What does everyone think?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v219/atc367squadron/image51.jpg

This is the new tower that will replace the old register office.

can't really see it very clearly, but does it matter? my experience with this forum is that any such modern development is criticised unfairly by some of the locals.

It's a bit boring.

heheh, i would like to grovel my heart out, its not very interesting is it? I've seen some bigger more detailed versions and its a bit too reminiscent of 60s/70s tower blocks!

I doubt this initial rendering will be the final product though.

Horrific! Hideouse! Ugly! Vile! Another annonyous crap depressing uninspiring cheapo, piled up for profit, block / blot to make the City cenrte uven more dreary. Er. I dont like it.

Have to agree that i'm pretty unimpressed with this design. Compare this to the magnificient DLP design for Moorfoot and it's clear that little or no thought has been put into the design of this unimaginative and bulky blob. Of all of the sites for residential development in Sheffield this must surely be the most important and as such should use the best possible design, something of an international standard.

There is a hotel which looks just like this off trafalger square and it looks disgusting and completely incongruent with its surroundings.

Looks more like an office block than a residential block.

Rather nice ;)

Nicer than the egg box !

Something like this would be great

http://www.emporis.com/en/il/im/?id=147715

or this

http://www.emporis.com/en/il/im/?id=185804

(both are in Birmingham BTW)

I wouldn't go for a total glass structure like that second one personally tho - its an office-surrounded environment and it should try and fit in - i actually think if its thinned a bit, 3/4 what it is now, and with a lot more glass on the sides - i think its fine. To be honest the upper levels of all the Stpauls place leave a bit to be desired. The ground level facilities and public space are the thing that makes this area special.

disappointing design especially for the prominent position it will be in. Think of all the people who will look up the hill from the station and see this building. Its such an impoortant spot, it needs to be a much more exciting and well-thought out design than this so that the city skyline can really impress people as they enter from the station or drive down the parkway.

I hate it when people moan about sheffield and compare us to leeds and manc but this building wouldn't be good enough in those cities so for me its not good enough for sheffield.

totally agree. The design is bland and uninspiring. If we have to have a large hotel on the site then it should be a landmark building. Sheffield is supposed to re-inventing itself but it seems to be making the same old mistakes of the past.

Get Norman Foster up here i say!

Originally posted by Hels
Get Norman Foster up here i say!

Seconded !

Give him a piece of land and a couple of million quid and see what he comes-up with.

This is what the Lib Dem's at the Council said about it: -

"Judging from the plans of the building it looks like we are missing out on a golden opportunity to have a distinctive, iconic building in a prime City Centre location. Looking at the artists impression the building seems to be drab and out of character with its surroundings, it should have been the subject to an architects competition to find something truly unique"

"We have nothing against tall buildings but this development will further obscure the Winter Gardens to the people of Sheffield. I'm disappointed that the people of Sheffield have not been given the opportunity to influence the Council's plans for this development. Labour must not allow this to be another fiasco like we had over the unwanted hotel"

"The opinions of the people of Sheffield should be tested, and if there is a feeling that the proposed plans are not good enough, the Council should go back to the drawing board and give us something better. This time the people must be listened to, its their City Centre"

Cllr Paul Scriven, Leader of the Liberal Democrats in Sheffield

Originally posted by Hels
If we have to have a large hotel on the site then it should be a landmark building.

This isn't a hotel, its apartments. The hotel is between the town hall and the winter gardens, this is along arundel gate south west from the novotel.

Originally posted by goose
Labour must not allow this to be another fiasco like we had over the unwanted hotel"


So locals didn't want the hotel - does that make it the right decision? What about the revenue and growth in economy this hotel will provide through top class accomodation and conferencing facilities?

Andrew,

I think we just have to let the local NIMBYs get their views accross before completely dismissing them. It's the only way with Sheffield people! After all, in 100 years time when we want to build a galactic launchpad next to the town hall these same folk will rise from their graves to protest against the destruction of one of 'Sheffield's most important historic buildings' (The MacDonald Hotel)!