Manchester Now

Discover what’s happening right now.

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Manchester Now

Discover what’s happening right now.

@IzyaniNurul Hmm....Haha!!!!!! u were lying!!!!!!!! if ur in manchester hw ru bored? ur supposed to be exited, u gave urself away... ... @Short_Lil_Glam1

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Top 5 buildings

by Sarah-Clare Conlon whose blog Words & Fixtures about language, literature, arts and culture won Best New Blog in the 2009 Manchester Blog Awards.

1.

UMIST

Manchester Modernist Society highlights architectural gems at risk, including the Toast Rack in Fallowfield and parts of the UMIST campus. Tucked in next to the apex of the Mancunian Way, the trademark WA Gibbon-designed white concrete buildings and Holloway Wall offer a 60s utopia, complete with a bowling green. Address: Sackville Street, M1 3QJ

2.

The Royal Exchange

Starting life as the bastion of Manchester trade, the Royal Exchange survived a direct hit in the Blitz and protected St Ann’s Church from the IRA blast. Its glass and steel roof echoes the Barton Arcade opposite and juxtaposes well with the innovative seven-sided theatre performance space. Address: St Ann's Square, M2 7DH

3.

Victoria Baths

The renovation of Victoria Baths in Longsight is well under way, partly thanks to the BBC’s Restoration series. On the first Sunday of each month until November, you can mooch round and appreciate the lovely tiles, stained glass windows and fascinating features such as the bathside changing cubicles and steamroom contraptions. Address: Hathersage Road, M13 0FE

4.

The Daily Express Building

On the far edge of the Northern Quarter, the former Daily Express Building is a fabulous Art Deco curvy black and silver glass structure reflecting the version on London’s Fleet Street. The newspaper left in the 80s and it is now an apartment block, but its facade still gives contemporary architecture a run for its money. Address: 19 Great Ancoats Street, M60 4BT. [Image credit]

5.

Central Library

The neoclassical circular Central Library is a great landmark and a lovely public building, but its million books and 22 miles of shelving will shortly be packed away for a spring clean. Until it reopens in 2012, find peace and quiet next door at the gothic Town Hall where you can have afternoon tea surrounded by marble busts and mosaics. Address: St Peter's Square, M2 5PD.

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  • How great to see UMIST at the top of this list - a superb collection of late 20th Modern buildings and public art works... keep your eyes on this, the University seems intent on relocating from many of these buildings and who knows what moght happen to them.
    Jack Hale
  • Can't believe you've missed out both John Rylands AND the Town Hall; both Grade I listed buildings.
    A Mancunian
  • I'm sorry these are decent buildings but since this is a Manchester tourism website then why recommend places that visitors can't get in or buildings that have just closed down. Ludicrous. What is going on with this strange website.
    Jake Lynch
  • Hi Jake, thanks for your comment. This website is all about painting a picture of Manchester as a destination and having a conversation about it. That includes featuring the personal choices of residents for things worth seeing in the city. Even if you can't get into some of these buildings they're still architecturally important and people can still enjoy them.
    Martin Bryant
  • Not UMIST, surely. It has nothing to do with the Manchester architectural tradition - into which the Daily Express building fits like a glove. You might just as well have proposed the Piccadilly hotel and its deplorable, scruffy, late-fifties early sixties accompanying outbuildings. Did you never see Charlie Bubbles?
    Peter Street
  • Hi Jean The Town Hall main reception and some rooms are open to the public during the day. The opening times and rooms available depend on any events taking place at the hall. You can also take a guided tour, the next ones are on the 27th March (http://www.visitmanchester.com/discover/guidedwalk/MAN-192111_townhalltour.aspx) and the 17th April (http://www.visitmanchester.com/discover/guidedwalk/MAN-192111_townhalltour.aspx).
    Stuart @ visitmanchester
  • I disagree with Peter Street about this. This collection of buildings is of a very high standard and filled with excellent art works by respected artists (murals, mosaics and the like), and his implication that the UMIST Campus is deplorable and scruffy is simply misleading. Excellent to hear of the recent listing of Anthony Hollloway's sculptural wall on the UMIST campus - concrete/art/architecture in one.
    Jack Hale
  • Peter - I share your love of the deco/modernist showstopper that is the Daily Express building I can also understand why 1960's architecture eg UMIST & Piccadilly Plaza are not to everyone's personal taste. Many have been neglected and have gotten pretty scruffy. But I cannot agree with the apparent dismissal of an entire architectural era and important chapter in Manchester's history due to conflicting personal taste. Yes - my taste does extend to include some of our 1960s/modernist architecture of which the UMIST campus represents some of our best.I hope that I would still appreciate its value and feel a need to preserve it - even if I didn't like it so much! I applaud visitmanchester.com for recognising the full breadth of Manchester's architectural history in its 'top 5'. I passionately hope we do see the UMIST campus preserved. ..oh and I have not seen Charlie Bubbles - so have just ordered it for £2.99 from Amazon..I look forward to watching that...
    Mags McEwan
  • I'm afraid the UMIST bowling green went a long time ago, after a student wrote I heart UMIST with weedkiller on it.
    Tim Morris
  • hi www.visitmanchester.com-ers merry xmas to you all - matty
    mattymays mattymays
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