I've always thought the blocks on St Georges Island lok like 'new' versions of these council blocks, now it appears these blocks are going to end up looking a bit like St Georges Island... maybe!

 

They also look like those claustaphobic concrete monsters at the end of my street on Blackfriars Road that are so close to the railway lines they could breed

 

fantastic!

 

From bd,

Manchester towers get a makeover by architect 2e

BD Reviews Housing May 2010

Four towers on the edge of Manchester’s city centre are being transformed in a £7m over cladding and refurbishment project commissioned by City South Manchester Housing Trust.

Existing towers at Chorlton Road, Manchester (left) and 2e’s refurbishment (right) featuring terracotta over cladding and new roofs.

Architect 2e, set up by former Sheppard Robson architects Kim Ebling and Nittai Edelmann, is giving Manchester’s Chorlton Road towers a new roof and over cladding to tackle persistent water ingress as well as carrying out structural repairs and new glazing.

2e was keen that the new look would give residents more pride in where they lived, and have used terracotta cladding plus metallic panels on the gable ends.

Inside, the flats are being given new oak doors, lighting and floor finishes.

Work on four further towers for the same client will follow.

http://www.bdonline.co.uk/buildings...ngs/bd-reviews/manchester-towers-get-a-makeover-by-architect-2e/5000053.article

http://www.edelmannandebling.com

 

The blocks are owned by City South Manchester Housing Trust, and it is a credit to them that they have resisted the usual attempt of a cement render/paint make over and have attempted a rainscreen solution/design in keeping with the quality of the contemporary blocks elsewhere in cornbrook et al....think under the 'new, constraints of public spending cuts we are not going to see many more like this!

 

Just a shame the 5th tower on the other side of the road (just off the above pic to the right) isn't being done, which will look completely out of place!

Here it is pointed out in the pic below:

 

 

Well they look a bit better, but they don't do anything to improve the urban fabric of Chorlton Road, which still sucks.

 

What a transformation. Lovely. It just goes to show what can be done.

 

If those were new blocks they'd rank right at the bottom end of recent stuff built in Manchester. Actually, make that the world. F**king assymetrical cladding. That won't date quickly. Oh, hang on it looked dated two f**king years ago.

:banana:

 

Your right CoG, that cladding looks a bit 60's/70's to me. Maybe its a 'period renovation'

it's still an improvement and there are much worse new block imho

 

Apps for a further four have gone in,

093826/FO/2010/S1 Hornchurch Court

093825/FO/2010/S1 Duffield Court

093822/FO/2010/S1 Royce Court

093805/FO/2010/S1 Fulton Court

 

Liking the brick effect clad one, very uplighting compared to the old. Not as keen on the others but overall I like the non-unified effect created (well, okay.. the odd one out effect, seeing as 3 are clad the same! :|)..almost as if they've been plucked straight from Brooklyn or some big American city.

 

When it’s not raining, I’m photographing the refit of these four towers for City South Manchester Housing Trust.

http://davidoates.visualsociety.com/2010/09/13/hulme-tower-block-refit/

 

This can be moved to complete,

Wates hands over new-look Hulme towers