MINGIN' MEDIA CITY
"…a city is the last thing one would mistake this development for"
Referring to the BBC's move to MediaCityUK, the Carbuncle Cup commendation states that "it is hard to see how the corporation could set its aspirations any lower… Following the Blue Peter garden's recent relocation to Salford, one can only presume that the newly reinterred Petra must be turning in her grave."
Yes, Peel Holdings' flagship "crime against the built environment" absolutely stormed the award for the worst building in the UK today. The jury - architecture critics, Rowan Moore of the Observer, Hugh Pearman of the Sunday Times and the Guardian's Jonathan Glancey – were unanimous in their verdict that the £600million Salford Quays site visually stinks.
"How uncreative can a `Creative Quarter be?" asked Jonathan Glancey "And which truly creative person would ever want to work in such a place?"
The commendation states that Media City "had every opportunity to be a piece of city to be treasured for centuries to come". Instead we got "a crazed accumulation of development, in which every aimlessly gesticulating building sports at least three different cladding treatments. The overriding sense is one of extreme anxiety on the part of the architects - an unholy alliance of Wilkinson Eyre, Chapman Taylor and Fairhursts."
It adds that "There is no urban idea to speak of whatsoever - no space that one might recognise as a street; no common architectural language; no difference between the fronts and backs of buildings; no distinction between the civic buildings and the private ones…"
It concludes: "No-one can be too surprised that Peel Holdings…is behind MediaCityUK but quite how the BBC has stooped this low is hard to fathom..."
To see more on the Carbuncle Cup and the full list of runners up click here
* Main photo shows police Dispersal Order keeping local kids away from the site
** See recent Salford Star articles on MediaCityUK...
* Salford Council's secret £10million MediaCityUK fund click here
* Salford Council hands more money to Peel Holdings click here
* Media City community money scandal Part 1 click here Part 2 click here
* The £650 a day Media City `deprived areas' consultant click here
* The £500,000 `Welcome to the BBC' events click here
* The £50million University of Salford building at Media City click here
* Nigel Pivaro on Media City click here
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