HIGHRISE

[ash]

Been fascinated by the various projects and plans being made for high-rises in Reading town centre. Growing up in this town, I remember the years of a static skyline. The view of Western Tower, the Civic Centre and Fountain house dominating the views into town have burned into memory. Plans coming and going for various sites such as Forbury Square and thinking 'it will unlikely ever materialise'.

But in the past decade or so, it seems to be building up at such a rate. Having seen all the separate threads for each development, I can see how there may be concerns about the town's infrastructure being strained. If the traffic issues, parking, etc could be discussed on those individual threads, we could use this one to focus on architectural quality and visual impact of true high-rises (say 12+ storeys).

I thought this thread could be a space to discuss how each project will/has contributed to the changing overall skyline and aesthetic of the town.

Completed

• The Blade

• Chatham Place Phase 2

• Thames Tower extension

Under construction

• Verto (Former Kings Point)

• Thames Quarter (Former BMW Coopers site)

Planning

• Station Hill

• Former Royal Mail sorting office site

• Station Road (corner building opposite Thames Tower)

• Broad Street Mall (above car park)

[Stewart]

What is going on at the Butts, sorry, Broad Street Mall car park then?

[ash]

What is going on at the Butts, sorry, Broad Street Mall car park then?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-b ... e-44695373

[ash]

https://www.no1reading.com

29-35 Station Road, application for the 22 storey tower now submitted according to their website.

[Yola]

I have no objection to high rise. But I have some provisos. They need to be clustered so that they don't impact on existing heritage buildings and they need to have some degree of architectural merit/be a 'statement' building, or at least have a central statement building around which others are built.

Reading is changing, and I welcome change but I would like some brave design here to really make sure when people hear the name Reading the associations are positive and ones of admiration and not be synonymous with embarrassingly-designed and cheaply flung up blocks of flats with coloured plastic stuck to the facade.

[Pooneil]

[ash]

Couldn't agree more, Yola.

These buildings really have the opportunity to shape and make a lasting impression of Reading.

[piwacket]

Ditto.
Seems to me at the moment it’s a bit like a row of teeth - with lots missing

[Lizzy33]

No1 Reading looks nice and gives it a city appeal. I wonder which companies will move there?
The Blade was nice when it came out but is very odd imo
We need the fine balance of quality and lasting buildings and not white elephants.
It would be good to see investment in some of the worn out parts of Reading so we don't end up with "ghetto" areas.

[OneGorman]

The agreed plans for the Wickes/Iceland site are being scrapped in favour of a talker building(s).

[ash]

The agreed plans for the Wickes/Iceland site are being scrapped in favour of a talker building(s).

Glad to hear. Hopefully they can get new architects too.

[ash]

Planning application number: 182196

The developers of Thames Quarter want to increase the number of units, by increasing the height of the baseline building (not the tower).

[OneGorman]

Can’t see any issues with that. RBC are mad for flats and it’s only one more floor.

[Melchett]

All these rabbit hutches going up and not the infrastructure to support it. Worrying times for existing Reading residents.

[ash]

As more and more of the Verto building is revealed from under the scaffolding, I have real praise for the appearance of the building. I'm not always a massive fan of using valuable town-centre land solely for residential apartment blocks. But in this case, the building design looks really attractive, elegant, and it's certainly not a bog-standard lego-brick like some others being planned.

A fitting building for this prominent position.

[bert]

I agree with you, Ash. It’s quite a nice design. Miles better than what was there before.

[KeithW]

As more and more of the Verto building is revealed from under the scaffolding, I have real praise for the appearance of the building. I'm not always a massive fan of using valuable town-centre land solely for residential apartment blocks. But in this case, the building design looks really attractive, elegant, and it's certainly not a bog-standard lego-brick like some others being planned.

A fitting building for this prominent position.

The novelty will soon wear off and it'll just fade away into mediocrity like they all do, it's nothing special. It makes money for the developers and that is its sole purpose. Expensive sky-hutches.

[ash]

As more and more of the Verto building is revealed from under the scaffolding, I have real praise for the appearance of the building. I'm not always a massive fan of using valuable town-centre land solely for residential apartment blocks. But in this case, the building design looks really attractive, elegant, and it's certainly not a bog-standard lego-brick like some others being planned.

A fitting building for this prominent position.

The novelty will soon wear off and it'll just fade away into mediocrity like they all do, it's nothing special. It makes money for the developers and that is its sole purpose. Expensive sky-hutches.

Lol, fade away like the Blade has done? Don't think they all do. It has made a lasting impression on the skyline, as will this building.

[OLDMAN]

Talking of high-rise, and I know its not Reading but worth comparing – anyone else seen this? - http://royalwinchesterhouse.com/

I see it everyday and it’s been interesting watching it go up

As you come in / approach the TC on the old Wokingham Rd its directly in front of you, but oddly not noticeable as seems to blend in due to the sight line you get

Passing on through it does look big, but not obtrusive

Amazing how they can get the look just right with some buildings

[KeithW]

Lol, fade away like the Blade has done? Don't think they all do. It has made a lasting impression on the skyline, as will this building. [Verto]

We obviously have different sensibilities. The Blade is a boring office building with a spike on top. That don't impress me much.

[ash]

Lol, fade away like the Blade has done? Don't think they all do. It has made a lasting impression on the skyline, as will this building. [Verto]

We obviously have different sensibilities. The Blade is a boring office building with a spike on top. That don't impress me much.

Agree to disagree. You can’t please everyone.

I like to look at things from a ‘glass is half full’ perspective. No building is perfect. I could find many points of criticism for many buildings in Reading.

But, where possible, praise given where it’s due, instead of focussing only on its flaws

[Pooneil]

Lol, fade away like the Blade has done? Don't think they all do. It has made a lasting impression on the skyline, as will this building. [Verto]

We obviously have different sensibilities. The Blade is a boring office building with a spike on top.

It's not entirely boring - I like the one curved side and one more conventional side of the design. But I find the pointy bit on top to be rather ludicrous.

[Melchett]

Bring back Forbury Vaults.

[KeithW]

Bring back Forbury Vaults.

Bring back the vibrant throbbing hot-spot that was the White Lion!