SOMETIME in the late seventies design in Britain went weak-kneed and lily-livered. And so did planning bodies. Thus places such as Ralli Court appeared.
It will definitely age better than the dreadful pastiche that is Ralli Courts...but the big question is will it age well?
In otherwords fake Georgian townhouses with the scale all out of wack and looking dreadfully wrong.
These were built in reaction to the sort of 1960s concrete Brutalism that got it right about one in a hundred times although never ever not once got it right in the eyes of 'the general public'.
Fake Georgian townhouse nonsense
Middling architects panicked and built dismal rubbish such as Heron House in Albert Square and these shockingly mixed up offices called Ralli Court.
Now let's quote the press release we've received today.
'English Cities Fund (ECf) has submitted a reserved matters planning application for a new Grade A, BREEAM Excellent office building as part of Salford Central’s New Bailey scheme – a major city centre regeneration project that is situated adjacent (over the river) to the successful Spinningfields development.
'To be known as One New Bailey, the office will be situated on the site of the existing Ralli Courts offices on Stanley Street, off New Bailey Street. It will comprise125,000 sq ft and has a completed value of £51 million.
'Funded by Legal & General, the office will be developed by ECf (a joint venture between Muse Developments, Legal & General Property and the Homes and Communities agency), which hopes to secure approval by July 2014. Construction will commence in September 2014 and is due for completion in September 2016.
'The news comes just weeks after the announcement that Legal & General will forward fund this third phase of development in New Bailey, and marks the next stage in the transformation of this area of Salford to a vibrant, commercial and residential extension of the regional centre.
'New Bailey already includes a £12.5 million, 143-bedroom Premier Inn hotel, which is under construction and due for completion in October 2014 andthe recently commenced 615 space multi-storey car park, which will complete in November 2014. The office has been designed by RHWL Architects who have been appointed as both masterplanner and lead designer for the building plots.'
That's the end of the press release.
Clearly activity on the strategically important right bank of the Irwell in the city centre is important. But activity at any price could just be another nightmare waiting to happen.
Anywhereville Premier Inn
The Premier Inn currently being built on Irwell Street in New Bailey is a disappointment, motorway junction fodder not worthy of a city centre site. Or thinking about it not even worthy of a motorway junction. You can read our criticism here.
The office shown at the top and bottom of this page looks better. It's designed by RHWL architects. This practice was responsible in the nineties for the Bridgewater Hall, but also is behind that ugly and inappropriate Premier Inn above. Oh dear.
Their scheme for offices is better and will definitely age better than the dreadful pastiche that is Ralli Courts...but the big question is will it age well?
One New Bailey - artist's impression
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