Aidan,
I like virtually everything built before about 1955-60 ish, from then on it gets a little selective. I did'nt like the CIS at first but it sort of grew on me now I think it is a kind of dramatic entry to the city from Cheetham Hill Road, especially at night.
To be fair, some from the late '70s and early/mid 80s are OK, they were brick and match the surroundings, two good examples are the brick office buildings opposite the town hall, in Albert Square, they are neat and complement the victorian architecture which surrounds them and if more of this had been done I think the city would now truly be a very attractive place
Moving on to the recent building boom, I HATE glass boxes with a passion. They are just ugly and obtrusive and I actually think they are even worse than the concrete monstrosities of the early 60s. recent stuff, there are very few which I like, the only tones which I think are OK areThe Bridgewater Hall and the hotel near Piccadilly Station which was added onto the old Joshua Hoyle building
|