General Developments

Finally! This needed to happen! It's the only real eyesore on what is otherwise a relatively impressive gateway into the city centre. I think it looks alright. Not great, but alright. But does it really matter anyway? Anything is an improvement on its current state, and and an improved exterior will prove attractive to potential occupiers.

Finally! This needed to happen! It's the only real eyesore on what is otherwise a relatively impressive gateway into the city centre. I think it looks alright. Not great, but alright. But does it really matter anyway? Anything is an improvement on its current state, and and an improved exterior will prove attractive to potential occupiers.

The darker bit is okay but the lighter bit seems worryingly reminiscent of Stadium House. Hope I'm wrong!

Finally! This needed to happen! It's the only real eyesore on what is otherwise a relatively impressive gateway into the city centre. I think it looks alright. Not great, but alright. But does it really matter anyway? Anything is an improvement on its current state, and and an improved exterior will prove attractive to potential occupiers.

Well that Cardiff council design considerations through and through isn't it, it's not great but its mediocre so let's accept it and ask no more questions. Don't want to risk them walking away (which they won't).

I'd rather a mediocre building than a rotting one... Sometimes it's not about "accepting mediocre", it's about knowing what's possible. It's not going to get much better than this for Eastgate House. Look how long it's been left to rot. If the council doesn't allow mediocre, we could end up with a whole city of rotting buildings.

I'd rather a mediocre building than a rotting one... Sometimes it's not about "accepting mediocre", it's about knowing what's possible. It's not going to get much better than this for Eastgate House. Look how long it's been left to rot. If the council doesn't allow mediocre, we could end up with a whole city of rotting buildings.

So are you a fan of the amazing mediocre upgrade they gave to the building opposite Capital/Central Bar with the green cladding? That's already rotting. All they needed was to clean it up. This city is becoming render and crap cladding central.

Looking past your rather aggressive attitude, I never used the word mediocre when I referred to this building. That was you. I actually think it looks far better than what is currently there. And I wouldn't call that building a "mediocre upgrade". All they did was paint it and maybe change the windows. That's just a poor refurbishment, incomparable to a completely overhaul of a 15 storey office building. It sounds to me like you just have a bone to pick with the council. Need I remind you of the 10 or so proposed builds in the city that are made of good quality materials? Some of these have already been built.

Do you really expect something like The Shard or One World Trade Center to just appear in a mid-size British city? Go to nearly every other similarly sized city in the UK and you'll find that the architecture and build quality in Cardiff is no worse. In most cases it's far better. A bit of positivity doesn't go amiss.

Sorry if I come across as aggressive but yes I am frustrated with the quality of some of the schemes coming through, and obviously we disagree on that, but the council does have much to answer for in terms of its planning/design expertise.

My issue is mainly with the use of rendering this wet, coastal city. Look at Altolusso, Landmark Place in Churchill away, that block next to Queen St station, the student accommodation on Bute Terrace and the numerous Bay developments that feature render. It doesn't keep its look for long - it either becomes black or green or cracks - and if it's painted it needs even more maintenance. I'm just calling for some more 'hardy' materials that stand the test of time and do not weather badly within 5 years (if you're lucky). The blac render in this will be covered in seagull shit in weeks

I am absolutely not even thinking about schemes such as the Shard. But frankly the mid to high rise stuff being built in inner London and other cities now, including SOME of the new resi schemes in the Bay, are of brick construction - maybe with some zinc - and they will not date or weather as badly.

Rain screen cladding on the whole of Capital Quarteris may weather OK but my god will we regret it in a few years. It's just about design quality. My opinion, I realise, but I'm sure I'm not alone.

I completely understand, and I too would prefer the new builds to be made of good, long-lasting materials (which I do believe is starting to happen). I'm definitely against render for new proposals as I think it shows lack of ambition. But at the same time, it's not easy to modernise these buildings to an excellent standard without a lot of time and money, and without having to almost completely rebuild it. I guess we'll see how this one turns out, if it gets approved, but I do see why people would be disappointed.

The demolition of The Wharf has commenced

http://m.imgur.com/kXO6smx,CCghFqt

Also fencing has been placed around the new development to the south of henke court

Looks like work has started on this again in the bay, scaffolding going up

IMG_20160901_174713 by Stephen Anstiss, on Flickr