Vaux site

Never really noticed it? Give over it's an absolute eye sore man.
I really don't notice it. Facilitating West End Theatre productions are far more important to me than a metal box placed on top. Perhaps they can get that local artist to paint something appropriate on it.

Sometimes you have to crack eggs to make an omelette.
 


I really don't notice it. Facilitating West End Theatre productions are far more important to me than a metal box placed on top. Perhaps they can get that local artist to paint something appropriate on it.

Sometimes you have to crack eggs to make an omelette.

I think you can objectively criticise the design whilst also appreciating the benefit of the odd west end production. Looks bloody awful.
 
£4m revamp in 2004 when the box was stuck on top. Development budget for inside and out. That's nothing, even the best part of 20 years ago. Crap design was all down to budget.

Im sure i saw an alternative plan for the fly tower made from brick and glass. Would have been much better

.......It wasnt the ones shown here either

 
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Well ok tell me how it would have made a difference?

Also how can you say the theatre extension is a failure? Ok it might not look like you want it to but it presumably delivers what it is designed for?

How am I the problem? Because I don’t simply jump to the conclusion that any party is fully to blame. Can you tell me if the other parties objected at the planning committee?

Let’s be honest you are the problem with your inability to debate without having to resort to insults. It typifies the fact that you have little comprehension of how developments work. You clearly expect to things to happen which are completely unviable or undeliverable, and as such will never ever happen.

If you are so passionate, clever and ambitious above us plebs why not try and be a cllr.


Yeah I think a lot of what is planned in Durham is housing. They do have more food and beverage included though I understand quite a few have pulled out recently due to the current market. From some of the plans they are planning on commercial (restaurants and the like at the gf of some of the units).


Totally agree. That one area of Sunderland is reasonably successful and of a reasonable quality.
I didnt say the extension is a failure at all.Stop twisting things.I was implying the material used for the addition was a cheap eyesore resulting in a grey monstrosity structure.Visually it resembles something from Sellarfield when something much more vusually attractive could have been constructed.As for being a councillor the Labour council is a closed shop establishment.I know of some who have tried to change things for the better but being ousted.If you are happy with the performance of the Labour council and mp s over the years and decades given the state of this hollow city then you must be easily easily pleased.To be the best version of itself as it was in bygone years this city will only be able to achieve such heights when a failed and self indulgent Labour council and mp s have been removed from power once and for all.Only then may we see a city in nature not just name.
£4m revamp in 2004 when the box was stuck on top. Development budget for inside and out. That's nothing, even the best part of 20 years ago. Crap design was all down to budget.
A said council who has cash reserves of £160 + million.
Depends on the budget.
Budget Sunderland as always yet other places invest heavily in such structural projects.Cinderella city with such a down at heel mindset.
Never really noticed it? Give over it's an absolute eye sore man.
He obviously walks around always checking his shoe laces are fastened.lol
 
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I didnt say the extension is a failure at all.Stop twisting things.I was implying the material used for the addition was a cheap eyesore resulting in a grey monstrosity structure.Visually it resembles something from Sellarfield when something much more vusually attractive could have been constructed.As for being a councillor the Labour council is a closed shop establishment.I know of some who have tried to change things for the better but being ousted.If you are happy with the performance of the Labour council and mp s over the years and decades given the state of this hollow city then you must be easily easily pleased.To be the best version of itself as it was in bygone years this city will only be able to achieve such heights when a failed and self indulgent Labour council and mp s have been removed from power once and for all.Only then may we see a city in nature not just name.

A said council who has cash reserves of £160 + million.

Budget Sunderland as always yet other places invest heavily in such structural projects.Cinderella city with such a down at heel mindset.

He obviously walks around always checking his shoe laces are fastened.lol
NOMOREFALSEDAWNS
 
To be fair, the views of the river, in arguably a better location given you get a cracking view of bridge and sea, did absolutely nothing for the echo24 appartments or the ones directly opposite.
Sunderland isn’t a flat/apartment living culture type area. There’s still a bit of people only live in flats if they can’t afford houses type vibe I reckon. As long as there’s land to build houses on and people to build em that’ll nivver change imho. Hopefully a buy to let or flat renting craze gets you guns living centrally to give the city centre a lift.
I’ll snap one up myself for match weekends when I win the lottery.
 
I didnt say the extension is a failure at all.Stop twisting things.I was implying the material used for the addition was a cheap eyesore resulting in a grey monstrosity structure.Visually it resembles something from Sellarfield when something much more vusually attractive could have been constructed.As for being a councillor the Labour council is a closed shop establishment.I know of some who have tried to change things for the better but being ousted.If you are happy with the performance of the Labour council and mp s over the years and decades given the state of this hollow city then you must be easily easily pleased.To be the best version of itself as it was in bygone years this city will only be able to achieve such heights when a failed and self indulgent Labour council and mp s have been removed from power once and for all.Only then may we see a city in nature not just name.

At what point did I say I was happy with the performance of the council my point is that it likely wouldn’t have made a great deal of difference which party was in power, as presumably the budget available at the time was based on other financial pressures of the time set by the council finance team within the council not a cllr - which I stated in my previous post.

Also I even agreed with you that I thought it could look better, but that the function was the most important part.

Which party do you want to see in power and what vision do they have?
 
New riverside housing will probably end up at the start all bought up for matchday living and then eventually rented out, go to shite then end up old mattresses everywhere and full of asylum seekers etc...Echo 24 anyone?
 
I reckon the reply will be anything but labour. Having seen some of his comments on the politics forum, sounds likes he a cult of Farage follower.

The issue for me is that anyone can have ambition but the ability to deliver is another matter all together. It’s easy to say we want buildings of 15-20 storeys, to have viewing platforms, to bring ship building back, to have a 5000 seater arena, ice rink, leisure pool, indoor ski slopes, more shops and food and beverage places not less, etc.. etc... but it’s another thing altogether to make it a reality and to make it sustainable in the long term. More so the Uproar of not developing the sites out quick enough or to the right degree of architecture everyone wants would be overwhelming. Ok some cllr may take a punt on some of it but it could easily back fire and straddle the council with large debts.

I think historically the council has taken the position of waiting for the private sector to come forward with development and as such it has never been forthcoming and the city has faulted as a consequence. They’ve have however clearly started to take a more active role and to force the issue more but they still aren’t able to change the market conditions nor sway central government cuts.
 
I think with the theatre being able to host the big shows is a massive thing, and the adding of a 4star hotel in close proximity is a really good and hopefully there is a deal to do a show and sleep tickets. The Fly Tower looks like a corn beef tin and I think it would look better with maybe a laser-cut metal design wrapped around that is backlit by LED's

Agreed. While the extension was essential for the future of the Empire, and it's meant it's made a mint from West End touring productions that wouldn't have gone to any theatre int eh region, from the outside, it does look shit. And more - there was a consultation at the time about what artwork would be best for the outside (I seem to remember one of the choices being something to do with clapping hands), that all got quietly dropped and industrial estate chic was the preferred option. Shame.
 
Agreed. While the extension was essential for the future of the Empire, and it's meant it's made a mint from West End touring productions that wouldn't have gone to any theatre int eh region, from the outside, it does look shit. And more - there was a consultation at the time about what artwork would be best for the outside (I seem to remember one of the choices being something to do with clapping hands), that all got quietly dropped and industrial estate chic was the preferred option. Shame.


I wouldn't be surprised at it making an absolute mint on the West End Touring productions. And I can remember that as well with regards to the artwork. I think with the look around that area it sticks out but for a bad reason. I seem to remember there was a cinema in the empire (think I might have gone to see Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie in 1995) and if I am right about that it would be nice to see an art-house style cinema there playing Classic films and the same types of films as Tyneside Cinema.
 
What are your views on the horrendous steel shedding structure addition attached to the empire theatre a few years ago ??? Cheap and nasty option as is the labour council way.
Blends in ok now
Was needed to install all the machinery required for the big west end shows that the theatre royal is too small for
 

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