Birmingham: It's Not Shit.I Disagree

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Author	Message / Information
DrVeraJenkins old dear Rank: Jasper	the big tall blue tower posted on: 12/10/2005 12:13:48 AM The big tall blue tower at Holloway Head. That's shit now isn't it? It showed a lot of promise initially, except for the fact that they chose to locate it in the real backside of town. The only people you get round there are dungeons and dragons anoraks and people looking to buy sheet music for their harmonica. I mean it's a real crap part of town to build an exclusive penthouse high rise isn't it? But, no we gave them the benefit of the doubt. These clever ass yuppie developers with strange surnames seem adept at turning complete shit holes into grandiose new milennium pieces of architectural art work. And just when everything was going so well, some idiot contractor forgets to bolt down the remaining chunks of girder on the top. Some poor anorak on his way home with a rare 1975 copy of Gandalf on Acid Magazine nearly got piledrived into Smallbrook Queensway by a steel girder hurtling towards the ground at 500 mph. And apparantly it's the second time it's happened. A public relations nightmare. Hello! Tall building - fasten things down guys. I mean, would you walk under that place now? Not bloody likely, take my advice people of Northfield and students... turn left at MacDonalds and approach town via Five Ways. It's a longer route but when you arrive you won't be shaped like a pancake.
hubgirl	the big tall blue tower replied on: 12/19/2005 10:49:19 AM Ah I think you are referring to Beetham Tower. Horrible name for a horrible building in my opinion. OK, its tall, but it's completeley faceless and totally forgettable, like many of the new apartment blocks that are being built at the moment. Don't get me started on 'Rocha-John-bloody sick-of-your-face-Rocha's monstrosity at the top of John Bright Street - I believe it is THE ugliest new building in Brum. Anyway, back to Beetham Tower - I thought the blue stuff that covers most of the glass was just packaging, as was going to be removed. Then I was informed that, no its actually part of the 'design'. I'd like to know who the developers think is is going to pay a million quid for an apartment that has sticky back plastic all over the windows. And how awful is it going to look in a few years when bits of it have been peeled off by rich, idle fingers.
falsedog Rank: Jasper	the big tall blue tower replied on: 12/19/2005 2:30:15 PM Would you feel better if I assured you that the SBP will not "peel off"? It's quite secure. I have to agree with you though that voguishly colouring a building's exterior is the best way to make it date very quickly...or make it look shit , as you say. I always wince when I see the big dark blue blob on the rather attractive giant window wall on the entrance to the bullring , as you approach it from New St Station. What a disaster. It can work though: look at Alexander Balaschenka's coloured glass window installation in the ICC as you leave it to get on to Waterside.
hubgirl	the big tall blue tower replied on: 12/19/2005 2:57:59 PM falsedog what/where is Alexander Balaschenka's coloured glass window installation in the ICC? are you referring to the wierd tangle of neon tubes above the ICC entrance by the rep? ...and you sound very confident about the SBP. Do you have insider knowledge?
falsedog Rank: Jasper	the big tall blue tower replied on: 12/19/2005 3:27:13 PM quote: are you referring to the wierd tangle of neon tubes above the ICC entrance by the rep? No that's Ron Haselden's "Aviary", they're birds if you look closely. You need to go through the ICC and come out at the canal, before you exit, look up. quote: ...and you sound very confident about the SBP. Do you have insider knowledge? Not really, but architect practices will spend years dealing with research companies to produce hi spec, durable, renewable materials..and not be able to see that they look fucking terrible when the job's done. Ian Simpson Architects, who did it, waver between wonderful creations like Urbis, Sport City and the Beetham tower in their home city (Manchester) and disasters like the propsed City council building in Chester, and the "just OK" Beetham tower.
hubgirl	the big tall blue tower replied on: 12/20/2005 3:30:32 PM quote: quote: are you referring to the wierd tangle of neon tubes above the ICC entrance by the rep? No that's Ron Haselden's "Aviary", they're birds if you look closely. Well all I can say is that guy must have seen some pretty messed up birds in his time.
falsedog Rank: Jasper	the big tall blue tower replied on: 12/20/2005 9:46:58 PM quote: [ Well all I can say is that guy must have seen some pretty messed up birds in his time. Yes, artists are well known for their predeliction for fiery young minxes (K-bom bom ch!)
racheymaus old hand Rank: Chinny	the big tall blue tower replied on: 12/24/2005 9:36:35 AM I think the big tall blue tower looks nice on our otherwise fairly bland skyline. If we are ever to compete with the world's other major cities we will have to invest in more wowness at the heart of our architecture. Sometimes it will go wrong, that's art and life and freedom and stuff, but we have to try. I'd go for an ornate and spacious 18thC style, meself. And perhaps the tower's shortcomings (guffaw) will wipe out a few of the smug and immorally wealthy.
hubgirl	the big tall blue tower replied on: 4/3/2006 3:11:02 PM i have to concede it looks quite good from a distance. It's just close up it looks a bit naff.
falsedog Rank: Jasper	the big tall blue tower replied on: 4/8/2006 5:33:20 PM From, say, the top of Hill St it doesn't look good. But coming out of Bishop Street into Sherlock St, which you will never do, it looks pretty powerful. Curiously, the closer you get to it, the smaller it looks...try it.
rotunda pants villa, but nice with it Rank: Ozzy	the big tall blue tower replied on: 4/10/2006 3:13:57 PM Am I going colourblind? I think it looks green.
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