything tall unless you were right beneath it.

Thats because its better developed than Birmingham. The street scape is good and solid so you tend to only see the facades of the street facing buildings. If Brum had Manchester's quality streetscape, it would be the same. But instead its full of open, hostile spaces. But what goods a skyline when your in the city centre anyway?

Um, when did you last visit? Open spaces are better than being shoved it a narrow tunnel and being packed like sardines.

Um, when did you last visit?
I've been on this forum a fair bit now, and thanks to birminghamculture/simlim's endless posting of pics from **************************, I feel I know Birmingham city centre quite well now.

Open spaces are better than being shoved it a narrow tunnel and being packed like sardines.
Interesting comment. Open spaces are good if they are friendly to the public. I'm talking open spaces which are very pedestrian unfriendly like wasteland on the edge of the city centre (being addressed by Eastside to some extent which is creating a proper streetscape and friendly public spaces) or wide elevated dual carriageways cutting through the city centre.

Eastside is beginning construction. How on Earth can you consider that public open space?! Half of it is a bloody temporary car park and the rest is wasteland/ workshops or a construction site (yes construction!! It's begun on Curzon Gate).

Oh and with the dual carriageways, they really do not seem to cause much hinderance to the flow of pedestrians. That's usually because you can walk underneath them without feeling like you're in a dungeon or you can walk across them in the knowledge you won't be mowed down by some numb headed Gallagher. The last time there was a problem with dual carriageways in Brum was back in 1999 when the inner ring road was still open.

And I really dont see how you can get an impression from just pictures... The pictures that I see of Liverpool are different to how when I went there. Same for Manchester-ish. I sort of found that with Manchester, what you see is what you get.

I think Birmingham's quite decent on the open/public space side of things.

Eastside is beginning construction. How on Earth can you consider that public open space?! Half of it is a bloody temporary car park and the rest is wasteland/ workshops or a construction site (yes construction!! It's begun on Curzon Gate).
Yes, I was pointing out that Eastside was one of those hostile open areas that I was talking about and its one of the areas where the problem is being addressed! :ohno:

Oh and with the dual carriageways, they really do not seem to cause much hinderance to the flow of pedestrians. That's usually because you can walk underneath them without feeling like you're in a dungeon or you can walk across them in the knowledge you won't be mowed down by some numb headed Gallagher. The last time there was a problem with dual carriageways in Brum was back in 1999 when the inner ring road was still open.
Oh come on... a dual carrigeway with 'safe' but crime-ridden subways going underneath them hardly compares to a naturally developed streetscape. And they do harm the urban fabric and open a hole enabling pedestrians to see towers better. They can see the towers, good yes? No! It doesnt change the fact that they are next to a pedestrian unfriendly dual carriageway. Yes, the inner-ringroad may have all but gone, but dual carriageways still remain and still have a very prominant role in Brum's urbanity. There is too an example in Manchester! Take the Mancunian Way. At its base is a large amount of wasteland, car parks, and space that is very pedestrian unfriendly. However, because its not a properly developed streetscape (yet), you can see lots of Manc towers.

And I really dont see how you can get an impression from just pictures... The pictures that I see of Liverpool are different to how when I went there. Same for Manchester-ish. I sort of found that with Manchester, what you see is what you get.
True, but you just have to compare pictures of streetscapes in Brum with those pics from Manc. That way you get an unbiased if a little unfulfilled perspective of both cities.

Misread the Eastside part :nuts:. You'll find that the subways really don't exist around Birmingham anymore. Masshouse was the worst and thats been broken up. St Chads Circus is in for the same fate - well it has already started. In the cases such as Suffolk Queensway, there is a wide open underpass which is pretty short any way. That isn't crime-ridden at all (unless someone's darting it from the Mailbox to the Orion Building).

Fair enough, but what did you mean when you said that people could go under the roads? Is it just other roads going under bridges?

No, they are pedestrianised. I think you can drive under a couple. But Suffolk Queensway has two underpasses - one you can walk and driver under and the other you can only walk under - but then you go straight into an underground shopping centre thing which should see the light of day with the Paradise Circus development :).

I've been on this forum a fair bit now, and thanks to birminghamculture/simlim's endless posting of pics from **************************, I feel I know Birmingham city centre quite well now.

You think you know a city centre quite well from photo's???? Well, if it's as simple as that I might as well cancel the trip round the world, eh? What's the point??? Get on the net, look at photo's - I'm sure I'll get a real feel for Bogata!!!

Yet again Accura, blinding me with your stupidity.

Eastside is beginning construction. How on Earth can you consider that public open space?! Half of it is a bloody temporary car park and the rest is wasteland/ workshops or a construction site (yes construction!! It's begun on Curzon Gate).

^^ It's quite clear to me that Birmingham is quite 'open' mainly because of these large, schemey projects and the wide roads that cut through the city.

http://gallery.virtualbrum.co.uk/albums/aerial/birmingham_centre_aerial.jpg

Whilst Manchester's denser city (centre).

I can only see one dual C on that picture and not that much wasteland.

If you were actually in Birmingham city centre, you'd actually have a tough time trying to find a council block in the city centre. If you were in Manchester city centre, you'd have a tough time seeing anything tall unless you were right beneath it.

Whose saying tall makes a great skyline. There is nothing in Manchester and Birmingham that can be classified as tall, in the leage of tall buildings, both cities occupy the Nationwide Conference.

As for council blocks, I take it this is not Birmingham city centre.

http://www.webbaviation.co.uk/birmingham/bmd13.jpg

They're err, on the edge of it!

Well, almost....

At least you didn't put a picture of Stephson Tower, now that really is a shocker!

They're err, on the edge of it!

Well, almost....

At least you didn't put a picture of Stephson Tower, now that really is a shocker!

Must be a small city centre then.

Actually you can just see Stephenson Tower on that picture, looming just behind SR's favourite building. As for the Sentinels, I'm not a fan of the design but for their size they are impressive and if they were turned into trendy apartments (it can be done!) then I would certainly contemplate buying one (if I had the money of course).

What's with some of these Manc forumers? They seem to try and find the shittest photo's they can of Brum when trying to prove their points. If they can't find a photo with a grey sky, they find one which is 4 or 5 years out of date. It wouldn't be half as bad if they actually took the photo's themselves. It's worrying I tell you.

Sorry if my posts yesterday were a bit difficult to understand - I was drinking a bit. But they look fine to me anyway. I think the Future Skyline thread needs resurrecting because alot of discussion is actually about future projects.

What's with some of these Manc forumers? They seem to try and find the shittest photo's they can of Brum when trying to prove their points. If they can't find a photo with a grey sky, they find one which is 4 or 5 years out of date. It wouldn't be half as bad if they actually took the photo's themselves. It's worrying I tell you.

Silly tit for tat ,some Brummies where posting unflattering pics of Manc too and calling it Nairobi or some third world African city if I remember.

What's with some of these Manc forumers? They seem to try and find the shittest photo's they can of Brum when trying to prove their points. If they can't find a photo with a grey sky, they find one which is 4 or 5 years out of date. It wouldn't be half as bad if they actually took the photo's themselves. It's worrying I tell you.

Another thing i hate about these threads. Do you actually think i give two shits about what people think of Birmingham? Do you honestly think it's my agenda - and would out of my way to make Brum look shit? :ohno:

Silly tit for tat ,some Brummies where posting unflattering pics of Manc too and calling it Nairobi or some third world African city if I remember.

And no, i didn't choose that picture to get back at someone, i posted it because when i did my search it appeared and i thought it illustrated the point well. This is like how when i found the picture of the pinnacle (the old one) and people accused me of doing it on purpose.

If you don't like the answer, van, why not prove me wrong, if i'm wrong then you won't have a problem will you? illustrate it maybe, discuss it maybe. Rather than accusing me of propoganda so it can descend back into a bitch fest.

So, what's with you?

Ooooooooooo. Bitchy :hahano:

WOW!
I never knew that the other Matalan in Brum was so good! It puts the crappy burnt down one to shame!
http://www.churstonheard.co.uk/investment/dartmouthcircus/photos/birmingham_IMG_7687.jpg

http://www.churstonheard.co.uk/investment/dartmouthcircus/photos/birmingham_IMG_7778.jpg

Oh God. I got my mom's Christmas present from there. It's actually rather cheap - quality? Well I'll have to wait and see.

Oh and if you wanna have a go at dual carriageways or whatever over that pic - that's because you go striaight onto the Aston Expressway there :).

Oh God. I got my mom's Christmas present from there. It's actually rather cheap - quality? Well I'll have to wait and see.

Oh and if you wanna have a go at dual carriageways or whatever over that pic - that's because you go striaight onto the Aston Expressway there :).

ITS MUM NOT MOM :bash:

Gawwd.

:ohno: We came to a logical conclusion about this in the skybar - it is mom and that's how us Brummies say it anyway. Get used to it. Gawwd! :happy:

Depends how American you want to be I suppose, personally I prefer mum because I'm British.

Mom is American English, Mum is English English. You cant say mom in the UK, its incorrect- regardless of how you pronounce it yourself.

Depends how American you want to be I suppose, personally I prefer mum because I'm British.

It's nothing about personal choice :).

We've had this argument before and we came to the conclusion that saying Mom was a West Midlands thing.

I cant imagine it being pronounced with an english accent - seems very wrong.

I can imagine someone with a Yorkshire accent saying it, but Brummie?!

Round here, if you talk to your mother, you call her mum, but if you refer to her, you call her mam. For example:

Can I have a custard cream, mum?

Me mam's banned me from custard creams.

Oh, and dad's always say, "ask yer mam."

It's mum, mam or ma if your city is influenced by paddies :D

mam!? Thats Irish; its mum and thats it here. Mum for everything. Not even my american friend says mom (well he used to, but his dialect is changing now)

How about "Mater"? Anybody use "Mater and Pater"?

Scroll >>

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/29/357243943_210b300f9f_o.jpg

Bloody Hell - WTF, OMG, etc! What are you lot on?

For the best urban composition (seeing as council blocks and soviet workhouses seem to count for you all) then the skyline of Glasgow as you approach the main station is the most intense experience in the UK... then you go walking round town and it is grand.

Liverpool's is by far the prettiest of those cities that have a commercial ambition (i.e not Oxford and those boring cathedral towns)

Brums provides the best long distance skyline

I think Manc has the best urban form... though Liverpool is quick catching up after leaving all those bomb sites and half done/half baked 60s' schemes that where compounded so wonderfully by 20odd years of deriliction.



Bristol's great too!

:laugh:

Blessed are the peacemakers!

personally i think this is a recognisable (if sparse) skyline :)
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b353/sanstiss/gn28-12-2005.jpg

cardiff, its getting right boring now.

Bloody Hell - WTF, OMG, etc! What are you lot on?

For the best urban composition (seeing as council blocks and soviet workhouses seem to count for you all) then the skyline of Glasgow as you approach the main station is the most intense experience in the UK... then you go walking round town and it is grand.

Liverpool's is by far the prettiest of those cities that have a commercial ambition (i.e not Oxford and those boring cathedral towns)

Brums provides the best long distance skyline

I think Manc has the best urban form... though Liverpool is quick catching up after leaving all those bomb sites and half done/half baked 60s' schemes that where compounded so wonderfully by 20odd years of deriliction.



Bristol's great too!

Yeah i really like Bristol and Newcastle ,, i cant undestand why these 2 cities dont have there own forum on here ,, there much better cities than Sheffield ,, and im not having a go at Sheffield by the way :)
Liverpool as really impressed me over the last few years , i keep on saying i need to pop over for a nosey ,, but never get round to it .

You should do highriser. Outsiders get a different perspective on the city (not knowing where all the crap lies just around the corner) - everyone I have ever taken downtown is gobsmacked.

Yeah i really like Bristol and Newcastle ,, i cant undestand why these 2 cities dont have there own forum on here ,, there much better cities than Sheffield ,, and im not having a go at Sheffield by the way :)
Liverpool as really impressed me over the last few years , i keep on saying i need to pop over for a nosey ,, but never get round to it .

Because there's nowhere near enough projects in these cities to justify one; rather than whether theyre good cities or not.

Leeds only got a forum in 2004, Glasgow and Sheffield last year.

Yeah i really like Bristol and Newcastle ,, i cant undestand why these 2 cities dont have there own forum on here ,, there much better cities than Sheffield ,, and im not having a go at Sheffield by the way :)
Liverpool as really impressed me over the last few years , i keep on saying i need to pop over for a nosey ,, but never get round to it .

Bristol and Newcastle don't have their own forums 'cause they don't have enough people posting on their current pages.

What is it that you don't like so much about Sheffield? (I wont try and change your mind on it, don't worry. Just wondering).

Damn. Leed's No.1 beat me :-P. It's not just the number of projects. It's the number of posters too.

Bristol and Newcastle don't have their own forums 'cause they don't have enough people posting on their current pages.

What is it that you don't like so much about Sheffield? (I wont try and change your mind on it, don't worry. Just wondering).

I dont dislike Sheffield Paul , ive had some great times there ,, i lived there for 18 months , unhappy time of my life but nothing to do with the place .

Your probably right that Newcastle and Bristol do have a forum cos of lack of posters ,

Take Citylofts out of the equation and there's probably the same amout of regeneration and constuction as say Bolton.
I found Sheffield very small town ,,, its just my opinion Paul please dont take offence :)

I dont dislike Sheffield Paul , ive had some great times there ,, i lived there for 18 months , unhappy time of my life but nothing to do with the place .

Your probably right that Newcastle and Bristol do have a forum cos of lack of posters ,

Take Citylofts out of the equation and there's probably the same amout of regeneration and constuction as say Bolton.
I found Sheffield very small town ,,, its just my opinion Paul please dont take offence :)

None taken. I can understand what you mean about the small townness, but I think your underestimating the amount of regeneration taking place (unless i'm underestimating the amount taking place in Bolton :tongue2: ). Anywho, I said I would bother trying to change your mind, so I'll shut up now.

cardiff, its getting right boring now.

Why? Because he is diverting attention away from that place that is the centre of our known Universe, otherwise known as Manchester??!! It's refreshing to have another city aired on these forums that doesn't involve Northern folk extolling the virtues of Manchester, which for the 59,602,000 people that live outside Manchester in the UK is quite honestly a breath of fresh air!

Yeah lets see some non Manchester or Liverpool skyline shots on here. Also I feel like I've seen enough of Cardiff for a while, lets see somewhere else.

^^ yep and less of the birmingham ones too :P

Nah Birmingham is allowed cos it has the best

Yeah lets see some non Manchester or Liverpool skyline shots on here. Also I feel like I've seen enough of Cardiff for a while, lets see somewhere else.

The present present skyline, Liverpool is hardly ever showcased on this thread, yet Manchester and Birmingham (the clones) seem to be on every page.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/145/357367881_cd4f29d392_o.jpg

What's the thing on the right that look like a plainer Glasgow University, but probably not as a good close up!

I think it is Highcroft Hall in Erdington - former loony bin now apartments :)

There's something like that happening in Leeds. Former mental institute called High Royds is being redeveloped into apartments. I really can't see who would want to live there though... the thought of its past would haunt the inhabitants surely?

Subliving.

There's something like that happening in Leeds. Former mental institute called High Royds is being redeveloped into apartments. I really can't see who would want to live there though... the thought of its past would haunt the inhabitants surely?

Subliving.

They must be mad. :lol:

^^ :lol:

Subliving.

I work (sometimes) in a new office in Cheadle, there's what I think was a old Mental hospital, it's a great big Victorian Building, glad to see them back in use.

Is Rubery in south West Birmingham converted, or did they just knock it down? Tower's still there isn't it?

Drifting off subject there...

Smileyface posted a selection of Birmingham skyline photo's earlier on the West Midlands Tower Blocks 2 (http://skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=242771&page=34) thread.

This one's probably the best as it shows most of the skyline.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%204/BhamNightSkyline191200718.jpg

Birminghams 5 tallest high rise buildings...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%204/BhamNightSkyline191200729.jpg

:happy:

You forgot to post this one VH:bash:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%204/BhamNightSkyline191200710.jpg

There superb Smiley. :applause:

[QUOTE=van heckler;11380891]Smileyface posted a selection of Birmingham skyline photo's earlier on the West Midlands Tower Blocks 2 (http://skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=242771&page=34) thread.

This one's probably the best as it shows most of the skyline.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%204/BhamNightSkyline191200718.jpg

That is pretty impressive.

Smileyface :) :cheers:

Nightime

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%204/BhamNightSkyline191200718.jpg

Daytime

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/183/362868655_70ee2c2ea5_b.jpg

City to City

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/117/362868648_ece039e9e6_o.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Tower%20Blocks%204/BhamNightSkyline191200718.jpg

So, what do we win? :colgate:

SO when does the Present become the Future?

Should we lock this and start again?

WOW excellent pics there! one last pic of Cardiff to contrast those above (and i dont see anyone else posting other cities skylines, like Sheffield Glasgow etc.)

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a102/susananstiss/bay2.jpg

WOW excellent pics there! one last pic of Cardiff to contrast those above (and i dont see anyone else posting other cities skylines, like Sheffield Glasgow etc.)

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a102/susananstiss/bay2.jpg

LOL

I personally think its got a huge amount of potential.

The waterfront certainly does have a lot of potential :yes:. But currently, it's very weak on the skyline front.

It is recognisable though.

if its recognisable then you are half way there hey? :)

Cardiff's waterfront skyline will become one of the most recognisable in the UK in my opinion. In addition to getting some pretty tall towers there will be quite a unique collection of architecture. It won't be as tall as the biggest cities but it'll definately be recognisable. Since this is meant to be about present skylines I've also got some new Cardiff skyline panoramas I intend to put on the net, I'll post them here when I get around to it.

From Flickr:

SHEFFIELD

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/41/76300508_e317ded464.jpg?v=0

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/52/139165770_c3563dfa91.jpg?v=0

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/133/321633180_d868865134.jpg?v=0

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/123/344422866_9f0e511cf4_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/49/136352959_70b0f01e4b_b.jpg

I work (sometimes) in a new office in Cheadle, there's what I think was a old Mental hospital, it's a great big Victorian Building, glad to see them back in use.

Is Rubery in south West Birmingham converted, or did they just knock it down? Tower's still there isn't it?

Drifting off subject there...

Yep. Hollymoor Hospital is another one. Monyhull Hall Hospital in Kings Heath (?) also is.

thanks for the sheffield pics, any of Bristol Glasgow?

Heres one of Portsmouth - again not great but the setting is good, while missing the new east side Plazza tower which will finnish soon hopefully, and will cause the development of new scrapers



http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a102/susananstiss/untitled.jpg

^^That's a very atmospheric pic :)

Would've been better without Peter Crouch in the distance. ;)

Would've been better without Peter Crouch in the distance. ;)

:lol:

I'd never make stupid claims about it being the best, but I think people underrate Cardiff's skyline. I think this panorama that I took proves that it isn't so bad (sorry about the size by the way):
http://skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/859CardiffSkylinePanorama_pic1.jpg

That's just the city centre by the way.

bootle has got a better skyline than cardiff :nuts:

it has potential though

I like it, The Millenium Stadium is bloody massive isn't it?

Am I right in thinking Cardiff's skyline is well away from the waterfront?

If Cardiff manages to get a collection of relatively low iconic buildings on the waterfront, maybe with an observation tower and a marina, and then taller buildings back at the city core, we could have Britain's first dual-skyline.

I think I will call it a di-line :) (or should that be Dai-line ;) )

lol, yes, Cardiff's city centre is about half a mile back from it's waterfront as can be seen on this older panorama I took about two and a half years ago.

http://skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/733CardiffSkylinefromPenarth_pic1.jpg
Andrew Shaw www.skyscrapernews.com

As for taller buildings in the centre and shorter buildings on the waterfront, well that's the case at the moment but it won't be for long as the tallest buildings in the city will be going on the large brownfield site in the foreground on this pano. There'll be around 7 towers on that site ranging from 19 to 39 floors. The tallest building that's likely to be built in the city centre any time soon will be 32 floors.

Cardiffs skyline is probably unique in not having really ugly buildings - most have been refurbed with some modern additions. There are only two concrete buildings - capital (which has a nice slender shape making it look taller than it is, and Brunel house which although not beautiful has a funky (if in need of replacing) glass fecade and also is not surrounded by other buildings so you can apreciate it.

that red brick thing in the middle of all that new development is a pig - extremely provincial and should have been dropped!

There was a great skyline shot of Cardiff in the 'Coast' programme.... bags of potential as well.

The red brick building is the Marriot Hotel(not that tall really), i was hoping they would refurbish the outside or replace it as part of the development in that area - but i wouldnt say it was that bad, or provincial. I think your skyline is on its way when you get pics like this of Stadium house

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a102/susananstiss/333749994_f1886cb8fa_b.jpg

oh and Cardiff has a marina at Penarth (next to the new international sports village convieniently).

Now I'm not saying these are contenders for the best but these are some skylines from different parts of Telford. Now remember its just a medium sized town in between Birmingham and Wales

Telford Plaza 1 and 2
http://img118.imageshack.us/img118/9287/18tpict00215kw.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Darby House
http://img118.imageshack.us/img118/1616/18tpict00230he.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The Cooling Tower of Ironbridge Power Station
http://img118.imageshack.us/img118/5133/263970294443d71e9c06dx.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The Wrekin over Wellington
http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/3482/288280242f8c81283e08eo.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Don't laugh and by the way, not my pictures.

talkign about other places than the big cities, I was quite impressed by Preston's skyline.

talkign about other places than the big cities, I was quite impressed by Preston's skyline.

:dance:

Here's one of Bootle for 1878 EFC:
http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/7684/bootle113pc.jpg

Hmm.

Hmmm.

Hmmmmm.

I think 1878EFC and I should have a long chat about what constitutes a 'better' skyline. :nuts:

It has potential, though ;)

Fuck off you! When Cardiff can get two world famous cathedrals and several buildings 80m+ in one shot, then you can laugh. ;)

P.S. That's Liverpool in the background. :lol:

Actually, there are quite a few offices around the 60m mark behind the Triad (big brown monster) that aren't in shot. Would've been more impressive if I'd got those in. :)

^^

I noticed. I believe that's known as 'cheating' !

talkign about other places than the big cities

Croydon is genuinely impressive too.

P.S. That's Liverpool in the background. :lol:
Placing Bootle in the foreground of a Liverpool skyline shot doesnt help Liverpool at all. In fact, I'd say it makes the best skyline on the list look like the worst one.

Nah. Just makes it look like a more impressive Preston. :)

Croydon is genuinely impressive too.

Shockingly good! :yes:

Hmm.

Hmmm.

Hmmmmm.

I think 1878EFC and I should have a long chat about what constitutes a 'better' skyline. :nuts:

It has potential, though ;)

it was a joke hence :nuts: , :)

nah at the moment its not to impressive but it WILL get better in the future. some nice buildings in cardiff looking at pics from this forum

How Manchester has 24 more votes than 0 is beyond me.

How Manchester has 24 more votes than 0 is beyond me.

Thats just a few mancs with too much civic pride. Nothing wrong with that.

Although it does seem a bit daft.

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u276/72bluebus/skyline.jpg

Courtesy of Grendel

Birmnighams tallest residential tower is effectively U/C now aswell, it just be a few more months before it starts rising out of the ground. :)

^^ Which one, sorry? Is that Broad Street Tower? :banana:

No. Snow Hill First office block is U/C. towers will have 5 basement floors, decison to be made 28/2. once approved, all phases will rise simutaneously.

site at the moment

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d58/misterFlibble1976/DSC00092-1.jpg

London blatently lol

I think you're new. :)

Wow it feels like those Snow Hill towers were only proposed yesterday! Great news if they are set to be rising high by the end of the year, I love them :)

Aye they are a pretty set!

The developers are getting this going like rabbits on viagra. The speed these are getting through the planning stages is almost breakneck. I can't wait to see St Chads and all done in 2010 with these things gleaming. Lloyd House needs a scrub now and the little plot of land between Kennedy Tower and Lloyd House needs a plug. Shame the developers don't want the design they have just got approved...

An interesting viewpoint by Cottonopolis!

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y66/cottonopolis/282579043_04cf300d9c_b.jpg

It is interesting. CJC looks terrible in that picture though, I must say. Shows a good range of architecture though.

That's why I decided I didn't like CJC, those groove things at the top, just makes it look 'orrible!

Was around/under Beecham Manchester today, looks great as a single stand alone building, although I prefer Birmingham's building, shape is more intresting, and, well I like the back, the way the Manchester tower stands alone makes it a more impressive sight. And I think the Cantalevered bit works really well.

Birmnighams tallest residential tower is effectively U/C now aswell, it just be a few more months before it starts rising out of the ground. :)

That's not quite true is it?

as it's

http://i15.tinypic.com/3zum33l.jpg
that's going there, not
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d101/Erebus555/image1.jpg

I dont think you quite understand what I was getting at nor read everything properly. Work that is commencing at the moment are ground works for the entire scheme. The pile driving is happening for the first 12 storey office block as we speak.

it just be a few more months before it starts rising out of the ground.

No. Snow Hill First office block is U/C. towers will have 5 basement floors, decison to be made 28/2. once approved, all phases will rise simutaneously.



With the site being cleared, and excavations being made. Once the towers gain approval within the next month, they will begin on the basement floors straight away. NO DEMOLISION OR HOLE DIGGING will be needed ;) AKA they have already commenced work on site or in other words ... They have begun construction.

An interesting viewpoint by Cottonopolis!

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y66/cottonopolis/282579043_04cf300d9c_b.jpg

Good pic :)

I do think the groove things would look better as one set, in the middle, going all the way up.

But that's just me :banana:

Good pic :)

I do think the groove things would look better as one set, in the middle, going all the way up.

But that's just me :banana:

They're windows them. :) But yeh, i agree with you.

Great angle of MCR there! What are the 2 buildings in between?

Leftbank apartments them msp.

Leftbank appartments, part of the spinningfiels development suppost to house office workers.

Are they built?

They were built before CJC and Beetham

Sorry Oscar9, my page uploaed 3 pages before the last for some god forsaken reason. I blame Gareth...

^^ lol ,I know some renders are lifelike but that was pushing it.

I hate em', the scar of Spinningflieds. Totally the wrong place for such a grand area of development.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/148/373652983_86c6cb93bf_b.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/134/362656798_92b0cbcbce_o.jpg

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/6181/imgp3125ce9.jpg

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/4100/imgp3134tj2.jpg

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/6007/imgp3140vk7.jpg

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/9788/imgp3147qr5.jpg

courtesy of T0M - fantastic pics and rightly promote Liverpool to neck and neck with Brum

I was in Newcastle for the first time 2day, didn't alas get much of a look around, no chance for pics, but there are some quite impressive 70s blocks there, concreate and quite hideous, but impressive never the less.

I was astonished to see at least 2 people wearing Gloves!!!!!!!!

Students or tourists no doubt.

'Best Present Skyline' .... err, let me think ...... yes, it's STILL Birmingham!!

I think Brum got the betterhand with it's Radisson SAS.

I would have loved Liverpool to have had the best Beetham structure yet to be built in our cities, but there is something very 1970's about these buildings going up in the city at the moment. The only thing I can say is, they all look uniform & perhaps in the future they will become an asset to its skyline. Out of all of our cities with a major waterfront location (canals & even Ship Canals not included here), Liverpool has the potential to be one of the most striking cities in the World, & if it wasn't for our climate, I would say Liverpool could rival Sydney in the next 30 years ..... look what happened to Glasgow after it had hosted the CoC event nearly 30 years ago!

im not going to say that Cardiff will be beter than Liverpool, but just watch out for the sports village towers, and other proposals around the bay as those combined with the watersports and other attractions will make the bay quite a dynamic place FLD :) Also Portsmouth and Brighton are surprising upstarts too, but then will any be as famous as Blackpool?

Cardiff is great, Cardiff, but there is something about Liverpool's waterfront; it's buildings, it's heritage & history .... Liverpool's city centre is virtually on the Mersey, wheras Cardiff's city centre is set back a little ... Cardiff is first class though.

yes but my point, and what i thought your point was that the skyline would be the best waterfront skyline. Cardiff will have a city skyline AND a waterfront skyline, we dont have fabulous buildings such as the Liver and its history, but there is the pierhead building and the coal history. Also blackpool tower and pleasure beach and pier, brightons' pier and waterfront. All these cities have beaches as well, on cleaner water that isnt a mudy estuary (one of the reasons Cardiff has the barrage is so we dont have mud flats and dirty looking water). But i think we can both agree that Liverpool has the best present waterfront 'skyscraper' skyline. Most internet sites say that Cardiff has the most ambitious waterfront redevelopment in Europe - this isnt to say that it is skyscraper development, but the barrage is quoted as being one of the most ambitious construction projects in Europe and along with London Docklands - one of the most succesful redevelopments. What facts and figures go behind these statements i dont know (and how you would get them), but there is also something about Cardiff's, Brightons, Portsmouths and Blackpool waterfronts, buildings and heritage also :)

I was in Cardiff last year, & the pace of change there has been phenomenal. The Cardiff Bay area is a huge asset to the city, & Cardiff needs to make the most of this.

(A couple of weeks ago, I was driving back from Lynmouth & I drove along the coast road on the edge of Exmoor, which is an absolutely beautiful drive if you haven't done it. It was a clear sunny day, & across the widest part of the Bristol channel, you could see Cardiff gleaming in the distance. I think I could even make out the Millennium Stadium, it must have been 40 miles away!)

I was in Cardiff last year, & the pace of change there has been phenomenal. The Cardiff Bay area is a huge asset to the city, & Cardiff needs to make the most of this.

(A couple of weeks ago, I was driving back from Lynmouth & I drove along the coast road on the edge of Exmoor, which is an absolutely beautiful drive if you haven't done it. It was a clear sunny day, & across the widest part of the Bristol channel, you could see Cardiff gleaming in the distance. I think I could even make out the Millennium Stadium, it must have been 40 miles away!)

It must be a tall skyline for it to stick that far above the Earth's curvature.

How far is Blackpool from Liverpool?

its possible to see those things from a distance, but a slight exageration - the distance is around 20 miles (which is still quite considerable), Cardiffs first tall building (Capital tower) was critisised because you could see it from Bristol, which is more indicative of its height in Cardiff rather than its height in Bristol.

It must be a tall skyline for it to stick that far above the Earth's curvature.

Have you been to Exmoor? It is pretty high you know! You could clearly see Cardiff, & also I could just about make out Newport to the right.

Parts of Exmoor are around 430m above sea level. Parts of the coast further north are 200m. Cardif to Exmoor is about 35 miles. Not sure why the best present skyline thread is now about Cardiff though.

Parts of Exmoor are around 430m above sea level. Parts of the coast further north are 200m. Cardif to Exmoor is about 35 miles. Not sure why the best present skyline thread is now about Cardiff though.

Yes, you could see Cardiff from the Porlock area of Exmoor. Everyone has the right to express which city they think has the best skyline, even if they ARE wrong, van!

Yes, you could see Cardiff from the Porlock area of Exmoor. Everyone has the right to express which city they think has the best skyline, even if they ARE wrong, van!

Then it has been decided. Wolverhampton has got the best present skyline.

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j129/van_heckler/Wolverhampton1.jpg

^^ :sly: I'm looking but I can't see anything...

^^ :sly: I'm looking but I can't see anything...

You've always said you've had problems with your eyes.

Do we need a more defined thread title(s)?

The highest skyline is:

London
Manchester
Liverpool (excluding Brum BT tower)
Birmingham

The Most Dense Skyline:
London
Manchester/Brum/Glasgow....far to subjective to tell apart..some very flattering shots and very unflattering shots get used.

The Best looking Skyline:

London
Edinburgh
Oxford/Durham
Liverpool


etc...maybe a more worthwhile excercise.

Me personally? I prefer to use the highest skyline as the reference, which puts the good ole North West at the top of the non-London heap.

Marvellous.

Do we need a more defined thread title(s)?

The highest skyline is:

London
Manchester
Liverpool (excluding Brum BT tower)
Birmingham



Using 1 building from each city to rank which has the higher skyline? That's about as useful as using the number of floors a building has.

Besides, you shouldn't exclude Birmingham's BT tower.

You've always said you've had problems with your eyes.

:lol: You've got me there!

Using 1 building from each city to rank which has the higher skyline? That's about as useful as using the number of floors a building has.

Besides, you shouldn't exclude Birmingham's BT tower.


True.

But then Brummies count council tower blocks...by which definition Glasgow is the most dense city outside of London and Salford is in the UK top 5

Can't have your cake and eat it. Although it appears some do.

Re using 1 building from each city.

Erm.

Manchester has 3 office/hotel/resi blocks over 100m

And if we include the BT tower in Brum then Elmley Moor and Blackpool Tower are taller and better looking so if we can't discount Brum's effort we have to rank a field in Yorkshire as one of the UK's best skylines.

It's all to woolley really.

And if we include the BT tower in Brum then Elmley Moor and Blackpool Tower are taller and better looking so if we can't discount Brum's effort we have to rank a field in Yorkshire as one of the UK's best skylines.


Only if we use your stupid way of using just one building from each city.

Your way would put Taipei infront of New York. :nuts:

Only if we use your stupid way of using just one building from each city.

Your way would put Taipei infront of New York. :nuts:



Brum's skyline is a mass of buildings of similar height, not the most pleasing on the eye.

Love'em or hate em but our toilet block, Thunderbirds City Tower, Solar panel clad CIS and the looming Beetham are FAR more interesting then any Brum offering.

It's all about opinions though dear boy!

I like the density ofthe Birmingham skyline in close up photos but it looks too flat and boring from a more distant perspective.

i was wondering, it would be interesting if every1 from those cities could post ONE single photo of their citie's skyline(which in their opinion is the best pic) to show what it has to offer, in single shot.

Fly you're hilarious :lol:

If you want height then surely Birmingham wins as the BT tower stands 286m AOD

I like the density ofthe Birmingham skyline in close up photos but it looks too flat and boring from a more distant perspective.

Boring. Its the most colourful skyline in the UK. Its a huge mumble jumble. So much to look at. :nuts:

i was wondering, it would be interesting if every1 from those cities could post ONE single photo of their citie's skyline(which in their opinion is the best pic) to show what it has to offer, in single shot.

Sounds like a good idea to me.

Salford Quays has had a proposal for it's 14th tower over 18 storeys put to planning.

We Currently have:-

NV Building 1 (18 Storeys - Completed)
NV Building 2 (18 Storeys - Completed)
NV Building 3 (18 Storeys - Completed)

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m30/chansau/Salford%20Quays/DSC01918.jpg
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f85/garybaldy/edge2copy.jpg


Imperial Point (18 Storeys - Completed)

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/8378/imperialpoint15wz.jpg


Sovereign Point (20 Storeys - Completed)

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/204SovereignPoint_pic23.jpg
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/204SovereignPoint_pic26.jpg


Citylofts Tower (20 Storeys - Externally Complete)

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/984CityLoftsTower_pic1.jpg
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m30/chansau/Salford%20Quays/DSC01916.jpg

Erie Basin Tower (22 Storeys - Under Contruction)

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/628ErieBasinTower_pic1.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d144/legin3/nov4010.jpg

On the Way:-

Harbour City Tower 1 (26 Storeys - Approved)
Harbour City Tower 2 (26 Storeys - Approved)
Harbour City Tower 3 (26 Storeys - Approved)
Harbour City Tower 4 (26 Storeys - Approved)

(Situated directly Behind the NV Buildings!)

http://www.ajplus.co.uk/Images/Articles/130207_SALFORD_MAIN.jpg


Clippers Quay (22 Storeys - Approved)

http://www.askaboutlife.co.uk/files/cd/uploads/Cam%201%20day%20A2.jpg
http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/4420/clippersquay2rf6.jpg
http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/3646/clippersquay1ps0.jpg


Applications Put in:-

The Regent (23 Storeys)

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y122/richardjamesbrowning/regent2.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y122/richardjamesbrowning/regent1.jpg


Lowry Tower 3 (21 Storeys - the most recent proposal, cheers jrb!)

http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/3767/low1ni9.jpg
http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/880/low3ca6.jpg
http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/121/low4zz2.jpg


And this doesn't include Any of the Media City Proposals (At least 20 Towers between 60-160m, or the Modus Tower (30 storeys, yet to be submitted)


I think you can add Salford in the Top 5 skylines (if you must treat it as a seperate enity of Manchester! :nuts: )

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m30/chansau/Salford%20Quays/DSC01946.jpg

That building next to The Regent really takes the biscuit. That's postmodernism at its worst :puke:.

Thanks otherwise! Alot there I didn't know about!

well, it kick started the regeneration of Salford Quays that did, so it can't be that bad!

http://static.flickr.com/41/87564284_379b3d5c26.jpg
http://www.maths.manchester.ac.uk/~higham/photos/manchester/040229-0925-46_std.jpg

Mad mix of styles in the Quays though!

I think The 4 Harbour City & 3 NV Towers are quite Vancouver-esque, i'd like to see more of that (hopefully Lowry Tower 3 may be similar in style!)

I quite like the pyramid one. Sovereign Point looks like a 60's council block though.

Choggers ,, youve made the same mistake i did ,, apparently the Harbour City tower are on the land where the old Quaypoint shipped shaped tower's were planned ,,, there are 4 more tower's going behind the NV's ,,you can see and outline of them on the Regent render you posted ,,,all very confusing i know .

'fraid you're wrong highriser, hence why you can see the harbour city car park next to it!!!! the old thunderbirds design was dropped!

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m30/chansau/Salford%20Quays/DSC01918.jpg
http://www.ajplus.co.uk/Images/Articles/130207_SALFORD_MAIN.jpg

Harbour city car park is the one which is white at the top! lol!

well i thought that ,, but mr jerbil put me in my place the other night ,,, have a mooch in the Harbour City thread ,, :)

Boring. Its the most colourful skyline in the UK. Its a huge mumble jumble. So much to look at. :nuts:
No,flat and boring and GREY at a distance.Only slightly interesting close up.

nope, i'm defo right on this one!

Salford Quays is indeed kicking ass! That's why Brum needs to extend the canal network and create loads more wharf areas, and to utilise the Edgbaston reservoir as another waterside setting for highrisers. It's not rocket science figuring out that water is a great place to plan civilization next to!

Thanks otherwise! Alot there I didn't know about!

And isn't that the point the Manc's are making...alot of people have no idea what is going on!!

Manchester has far more developments than other UK regional cities and the Quays is already one of the highest parts of the UK with a MASSIVE expansion plan coming through.

This discounts Pomona docks (in between Manc and the Quays) which is coming next.

This place is rocking and will be truly huge in 10years time.

Do we need a more defined thread title(s)?

The highest skyline is:

London
Manchester
Liverpool (excluding Brum BT tower)
Birmingham

The Most Dense Skyline:
London
Manchester/Brum/Glasgow....far to subjective to tell apart..some very flattering shots and very unflattering shots get used.

The Best looking Skyline:

London
Edinburgh
Oxford/Durham
Liverpool


etc...maybe a more worthwhile excercise.

Me personally? I prefer to use the highest skyline as the reference, which puts the good ole North West at the top of the non-London heap.

Marvellous.

Did you use St. John's Beacon (Radio City Tower) in Liverpool's highest skyline ranking, Fly? If you did, then yes, you are correct in a latter paragraph, and is indeed very "subjective", and also very selective too!

Perhaps you could include tallest 'strructures' and not just buildings in our cities, & then re-jig your list a little!!!

Btw, it is widely acknowledged that outside of London, Birmingham has the most dense 'city centre' skyline, & doesn't include council flats in the suburbs as Glasgow's are.