SirBlah wrote:I don't know, I feel that turning the whole place into residential would be a bit of a let down personally, This area, even though it contains some very important historical buildings and some of the best examples of Victorian architecture in Cardiff, is also an area which is completely forgotten about and almost completely empty of people, simply because there's really nothing there.
The Coal Exchange especially, this is building that deserves to be more then just a load of flats or a hotel (there's already more then enough of those around the area anyway). Like the Pierhead Building it needs to be an attraction itself- since by doing so it opens up the possibility of regenerating the whole area around it. I'd love to see it turned into something like a museum, or maybe an art gallery. Something cultural, that would help bring people that that area of the bay.
I think you are spot on actually. There are plenty of other offices going up or planned in other areas of the city, other places for small businesses to be located. The building is just too important.
Ignoring the obvious and massive funding issue, would a gallery work in that building ?