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Sunday, 22 January 2012

Taking shape


Teeth are big business these days.  There was an article in the newspaper recently saying how many celebrities, including the Duchess of Cambridge, are having expensive cosmetic treatments on their teeth.  And what, perhaps you're asking, has that got to do with a half-finished building in Shipley?  Well, this is going to be the headquarters of an orthodontics firm, Ortho-Care (UK) Ltd.  You may recall me showing the skeleton of the factory way back in the spring.   From this to this to the above, in about eight months.  The glazing is in and they are working on the interior now.

The factory has turned out to be much larger than it looked at first - unfortunately for the residents of the cottages behind it.  Furthermore its modern, angular design bears little relationship to anything in the surrounding area, and certainly not to the historic, honey stone mill buildings of Saltaire, which are now hidden behind it.   The wing that you can't see, at the back, is clad in dark grey metal sheeting.  I'm a bit surprised that it got through the planning process - but maybe that shouldn't surprise me really!  It is supposed to be a very eco-conscious construction, so perhaps that triumphed over aesthetics.

13 comments:

  1. And, of course, money talks. A sad day for Saltaire, I'd say. Surely something as hideous as this belongs on a light industrial estate, out of town?

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  2. Eco friendly (which I fully agree with) or not ... That's just horrible ...

    To me, it looks like the builders couldn't be bothered to flatten the plans out properly.

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  3. Why can't it be eco-friendly AND beautyful?!The building is ugly, and I'm sad for people living behind.

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  4. It certainly isn't in keeping with the its surrounds. Maybe in a modern precinct it would look okay. Shame there are not rules about architecture there.

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  5. Lets hope the teeth are not as large and unsightly as the building.

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  6. I think we have a sort of architectural counter-award brewing here, a "Golden Raspberry" for buildings. And it is most deserving! Jim

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  7. We have a beautiful little town just north of where I live...historic buildings, pond with working water mill...just perfect. A few years back the city allowed a Chinese Food Restaurant, in the shape of a pagoda to be built right smack in the middle of it all. What are they thinking? (o:

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  8. Well, it isn't as charming as the other parts of your sweet city, is it! ha.

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  9. I LOVE the traffic circles! I could ride my bike around them all day long. Send a photo of the building when it's finished please!

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  10. It certainly doesn't look like it blends in with the other buildings I have seen on your blog. It would have been easy to design a sustainable building and still have more compatible and complementary design.

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  11. We will have to see this finished! There are too many people wandering about these days with glaring white teeth!

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  12. Hmmm, I almost think I like this - but only when taken out of context. It would look horrible beside your other beautiful, historic buildings. It does look rather hulking. And far too white. Okay, maybe I don't like it all that much after all.

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  13. Yes, I was thinking the same, that Eco always trumps aesthetics! ~Lili

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