Hello and welcome to Manchester. In this video I present my Top 50 best and worst buildings in Manchester and district.
We’ll start with the worst ones
Number 50. The Arndale Centre by Hugh Wilson and Lewis Womersley 1972-1979. – Ugly and far too big, but as a shopping centre, very successful.
Number 49. Library Walk Link Building SimpsonHaugh – 2015 – ruins the effect of the two heritage buildings and blocks the beautiful passageway between them.
Number 48. Piccadilly pavilion Tadao Ando – 2002
Simply ugly and reminded me immediately of the Berlin Wall.
In 47th place, Number One Piccadilly Gardens von Allies and Morrison – 2003 – It was built on a greenspace and blocks the view of the historic facades.
46. Northenden flats 2014
This apartment building appeared the suburb of Northenden. The design is not bad but here in a village its too big and dominating. The building is bigger than in the original plans.
and now on to the better ones
45. Piccadilly Plaza Covell Mathews and Partners – 1965
Many hate it but I find it exciting and futuristic.
44. Bernard House, Piccadilly Plaza 1965 a building with a very interesting roof. Sadly it was demolished in 2003.
43. The Beetham/Hilton Tower Ian Simpson – 2007
42. The Trafford Centre Chapman Taylor & Leach Rhodes Walker – 1998 Architects cricitise but millions of visitors seem to like it!
41. The Mathematics Tower Scherrer and Hicks 1968 A nice building but no longer compatible with a modern university and demolished 2005, and replaced by…
40. University Place John McAslan + Partners – 2008 – At the university they call it ‘the tin can’.
and now on to the good ones…
39. Wythenshawe Park Tennis & Bowls Pavilion by City Architect LC Howitt – 1960 – A tiny masterpiece of modern architecture.
38. No 1 Deansgate Ian Simpson – 2002
A nice place to live, but not so good if you value your privacy.
37. Furness House fmr Manchester Liners Leach, Rhodes and Walker – 1969
In the former Manchester docks, it reminds me of Liberty Hall in Dublin.
36. The 1962 terminal at Manchester Airport by LC Howitt and Besant Roberts As a child I found it exciting and futuristic. Here’s a photo of mine from 1973.
35. Manchester Airport ATC Tower by CPM Architects 2013
Impressive and similar to other towers all over the world.
34. Pall Mall Court Brett & Pollen -1969
A nice sixties building.
33. – 55 King Street Casson, Conder & Partners 1966, 1969
Was a bank, now it’s a boutique.
32. City of Manchester Stadium Arup – 2002
31. Owens Park Tower Building Design Partnership – 1968
A student hall of residence with fantastic views.
30. Peter House Ansell and Bailey – 1958
Its facade curves outwards and opposite…
Number One St Peters Square
29. No1 St Peters Square Glenn Howells Architects – 2015
An elegant modern building its facade curves inwards.
28. Granada TV building Ralph Tubbs – 1956
A monument to the golden era of British TV.
27. The Lowry Hotel Consarc Design Architects – 2001
26. Contact Theatre Alan Short and Associates – 1999
A beautiful, interesting and rather crazy building.
25. Islington Wharf Broadway Malyan – 2000
Futuristic with great views
24. Oxford Rd Station William Robert Headley and Max Clendinning – 1960
It’s made out of wood and reminiscent of the Sydney Opera House
23. The Royal Exchange Theatre Levitt Bernstein – 1976
A building within a building. It looks like a lunar module.
22. The Bridgewater Hall Renton Howard Wood Levin – 1996
The new home of the Halle Orchestra founded in 1854 by the German-British musician Sir Charles Hallé.
21. Toast Rack Hollings Campus Leonard Cecil Howitt – 1960
Was a college for catering and so form represents function.
20. Manchester Cancer Research Centre Capita Symonds – 2015
19. National Graphene Institute Jestico + Whiles 2015
It has facets, like a jewel.
18. The Quay Bar Stephenson Bell- 1998 It won prizes but as a bar it wasn’t successful and it was demolished in 2007
17. MMU Business School and Student Hub FCB Studios – 2012
A very impressive building made out of glass.
16. Stockport Pyramid 1992
Now an icon of Stockport.
15. Manchester International Office Centre former Renold Chain – Cruikshank & Seward – 1955
Near the airport, a very early example of modern office architecture.
14. New Piccadilly Station BDP – 2002
in my opinion the best modern station building in the UK. I use it every day.
13. Gateway House Richard Seifert & Partners – 1969
Here in 1998 recently renovated, and today it looks great.
12. The Lowry Michael Wilford – 2000
With its metal façade and crazy shapes and colours, it’s unmistakable.
11. Maths and Social Sciences Building Cruikshank and Seward – 1968
For me as a child, this was a symbol of modernity.
10. Renold Building W.A.Gibbon of Cruikshank and Seward – 1962
A masterpiece of modern architecture.
09. Hexagon Tower Blackley Richard Seifert – 1973
This futuristic building looks astonishingly like the modern PC Tower.
08. Daily Express Building Sir Owen Williams – 1939
Visionary and progressive, unlike the paper which moved out years ago.
07 HOME by Mecanoo – 2015 a home for cinema, theatre and art. It looks great by day and by night.
06. Siemens Building Buttress Architects – 1989p
In south Manchester, influenced by the Bauhaus.
05. Imperial War Museum Daniel Libeskind – 2002
Represents a world shattered by war.
04. Civil Justice Centre by Denton Corker Marshall – 2008
Very big, very expensive but in my opinion a modern masterpiece.
03. Urbis Ian Simpson – 2001
A great building – exciting. My Manchester Megaphoto was displayed here. Since 2012 the National Football Museum.
02. One Angel Square by 3DReid – 2013
For many Manchester’s best modern building but my number one is…
01. The CIS Tower by Gordon Tait – 1962
Outside and inside superb, influenced by the Inland Steel Building, Chicago, by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. 1956. Since 2004, a huge solar project. I’ve taught in the CIS Tower.
The Inland Steel Building, Chicago (1 and 3) was an inspiration for the CIS Building, Manchester (2 and 4)
So what’s your favourite building (in Manchester?) Please write it in the comments below.
And please like and subscribe.
Many thanks for watching and see you again in Manchester.
This video was showcased on the I Love Manchester website – many thanks to them for featuring my work.
Hi, I’m Aidan O’Rourke, @AidanEyewitness, language coach and YouTuber based in North West England, with links to Ireland and Germany. I offer German and English courses with individuals and small groups and run photo walks. I am building my AidanEyewitness YouTube channel, launched autumn 2020, focusing on Liverpool, Manchester and connected cities If you have any enquiries or would like to join me on a course or walk, please get in touch using the contact form or via social media.