The new BBC development in Salford has been shortlisted for an award – but it’s not one the architects will welcome.
MediaCity UK has been put forward for the Carbuncle Cup – a competition to find the UK’s ugliest new buildings.
The awards are held by architecture magazine Building Design and buildings are nominated by the public.
The nomination for Media City UK – which cost almost £1billion – reads: “For an organisation with high cultural aspirations, it is hard to see how the BBC could have sunk much lower.
“It’s not really a case of singling out one building as being worse than another – the 15 storey dun coloured hotel and its twin are some of the grimmest – but the main BBC building is not much better.
“Even the attempt at some feeble architectural gesture, like a horrible jazzy pattern on one of the commercial towers, and a canopy in the middle of the site (purpose unclear) marked by giant flag poles, seem like a cruel joke.”
The architects for MediaCity UK were Wilkinson Eyre, Chapman Taylor and Fairhurst Design Group.
The site is owned by Peel Holdings. Other contenders for the Carbuncle Cup include the £72m Museum of Liverpool and Brighton’s Ebenezer Chapel housing development. The ‘winner’ will be announced at the end of next month.
The BBC’s move to Salford has been plagued by controversy. Two weeks ago, Jeremy Clarkson used his column in a Sunday newspaper to take a swipe at the relocation – describing Salford as ‘a small suburb’ and saying he would rather quit than move north.
BBC Breakfast show presenters Sian Williams, 46, and Chris Hollins, 40, have already confirmed they will quit when the show moves to Salford Quays.
Peel Holdings refused to comment. The BBC and the architects did not get back to the M.E.N. when asked for a
comment.
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Aww I quite like it.
If they'd put it in the city centre I could see a problem but when it's only in a little suburb full of similar buildings I think it goes quite well
Why spend all that money on something that was supposed to look nice? Simple and functional would have saved an awful lot of money as well as blend in a lot better. Aesthetics aren't everything...
Whatever happened to bricks?
Don't tell me, there Editor is Clarkson!
Come on now ..someone say something nice..???????
Looks an 'OK' office complex, but for a billion quid I think it's fair to expect something a little different.... and it's not.
I am afraid it is true. I have not seen one building put up in the last 40 yrs in the Manchester and Salford region that has the "Wow" factor.
The Imperial war museum looked great on the plans. But Dull in reality.
The Bridgwater Hall is boring. Lawrey Centre looks industrial. I could go n.
Lets face it we just cant do modern
Sad but true, alas. Why would anyone in their right mind move from London to Salford? I speak as someone born and bred there......
Hooray! Better to have a reputation than having non. Look at the Houses of Parliament a congregation of idiots who do more harm than good.
Have to agree, and it will probably 'win'. Its not just one building, its the entire collection of them which don't blend together. Individually most are noting special, no wonder there was a firm no comment.
Even if it was true that the buildings are not attractive these people are misinterpreting their brief. A 'Carbuncle' is a horrid growth that despoils an otherwise beautiful thing. Before the new build this are was a wasteland of dereliction.
This nomination is just the same old metropolitan elites trying to get their own back.
More sour grapes from the London based elites.
'Ve 'av vays of getting our own back'
This morning I decided to drive past to see what they were talking about. Hadn't been that way for about 6 months. The site to me seems a really good mixture of some of the old and the new, quite why they think it is a carbuncle I don't know. They are just jealous of it coming 'up north'.
I found the offices, the lowry that new bridge and with the sun shining this morning all may for a very pleasant start to my day.
Suppose Salford Council could paint it pink ,that'll do it .
Peel "don't do" world class architecture.
hopefully this is a wake up call to modern architects who think a bit of glass and a straight line is pleasing to the eye.
ian simpson (beetham tower) and the media city architects should be ashamed of themselves for continuing to ruin Manchester's landscape.
Just yet another clone of a dull grey box that will look bloody awful in a manchester dull winter."Suicide grey box" Who would want to work in this complex in the winter.....
Will Chris Hollins have his benefit stopped for 6 months for making himself voluntary unemployed, because I can't think of anyone who would employ him, only skill living off his fathers coat tails.
I like it, it looks fabulous at night. Each to their own
It comes a long way behind that monstrosity called the Beetham Tower. The ugliest most boring building ever created.
I wonder what the reader figures are like for a specialist mag like Building Design - fairly low I shouldn't wonder.
What better way to get some free advertising than award BBC's new buildings a carbuncle award. The worlds media pick this up and hey-presto: global advertising for Building Desing mag.
Didn't some clown vote the Lowry for its desing....NOW THAT IS AN UGLY BUILDING!
What nonsense - does anyone remember what it was like before the development started. These buildinds are mainly commercial developments rather the land be used how it has been than left as open parking areas, and boring flat land. Any award is better than nothing. Sick of all these people having a pop. At least they are developing the area, creating jobs not just in white collar workers but also in the building treade. Well done Salford. Peel you need to drive forward now and do something to encourage larger names into the Lowry Shopping Mall.
Clarkson will be pleased?
The Lowry? I love it!