MANCHESTER BUILDING BOOM 6 PROJECTS | Not Bland, Not Banal, Not Boring!

[@English_Dawn]

Aidan hi. Thank you for the warm tone of this video. It shows modern archictects CAN come up with the goods if the muzzle is taken off. Poplin, curves are welcoming and a warm tone. A bit of Gaudi in Mcr. The Ancoats Infirmary and Adswood Centre look excellent. Burlington quite nice with the twisted top (Mcr New Square + Noma). Would not like to live there. I would think their target audience is quite young, who see themselves in the nearby Bohemian Northern Quarter. Vox were quite brave. When Cornbrook Metrolink station was open there was emergency staple access to street level. The public were strongly warned otherwise not to use the exits, "especially at night". That was the official message. Some dystopian locale? Peel Holdings who seem to be in charge of the fiefdom showed some designs which turned out to be Vox. Work in progress but the area is better than it was. I remember a bricked-up pub on the site. Hulme Locks (disused) are also owned apparently by Peel Holdings, should be used. I apologise for not mentioning the Domis student tower on Deansgate was wedge-shaped and terracotta-coloured (faux brick?) and 37 storeys. If built it will book-end Deansgate with a counter-part 1 Cathedral Square. What do you think of the tower? In an area where glass and steel reign supreme it gives some light relief. Thanks for the film and question. 🙂👍

[@AidanEyewitness]

Many thanks for your observations, always very interesting and sorry about the delay in replying to your comment! I've been busy with the latest Stockport video. I'll have to look at the Domis tower and feature it in a future update.

[@English_Dawn]

@@AidanEyewitness That's alright.

[@mikecar52]

Great description thanks. Please post affordable prices when you get them.

[@AidanEyewitness]

It could be the affordable rates are not advertised as they are not on the commercial market. I hope to find out more about this. Many thanks.

[@Roddersville]

Thank you Aidan for another super armchair tour of the city you and I love. I can only talk generally about how Manchester is burgeoning from it’s dying, derelict, slum clearance past of the 1970’s ! I’m of an age now where I am a stranger in my own city as large swathes of it has become unrecognisable now and my blurred memories of what lay before add to my confusion - save the City’s epicentre. Thank you Aidan once again for your interesting insights…

[@AidanEyewitness]

I'm really grateful to you for this very nice comment, which made my day! I've been interested in the development of Manchester since I was a small child, though I also have many other interests too. I can clearly remember the Manchster of my childhood and how it is today. The transformation is striking. I'm very glad to be able to document the city and appreciate all words of support.

[@KuroiGW2]

Burlington House certainly caught me off guard when I found out it was by SimpsonHaugh. The vista is excellent from the Dakota terrace.

[@AidanEyewitness]

Yes I expect the view from the Dakota is very good. It's certainly surprising, though I knew it was by SimpsonHaugh for a long time. Many thanks.

[@JohnnyZenith]

Always a pleasure. I would consider updating your opening video and graphics but you do you. Poplin isn't as nice as the original render perhaps but you know what? It's very attractive. They should do more. Burlington is excellent. Vox I'm not in love with but it's serviceable. More please.

[@AidanEyewitness]

Thanks for your comments, I didn't see the original render. I rarely changed channel graphics but I have a couple of ideas. More in due course!

[@OwtDaftUK]

I personally like the towers at the start of the video. I like the fully glass ones because they merge with the sky nice and so are not as looming. I also think the glass is done so well that it does look good not not bland it's, not all one shade.

[@AidanEyewitness]

Yes, so do I actually, but there are quite a few people who don't, so I wanted to see if they like the 6 buildings I chose. Many thanks!

[@ians3586]

As much as I lament most modern architecture, I agree with you. I think large windows make a building inviting and, as you say, glass, especially blue glass, seems to merge well with surroundings and the sky. Also, since these buildings are separated from most others, they aren't overwhelming them with their mass. If they had been built amid an area with low rise Victorian buildings, the result would be different.

[@AidanEyewitness]

@@ians3586 Yes, they were built on former industrial land that had been cleared and used as car parks for a few decades. There were one working class terraced houses close to here but they were cleared in the 50s and 60s.

[@ians3586]

@@AidanEyewitness these buildings also give Manchester an impressive and recognisable skyline. The first time I laid eyes on Manchester was just a couple of years ago, from a distance coming down from the Peak District. I was surprised and impressed by Manchester's skyline of mostly newly built skyscrapers.

[@wendywolfman]

Aidan, I really enjoy watching your videos. Are you aware of any similar channels to yours for other cities around England?

[@JohnnyZenith]

I'd like a Birmingham and Bristol one.

[@AidanEyewitness]

There are plenty of channels focusing on history and tourist attractions but mine focuses on new development and the changing city. I've not come across any quite like mine. It developed according to the response of the viewers. I noticed there was much more interest in the construction boom than visits to tourist attractions and museums! Many thanks for your kind comments.

[@celebalert5616]

I have a soft spot for windmill green, that green copper-ish building opposite GMEX next to the Midland ...very pleasing colour

[@AidanEyewitness]

Yes, it looks really good. It's a much more attractive building than the 70s brick building that was there before.

[@highvoltageswitcher6256]

These new format videos seem to be getting a lot of views 😊

[@AidanEyewitness]

Yes, they're definitely getting an increased number of views. Many thanks for noticing! :)

[@paulmason6474]

Hello Aidan do you know if the London Rd Fire station has stalled? There doesn’t appear to be a lot of work going on. Thank you.

[@AidanEyewitness]

Nothing has been happening there for a while. I read somewhere that it was taking longer due to the listed building status but the actually reason might be otherwise. It spent a lot of time empty and unused before the renovation started, they must not let that be repeated.

[@BsktImp]

Interesting I've only ever heard the perjorative 'shoe box' used as a dig at the expensive yet typically small square footage of new-build flats rather than the shape of the buildings.

[@AidanEyewitness]

One commenter used the term 'shoe boxes' to describe the buildings in the Dublin Docklands area. I think it just mean plain, regular, uniform, unimaginative. I hadn't really thought about the term but you're right, it's often used for small flats or houses.

[@markuserikssen]

As someone who has left a few comments about ugly architecture before, I really appreciate this effort! There are definitely some nice looking projects in this video, like Poplin and Adswood Lodge. I'm not really a fan of the Burlington house, but it fits there. Overall, I still feel like the city has a long way to go when it comes to beautiful architecture. Many projects look very poor. Many of the old buildings look great, though. I was also wondering about apartments: what is considered affordable in Manchester (for a 1 or 2 room apartment)?

[@AidanEyewitness]

What is considered affordable in Manchester for a 1 or 2 room apartment? Good question. I'm thinking of delving more into that subject actually. Really architecture is a matter of taste, but if lots of people agree a building ist good, then it must be good, and the opposite is also true!

[@ians3586]

While the Poplin building looks better than most with its arches, it wouldn't have been good enough during Victorian times for residential construction. Look at the arched opening in the Victorian buildings of central Manchester. The actual windows would typically follow the lines of the arch. More expensive to do, yes, but also more attractive. The arches on the Poplin building look more like a cheap afterthought in comparison. And that's not to mention all the artistic elements that added visual interest to a Victorian building. The quality of Poplin's façade would have barely been good enough for the most basic warehouse back then.

[@markuserikssen]

@@ians3586I get it. It looks cheap and basic compared to the traditional styles from back in the days. When I put that aside and look at the building, I still find it to look appealing, especially compared to all the basic modern boxes everywhere. It's a small step forward and definitely not comparable to what was built in the past, but it's something different.

[@ians3586]

@@markuserikssen I agree, it's a step in the right direction. I just morn the fact that so many high quality buildings from the past were knocked down. The Victorians tore down a lot of buildings too but then they replaced them with buildings that were at least as lovely as those they took down.

[@paulwild3676]

Poplin is great. It is a bit of a nod to Whitworth street in my view.

[@AidanEyewitness]

Yes, I think that's true, similar height and colours.

[@Bainez118]

A friend pointed out Poplin the other week, as were strolling down Manchester road, and remarked on the 'handsome arches'. Any building that can make an impression on people is a positive and I like the retro feel, however it's the materials I find more dubious. Just look to Burlington House, which again I agree is innovative development, but already the wear and tear is apparent. And right next to Jacksons Warehouse, now 20 year's restored, and looking better by far.

[@AidanEyewitness]

Yes, I agree about Poplin, I'd not noticed wear and tear on Burlington House. The restored Jackson's Warehouse will never go out of date! It was standing derelict with a collapsed roof for many years.

[@andrewashdown3541]

II Dispensary and hospital, now disused. 1872 to 1873, by Daniel Lewis.[English Heritage / Historic England]

[@AidanEyewitness]

Many thanks for this information. So Ancoats Dispensary was designed by Daniel Lewis, not to be confused with Daniel Day-Lewis the actor! Built between 1872 and 1873.

[@adrianjones4812]

I liked the first building mentioned. What worries me is the cost of rental here and virtually everywhere. These prices are more than people with even a reasonably well pad steady job can afford.

[@AidanEyewitness]

That strikes me too but all these properties are let. If people are sharing an apartment as a couple or as flatmates, then it's more reasonable. There are plenty of people on high salaries in Manchester. Many thanks!

[@user-xu5vl5th9n]

That is why they were built in the first place. It just means more need to be built as there is still a huge shortage.

[@AidanEyewitness]

@@user-xu5vl5th9n Yes that’s right. More flats and houses built means not so astronomical rents and prices. Many thanks.

[@JohnnyZenith]

I read that Daniel Lewis of Cross Street was the architect for Ancoats but that this can't be verified and maybe wholly wrong.

[@AidanEyewitness]

I think you're on the right track! See the comment from Andrew Ashdown.

[@markw1413]

What a great pity that the towers at Deansgate are so dark. In a city that often has grey skies and cloud you would surely want light blue glass or something silvery and bright. Dark glass....oh Depression...and loss of opportunity and attractiveness and thus profit and a very negative effect on area. Basic error.

[@AidanEyewitness]

Have you seen them in real life? The colour is a kind of bluish-green that changes with the light. They often look bright and seem to merge with the sky. Thanks for your comment, all comments are very much appreciated!

[@888ssss]

the great manchester ponzi scheme.

[@AidanEyewitness]

Thanks for your comment!