Arena Central, Birmingham, Eric Kuhne render

[Bachy Soletanche]

Sorry, not allowed to link direct images into here, so you'll have to look at:

http://www.pipers.co.uk/pm/model.php?id=118

then comeback to vote.

UPDATE: pics are gone, so:








Not to sure on the status of this one, if it the final design or whatever, so just consider this poll as just a bit of fun.

Not to sure of height, but the tallish building next to it is the 100M Alpha Tower. (note: that's 100 Meters up to the main section, the ridge on top is just for service equpiment, and not included in the 100meters height)

[Erebus555]

I make this 150 metres. It is a depressing building in my eyes I'm giving this a 6...

[wjfox]

7/10... it's okay, but that is all.

Considering the amount of hype it's received, and the 9 year wait, I was expecting a project worthy of 10/10.

[Newcastle Guy]

WE ARE NOT AMUSED!

I give it 7/10

3 and thats being generous.

[Bachy Soletanche]

I gave it 6, as it's well, okey.

Can't quite seem to work out the height from the renders looking from 140 to 180ish dependant on the view (!?)

I think there's more detail to shape that first appearances, noticed the way it's wider at the top than the bottom? Odd... And the way it undulates on the side? A bit like the Alpha Tower is a more intresting shape if you actually take time to look at it, which of course, most people don't.

I don't know if people take the time to look at this huge (in terms of width/girth if not height) building and just see a big box.

Cladding will be intresting to see, but it seems rather underwhelming given the time it's taken for a render to appear, maybe we were all too excited?

[Prestonian]

I don't know why everyone is whinging so much, it may not be as soaring as some people had hoped but its certainly an interesting little building. It has some great angles and a funky facade and to me it is not at all the dull corporate architecture I think we get used to in this country, to me it has an almost continental sense of fun about it. If the proportions are wrong on the model and it is actually taller than it looks i think it could be really cool. Look at the roof, it looks as though something quite cool might happen up there. My one criticism is its orientation on the site but other than that i think it looks quite cool, though I do understand people had imagined something else, i wouldn't worry too much about the height from the model, just wait till it is announced.

[SimonTheSoundMan]

5/10. No extra point for height, no point for imagination, no point for innovation, no point for being wow factor and it' a box.

[Telfordboy]

Some of the residents will have views straight into Alpha Tower and nowhere else.

[Spatula]

As a building on its own merits I think it's quite good, I like how it seems to have been influenced by Alpha Tower, the Hyatt and the Cube. As Arena Central, however, it's extremely disapointing. I make the height out to be about 160m, I think. I'm remaining hopeful that when it's officially unveiled it will turn out to be the full 175, but even then it's not the iconic building we were promised.

7/10, trying to be objective.

[oscar9]

If you are going to do a glass slab make sure it looks tall and elegant,this doesn't,half baked attempt. If it wasn't for the hype surrounding this tower it might not have been such a dissapointment only 6/10.

[Martin G]

I gave it a 1.

I find this cop out fucking outrageous. If it was a different building planned for somewhere else in the city then I may have given it much more - 7 even - but since it has replaced a much taller LANDMARK structure which WAS given approval and which we will never see now then I am inclined to rate it accordingly - 150 metres is well short of 500 feet and this is one classic fucking wasted opportunity. But then, what's new - this is Birmingham we're talking about. The way this.... this..... HORRID RANDOM-SHAPED SLAB.... completely obliterates some views of Alpha Tower seen from further down Suffolk Street and afar from the east is also unforgivable....

If Eric Khunt had designed this same tower for London (or even Manchester) what's the betting it would probably be anything up to another 60 metres taller?

I will NEVER get to like this tower until it suddenly improves its appearance from what we have seen - not to mention its height.

A fucking travesty. And I'm being kind here.

[Elizabeth Kinoke]

10.. and I hope they don't change the design one bit, I think it perfect for the location, the original design that everyone keeps harping on about was just an artists impression and was never a real concept, I am sure many of us here could draw a picture of a tower that would look amazing but thats all its ever going to be, a picture, I walked past Alpha Tower last night, looked up and couldn't stop smiling at the thought of this looming above, trust me in this location it will look immense, the render show it at a minimum of 150 metres so could be taller, the design is classic, clean futuristic and not too fussy, no cheap cladding just a stylish centre peice tower, no need for a spire or tappered top it takes maximum use of the floor space right to the very top... Birmingham finally has a design for real skyscraper and I for one am extremely exciting this is going up just down the road

Classify Snow Hill as more important single scheme then AC now. Towers are better to.

[Zenith]

Is 150 metres really a skyscraper? Why are we so British about all this....we seem to want to accept second best.

Originally Posted by zenith

Is 150 metres really a skyscraper? Why are we so British about all this....we seem to want to accept second best.

Exactly, Just look at Spain with, Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia and Benidorm (They have more space then us aswell) but all are pushing the 200m barrier.

[Martin G]

Well, you all know that you won't get me settling for second best, in ANY capacity. If this was 180-190m tall then, yes it might be pretty awesome in appearance, but it isn't. The minimum height of what can be termed a modern "skyscraper" (in its smallest sense) surely is 500ft and no lower. Birmingham hasn't got any skyscrapers, and probably won't get any, whilst Leeds and Manchester will have at least two or three each come the end of 2009. Surely this puts everything into perspective. End of debate.

It seems most do though Martin. Which is where the main problem occurs between progress and normality.

[Caiman]

6, dismal in comparison to what you should have been getting. Shame.

Dont say that to Woody. He'll have your guts for garters.