Thames Tower (Station Road)

[lizwing]

[piwacket]

Chris

Go on - send it to the Planners!

[lizwing]

I think the planners were playing a game of noughts and crosses during a boring meeting !

[Fed-up]

Either that or they got their Grannies to knit the design.

[cnb]

[N Tropy]

Now, that is good!

.

[johnH]

My preferred design - 'Live Long and Prosper'

Borg Tower

[ReadingT]

Now I'm usually supportive of new designs, especially compared to some of the conservative (small c) lot on here, but that is awful.

Agree with zag and cnb. An architect/designer would have to had actually pitched that to someone and they would have have agreed that it looks good! Unbelievable.

It's saying something when they manage to make a pooey brown building look even worse!

[Lw.]

Whilst I agree it's not the best design I've ever seen, I don't think it's that bad. Just a slightly brighter version of what's already there.

I must say though; I don't see the problem with it being 4 floors higher & don't really understand where people are coming from when they say it'll dominate the skyline. Given how high-sided most of the streets in town already are, I don't think the view will be any different from any angle other than the immediate walk out of the station (and possibly from north of the river), but once you cross into the pedestrianised bit I think it'll go out of sight.

I do sometimes wonder if the town really needs another tower of offices though - don't we already have a large number of empty spaces at the moment? Who is going to come & take all that space?

[Urban myth]

Looks a bit better here.

http://www.mydn-a.com/news/thames-tower ... t-awarded/

[Risotto]

Looks a bit better here.

http://www.mydn-a.com/news/thames-tower ... t-awarded/

Not so sure myself, Urban myth. Looks like a latticework of rusty RSJs to me.

Much was made of the influence of the Guaranty Building in Buffola on the new design, including the terracota facings that give it its brown appearance. If that includes a modern interpretation of that building's fine detailing then it might turn into something quite interesting. Sadly I suspect the facings will approximate in appearance to the terracota tiles i've just had laid in my utility room. Here's hoping that's not the case.

[Urban myth]

I was referring to the original "paint" designs, but yes I agree with you - would be far better to have some intricate designs. I think the council would like something along these lines as well. Maybe some vintage cars on the roof corners in homage to the Vincent's garage that was formerly on this site in the style of the Chrysler building to keep the New York theme. That may be somewhat over the top but let's hope the finished article offers a bit more in terms of features and appearance.

[zag]

I believe planning permission for this was approved.

[johnH]

Planning application for refurb :

http://planning.reading.gov.uk/fastweb_ ... &Postcode=

[Urban myth]

The contractors for the refurbishment have started to move in on site so should see something happening soon.

[Urban myth]

Scaffolding starting to go up. Hopefully will also start to go up next door at Station Hill

[zag]

Loads of work going on here, they look like they are gutting the insides as well.

Can't believe how quickly they have got onto this!

[Weeby-Vuit]

Scaffolding is growing:

[ReadingT]

Looks like the cladding has arrived...

[Lw.]

Lots of drilling & banging this morning - something is definitely happening...

[eddieed]

Looks like the cladding has arrived...

[img]

I saw that this morning - I think it is a sample panel as RBC have insisted they use real teracotta tiles.

[ReadingT]

Looks like the cladding has arrived...

[img]

I saw that this morning - I think it is a sample panel as RBC have insisted they use real teracotta tiles.

Have they? Since when?

[Fed-up]

Part of the planning permission:

http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/local- ... st-7797426

[ReadingT]

Part of the planning permission:

http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/local- ... st-7797426

Cheers.

I imagine they'll get around that somehow, hence the terracotta-style cladding!

[dave m]

It will have to be "terracotta style" as it needs to be curtain walling. It may well be genuine terracotta but bonded to curtain wall panels.

The building was designed to use curtain walls and so they have to replace the existing ones with the new design. Otherwise, they would have a major redesign on their hands, maybe even demolition and rebuild.

[Jimmy Riddle]

i came across this building in London the recentley:
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.51595 ... e0!6m1!1e1

It has a double storey ground floor and terracotta cladding, similar to what is being proposed for Thames Tower.

[chris_j_wood]

Didn't realise you could get lime green terracotta.

[Lw.]

I have to look at that monstrosity every day, I'm hoping Thames Tower will be less garish than that - I'm not overly keen on the sample tiles but think they would be better than St Giles High development - with a bit of tweaking to the colour TT could look quite good.

[dave m]

If unglazed proper terracotta then it may weather down?

[C8H10N4O2]

ISTR the famous Terracotta Army were unglazed constructs....?

[ReadingT]

Yeah but they were "Made in China"...

[zag]

Got a good look at the new cladding while walking past in the sun last night. Its certainly going to be a love it or hate it kind of thing.

I think I like it but need to see the final product to really be sure. Its kind of a orange hot chocolate colour.

[bobby1413]

Some progress being made - with the top of the building now visible. It looks like the bottom area they are making bigger.

[zag]

Yep she's being revealed more every day!

Looks great if i'm honest. Similar cladding to the new Garrard House development behind it.

[bobby1413]

I agree - looks very smart and modern