River St Serviced Apartments | 42 fl | 125m | App - Page 13

VDB · October 26th, 2012, 05:11 PM

Does anybody want to see my mock-up pictures of what this will look like on the skyline, using Google Earth?

Caiman · October 26th, 2012, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by man med

We will see - Glass half empty type are you Caiman ?. I personally think it has a chance

Just disillusioned after almost 10 years on here and only seeing Beetham go up out of all the tall proposals that have come and gone :p

andysimo123 · October 26th, 2012, 06:43 PM

If it is ever built it would be interesting to see how it stands compared to the other talls, because looking out of this train window, that 106 meter student tower doesn't even seem to have made a dent on the skyline. I personally reckon we'd need to see another Beetham sized structure to make another big impact.

VDB · October 26th, 2012, 07:59 PM

I've come to realise it's not just about height with Manchester.

Portland Tower, 17 New Wakefield St, North Tower... they're all 25+floor towers, and look really tall from the ground, but non of them seem to ever pop their head above the skyline at all.

It's about bulkiness and chunkyness of the tower. In my opinion, this is because Manchester built a load of wide-based towers (City, Arndale, CIS) in the 60s and 70s, and they're the ones that make a big impact on the skyline because they're tall and chunky. Beetham is, too, tall and chunky and makes a big impact.

17 New Wakefield St has the height, but no depth and as such it's hardly ever seen. It's actually just smaller than City Tower, but you'd never be able to tell. On the flip side, look at the impact Number One St Peter's Square is already having on the skyline, despite just its core sticking up!

This tower has the depth. Looking at the footprint on Google Earth, it's about as wide as the Beetham. However, it does have a thin side too.

At the end of the day, this is a tall and wide tower. When viewed from its "wide" angle, it'll make a huge impact on the skyline,

but when viewed from its thin side, I'm not so sure it will. But only time will tell.

oscar9 · October 26th, 2012, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VDB

Does anybody want to see my mock-up pictures of what this will look like on the skyline, using Google Earth?

Oh, go on then, if you must

VDB · October 26th, 2012, 08:32 PM

River St in Blue

Nathan Dawz · October 26th, 2012, 09:54 PM

Hardly the stuff of dreams is it?

I think we'll have to wait until the economy fully recovers before we get another decent tall building. Roll on 2020...

nitindb · October 27th, 2012, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andysimo123

If it is ever built it would be interesting to see how it stands compared to the other talls, because looking out of this train window, that 106 meter student tower doesn't even seem to have made a dent on the skyline. I personally reckon we'd need to see another Beetham sized structure to make another big impact.

Have you been down Hyde rd coming from Gorton? Great view of both Beetham and Student castle, with the sides of the road acting as frame. Other great views of the Manchester Skyline can be seen coming from Cheetham Hill, and Mancunian Way. Driving through Mancunian Way, as passenger, the skyscrapers look a lot more exciting than some of the bland skyline photographs I've seen till date.

ferge · October 27th, 2012, 03:27 PM

It will certainly be a welcome addition, but Manchester needs a non box tall and to be honest we'll be waiting a long time for that

Our talls are always going to be residential, and that means they'll always be basic shapes. We need an office development to create a building that will truly make the skyline, something with a spire or a crown.

It doesn't matter if Manchester adds another box skyscaper or twelve, it'll get bulkier and denser but it'll never make it any better until there's some dramatic shapes thrown in to the mix. The original 1HS would have fulfilled this, with its dramatic sloping roof and steel lattice work on top. Hopefully one day the proposals for that site will throw up something which fulfils that iconic building spec.

Lookin Up · October 27th, 2012, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VDB

I've come to realise it's not just about height with Manchester.

Portland Tower, 17 New Wakefield St, North Tower... they're all 25+floor towers, and look really tall from the ground, but non of them seem to ever pop their head above the skyline at all.

It's about bulkiness and chunkyness of the tower.

As I keep banging on about...... it's all about the topography of the city. The higher parts of the city centre are around the Piccadilly area, explaining the dominance of the City Tower.
Many of the sites for tall buildings in Manchester are unfortunately on lower ground. The best example of this is the CIS Building. Imagine if this sat at the top end of Miller St instead of at the lower end. It would appear at least 5 stories higher and would look great on the skyline from more angles.
North Tower is also a good example as it sits at the side of the river down a massive dip. Result: virtually invisible on the skyline from most angles.

This is also a reason why Student Castle doesn't do much from the skyline perspective. River St (clue in the name) is an even lower site. I predict it's impact on the skyline will be little more than City Tower. It will look decent enough from the bottom end of the Princess Parkway in Hulme though.

Today's lesson: if we want a good looking skyline, build talls in the Piccadilly area where their impact on the skyline will be maximised. Building them in dips or by rivers is a waste.

Right I'm off out. Have a good evening folks

Gavin · October 28th, 2012, 09:02 PM

looking forward to this. Hope it will get built.

Saul Silver · December 2nd, 2012, 07:08 PM

Whats the crack then lads.
Whens it going up?

hifive605 · December 3rd, 2012, 02:18 AM

^ beetham is actually very slim and elegant when viewed side on, the student "caste" has already become an eyesore - really tragic mistake that grey lump is..

theidealcopy two · December 3rd, 2012, 08:35 PM

I'm also very dissapointed with the Student castle - it's height is its only notable characteristic. It's tall for sure, but the colours are rank. Besides, the prospect of looking down on loads of electrified railway wires and the dullness of Oxford Road station is hardly the best in town is it? I don't think it's the best site for a tower of that sort of profile anyway, its out of scale with its surroundings and would have been better being built nearer the Mancunian Way further down Oxford Road.

slipdigby · December 4th, 2012, 11:14 AM

Give me the vista over Central Manchester and close proximity to both Oxford Road (Grade II) and the Refuge Assurance building (Grade II*) over looking down on six lanes of traffic and some barren car parks (or some shockingly bad University boxes) any day.

Best,
Slip

Lookin Up · December 4th, 2012, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theidealcopy two

the dullness of Oxford Road station

You're kidding right?
Wonderful building. Really enigmatic.

js1000 · December 4th, 2012, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theidealcopy two

I'm also very dissapointed with the Student castle - it's height is its only notable characteristic. It's tall for sure, but the colours are rank. Besides, the prospect of looking down on loads of electrified railway wires and the dullness of Oxford Road station is hardly the best in town is it? I don't think it's the best site for a tower of that sort of profile anyway, its out of scale with its surroundings and would have been better being built nearer the Mancunian Way further down Oxford Road.

WHATTT!?!?! The only thing dull about Manchester are the endless glass or terracotta buildings. Have you actually ever been? Look at that timber/glass canopy! Come back when you've found another building in Manchester that uses timber as a material.

retroscient · December 4th, 2012, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by js1000

WHATTT!?!?! The only thing dull about Manchester are the endless glass or terracotta buildings. Have you actually ever been? Look at that timber/glass canopy! Come back when you've found another building in Manchester that uses timber as a material.

That's a cracking shot. I wish my bedroom window offered me a view like that!

js1000 · December 4th, 2012, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retroscient

That's a cracking shot. I wish my bedroom window offered me a view like that!

Just a shame you can't see the full canopy from most places in Manchester.

nq · December 13th, 2012, 02:44 PM

Article from one of the directors of Chelmer Developments (also is a director of a Manchester based Chartered Surveyors),

http://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/news...s-in-flux.html

"We are now working on the finer details of the building and operation but fully intend to press forward with construction as soon as possible."
.

December 2nd, 2012, 07:08 PM	#252
Saul Silver Sent to me from heaven Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Manchester Posts: 1,059 Likes (Received): 3	Whats the crack then lads. Whens it going up? __________________ "When Manchester United are at their best I am close to orgasm." — Gianluca Vialli

December 13th, 2012, 02:44 PM	#260
nq Join Date: May 2010 Location: Manchester Posts: 1,046	Article from one of the directors of Chelmer Developments (also is a director of a Manchester based Chartered Surveyors), http://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/news...s-in-flux.html "We are now working on the finer details of the building and operation but fully intend to press forward with construction as soon as possible." . Last edited by nq; December 13th, 2012 at 02:58 PM.

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October 26th, 2012, 05:11 PM	#241
VDB Registered User Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 2,844 Likes (Received): 302	Does anybody want to see my mock-up pictures of what this will look like on the skyline, using Google Earth?

October 26th, 2012, 06:43 PM	#243
andysimo123 wind-up merchant Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,877 Likes (Received): 8	If it is ever built it would be interesting to see how it stands compared to the other talls, because looking out of this train window, that 106 meter student tower doesn't even seem to have made a dent on the skyline. I personally reckon we'd need to see another Beetham sized structure to make another big impact.

October 26th, 2012, 07:59 PM	#244
VDB Registered User Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 2,844 Likes (Received): 302	I've come to realise it's not just about height with Manchester. Portland Tower, 17 New Wakefield St, North Tower... they're all 25+floor towers, and look really tall from the ground, but non of them seem to ever pop their head above the skyline at all. It's about bulkiness and chunkyness of the tower. In my opinion, this is because Manchester built a load of wide-based towers (City, Arndale, CIS) in the 60s and 70s, and they're the ones that make a big impact on the skyline because they're tall and chunky. Beetham is, too, tall and chunky and makes a big impact. 17 New Wakefield St has the height, but no depth and as such it's hardly ever seen. It's actually just smaller than City Tower, but you'd never be able to tell. On the flip side, look at the impact Number One St Peter's Square is already having on the skyline, despite just its core sticking up! This tower has the depth. Looking at the footprint on Google Earth, it's about as wide as the Beetham. However, it does have a thin side too. At the end of the day, this is a tall and wide tower. When viewed from its "wide" angle, it'll make a huge impact on the skyline, but when viewed from its thin side, I'm not so sure it will. But only time will tell.

October 26th, 2012, 08:32 PM	#246
VDB Registered User Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 2,844 Likes (Received): 302	River St in Blue

October 26th, 2012, 09:54 PM	#247
Nathan Dawz Makin all KINDS of gains! Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Manchester / London Posts: 2,711 Likes (Received): 163	Hardly the stuff of dreams is it? I think we'll have to wait until the economy fully recovers before we get another decent tall building. Roll on 2020...

October 27th, 2012, 03:27 PM	#249
ferge Like 'Berg' Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Wigan Posts: 5,424 Likes (Received): 85	It will certainly be a welcome addition, but Manchester needs a non box tall and to be honest we'll be waiting a long time for that Our talls are always going to be residential, and that means they'll always be basic shapes. We need an office development to create a building that will truly make the skyline, something with a spire or a crown. It doesn't matter if Manchester adds another box skyscaper or twelve, it'll get bulkier and denser but it'll never make it any better until there's some dramatic shapes thrown in to the mix. The original 1HS would have fulfilled this, with its dramatic sloping roof and steel lattice work on top. Hopefully one day the proposals for that site will throw up something which fulfils that iconic building spec.

October 28th, 2012, 09:02 PM	#251
Gavin SSC Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Manchester / Abu Dhabi Posts: 693 Likes (Received): 8	looking forward to this. Hope it will get built.

December 3rd, 2012, 02:18 AM	#253
hifive605 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 367 Likes (Received): 15	^ beetham is actually very slim and elegant when viewed side on, the student "caste" has already become an eyesore - really tragic mistake that grey lump is..

December 3rd, 2012, 08:35 PM	#254
theidealcopy two Millstone Grit Man Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: King's Norton via Cumbria Posts: 1,323 Likes (Received): 16	I'm also very dissapointed with the Student castle - it's height is its only notable characteristic. It's tall for sure, but the colours are rank. Besides, the prospect of looking down on loads of electrified railway wires and the dullness of Oxford Road station is hardly the best in town is it? I don't think it's the best site for a tower of that sort of profile anyway, its out of scale with its surroundings and would have been better being built nearer the Mancunian Way further down Oxford Road.

December 4th, 2012, 11:14 AM	#255
slipdigby Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Manchester Posts: 594 Likes (Received): 9	Give me the vista over Central Manchester and close proximity to both Oxford Road (Grade II) and the Refuge Assurance building (Grade II*) over looking down on six lanes of traffic and some barren car parks (or some shockingly bad University boxes) any day. Best, Slip