Bob
If the graphics are to be believed then this building is, externally, truly awful. I thought we'd progressed from the boring concrete catastrophies of the sixties/ seventies. This building oozes awfulness & lack of design sympathy for the location.
Tomas
I fully understand the disregard for this new build but the pictures don't give a true understanding of the finish, for location and context go and see the model at Angel Row Gallery. I personally like the proposal for it's understanding and detail, I believe the large windows will help break up the 'lace' pattern finish in green and show the inside outside. I also support Neil's comments and encourage any innovative design over another 'cheap' build similar to the Corner House as is happening at Trinity Square.. an ideal chance to have a city park/square!
Neil Lambert
It's misleading to describe the Garner's Hill park as a 'historic green space'... the area has only been green (and tenuously so) since the clearance of the derelict buildings that formerly stood there. The Arts Centre would be a great step towards rejuvenating this much-damaged area of the city; Weekday Cross, once the heart of the old saxon town would regain some of the enclosure and sense of place it has lost over the years, begun with the demolition of the old Town Hall to make way for the railway tunnel in the 19th century and continued with the urban vandalism of the Broadmarsh Centre and the widening of Fletcher Gate in the 1960s. This unique and crafted building, though not to everybody's taste - and what is? - should be applauded.
stef
that has got to be one of the ugliest buildings i have ever seen. it doesnt fit in with the rest of the architecture in the lace market at all. its almost like were taking a giant leap back to the 60's with brutalist buildings. base this building on the new proposed design for the broadmarsh then it wont look so out of place when broadmarsh is finally built.
Pete
For the Tony Browns who think Leeds is a dump, there's no way they'd allow anything so horrendous like that to get built up in Leeds. Instead they're spending £180 million doing out an 1840s factory building in Holbeck for something similar (part of the £1 billion Holbeck Urban Village development), and the nearest thing - hideousness-wise - they've got in Leeds to that building is being hidden by the new £120 million Quarry Hill development, and with around £6-7 billion of projects under way and in the pipeline, including sparkling 47 and 52-storey glass skyscrapers, the £700 million Harewood and Trinity Quarter developments, the £500 million City One development with its 40-storey centre piece tower, plus the massive £500 million Wellington Street development - that city is really going places.
Neil Winfield
How can a bulding that looks like a car park be representative of the arts
kurt hatton
Is it not already a sacralidge to build over one off Nottinghams ancient thourgh-fares, (that being Druery Hill) with a concrete block called Broard Marsh Shopping Certre. Now we have to do it again with a nother, but hay' this one has glass too! And dont forget we can put a little sign up saying "Formaly Known As". Do we really need this centre that bad?
Ayupmethickducks
I, like many I suppose, gave my vote at the local elections to candidates who expressed environmental concerns. It is good to see that so many environmentalists got elected. I can just imagine the planning meeting......it's a large modern concrete building AND ITS GREEN......we'll have that then, any green building has got my vote. I particularly like the undercover begging areas and evening external urinal areas, the aroma almost ouzes out of the design pictures now. Why visit a communist block country when we are bringing all their design ideas here?
Oliver Scutt-Flores
A brilliant idea, I am really looking forward to the centre. However, I hate this building. I am a real fan of modernist architecture well done, but I can see no reason for the building to look like this. Form and function I was always taught. Well this has no discernable form, and I can't see if that is because it fits the function perfectly, but I doubt it. Please make some changes to the design!
(",) ELSIE (",)
Something new for Notts to look forward to. There is a great need for an arts centre in such a ever thriving city!
Nottinghamian
What a monstrosity. We have had quite enough of architect inflicted grief in this city.
Catherine
Typical of the Council already voted for and no input for the locals, and what does English Heritage know about buildings ! Heaven forbid the council take advice from anyone, they know best !!!. The building looks like a prison or factory, we all know that building and arcitecture has to move on but lets get real just for once and do something decent and in tune with the area, and painting as for painting it green.
Thomas
I think we desperately need to preserve and enhance whatever green space we have left in nottingham city centre. I dont see the point in making the building reflect the style of the broadmarsh centre when it is on its lasts legs. The precedents elsewhere do show that peoples views on architecture are very important for a projects success. If this is rejected by the people of nottingham now I wouldnt go ahead with it.
Robert
The style of the building is completely out of context to its surroundings but so appropriate for Nottingham's insensitive planners. Utterly idiotic. Why not surround the Council House with corrugated sheeting - that's modern, and just as sensitive.
Dominik B
Surely this is some sort of joke!!! How can this monstrosity be considered to respect the heritage of the wonderfully developed Lace Market? A green box; completely shapeless is all it is, reminiscent a warehouse. How can we destroy an historical green space associated with Robin Hood for an eyesore that quite plainly to me pays no respect its well-respected surroundings. Landmark? Certainly, due to its sheer ugliness. Yet another pathetic display by our current useless, beurocratic council. Come on Nottinghamians, let's do something to protect our last shreds of heritage before they too are lost forever. Nottingham deserves better.
Christopher Frost
This must not and should not be built. It is a repulsive building. No one likes it, including the owners of the Broad Marsh Centre. It would be a veruca on the footprint of the city. The Lace Market needs a green space. The city council should do it up, not destroy it. The Arts Centre should be housed in any of the many empty buildings dotted around the city. Anyone interested in starting a protest group?
Anthony C
Your picture doesn't show the street context so it's hard to tell whether or not it fits.
However, Nottingham needs a flourishing and vibrant arts culture. It brings life and visitors to the city. Maybe the design is right: maybe it isn't. But we need new arts venues to foster an exciting and interesting culture. It does matter if many people don't like contemporary art. I don't like bowls but I still want to see bowling facilities made available to those that do.
George Pedant
The Garners Hill site is currently an eyesore. As for the loss of green space, has anyone moanign about it's loss actually been there!??! It is currently a litter strewn, muggers paradise, with a few tiny patches of grass behind padlocked gates. Errr... maybe using the space for a new arts centre is a positive use of the dead space?
Chris Charleswoth
We need to have more green areas in nottingham city centre, If this buiding goes ahead, is the green area to be replaced?
Bill
Looks more like a tyre and exhaust centre, or a very large public toilet.
Tim Smith
A pretty repulsive looking building that lacks design, inspiration or thought. Nottingham is a great city with some great buildings. If you put this thing up, it will be in line for a nomination in 'Englands Worst Building' competition.
Greig
You can imagine how this was sold to the council '"Bold! Cutting edge! Put the city on the map!" Probably just how they sold the Broadmarsh. It looks cheap and will look cheaper with time. It belongs on an industrial estate, not on the edge of best looking area of the city.
Mark Gitsham
I think an arts centre is desperately needed and should be a major landmark. My only 2 worries... 1) Will the building look seriously outdated in 10 years time? 2) Losing a rare green area, cities like London have lots of parks for a lunch-time sandwich but there aren't really any in Nottingham, we need to preserve that AND build an arts centre. Look at Newcastles "Armadillo".
Richard Childs
As a part artist who appreciates art but having completed the improvement works in and around High Pavement over the years as part of my full time job, I have to say that it does not fit in with the existing environment there at all. It looks like an industrial unit amongst historic splendour. The Planners need to get the developers to rethink the awful fascia panelling.
Ian Gill
Great idea. Just what the city needs. It's just a pity that the mocked up picture on the official website (ccan.org.uk) makes it look like a cheap out-of-town warehouse unit. I guess this means that it ticks the 'contemporary' box because there are so many similara structures being built and the 'art' one as some sort of post-modernist joke. Sadly it also ticks my personal 'crap' box. We definitely a better picture or a new design before any money public money is spent.
john brannan
I applaud its modernity but would like to see more detail. Why couldn't the City council show such courage with the contemporary bridge solution to the castle's landslip repair rather than submiting to the weak civic society who are too easily influenced by nimbys.
Peter
I'd go one further than Tom Phillips. Build this on top of the broadmarsh centre. Since Alders has closed its lost any appeal it may once have had. Virtually evry shop currently there is duplicated elsewhere in the city centre so Broadmarsh no longer serves any purpose & looks hellish. This proposal would kill two birds with one stone.
floyd
Well needed but badly placed?
Tom Phillips, love the sarcasm
Stephanie Jones
I think the building is out of context with the surrounding area, and it is a great loss of further lace market area. The area should be left and the park developed.
Theresa Bristow
Why do we need it to be built on Garners Hill? Nottingham Arena was built on the site of the old ice stadium, not an open space and "we grew to love it"! Are councilors missing the point? If we do infact need an Arts Centre and Gallery, re-use an existing building rather than destroy for ever the only piece of open space in the centre of Nottingam.
Thank you.
Tony Brown
I love it. A nice new, slick building is what Nottingham needs. We're being caught and left by dumps such as Leeds and Reading. Its time to develope the city more (and stop worring about the odd car driving anywhere near the centre)
Good work
yvonne wright
As usual the City Council is riding rough shod over the Council Taxpayers opinions.
I think it is a shame that this little piece of green space which is full of character is going to be lost.
Tom Phillips
Fits in well with the present Broadmarsh centre
