Leeds Corn Exchange

The Corn Exchange was always an impressive building, but inside the domed hall, one thousand thousand black ghouls with bright fringes festered. No more!
With the tacky 'Affleck's palace lite' shops scoured out of the building like the Augean stables, the Corn Exchange has been born anew, a massive skylight spanning the wide open space, lighting up the inside, making use of the vastness which for so long had been in shadow, or obscured by scaffolding.
This new light now falls upon a classy restaurant in the central pit, stone floors and dark woods in this round house conjuring up images of 'the Globe' or at least a theatrical atmosphere.
The building has never been seen in a better light.

royal armouries

The Royal Armouries Leeds is located at Clarence dock, alongside the River Aire. It displays a large portion of the United Kingdom’s collection of armour and includes items from the present day as well as previous ages, including artifacts from the English civil war, and royal armours belonging to Tudor and Stuart kings. As well as armour, it hosts a collection of fine art, and a special collection dedicated to the Tower of London.
Walking around the exhibits was awkward and the displays seemed incoherent, with very little guidance as to where to start and it was difficult to see how some displays were related to the next one, with each gallery seeming to end rather abruptly. There was very little to experience ‘hands-on’ in the museum which I think let it down slightly. There lots to see but not enough to do. I felt the museum was geared more towards arms enthusiasts with a deep understanding of armoury, rather than those with a casual interest, or those looking for something to do for a day out. It really didn’t feel like the kind of place you’d take your family for a day out, I think a lot of people would get bored with seeing too much of the same thing and they wouldn’t appreciate the artifacts.
The most interesting aspect of the actual building housing the armouries is the glass tower containing a spiraling staircase displaying a variety of spears and swords on both sides of the walls, so that artifacts are visible to people inside the building and outside it. Oddly enough however, it somewhat resembles a watchtower and puts me in mind of a prison. One clever feature I really did like was the benches outside. They were black marble and bordered with the names of different armours and weapons quite stylishly. It also included the word 'brigandine' which is one of my favourites.

City of Manchester Stadium

The Eastlands stadium is a recent design, and a beautiful example of that kind of building. Originally intended for an Olympic bid, it was built to be grand and elegant, and so it is. It is distinctive on the Manchester horizon for it's low lying curved roof and large radiating spires. The spires are cleverly attached to the ground circling the stadium to counterweight the large roof. It's position next to the 'B of the bang' monument made it especially unique on the skyline.
I also like it's entrances to the upper tiers. The spiralling walkways turn round an round outside the stadium, with entrances to each floor on each turn. Everything about the stadium feels spectacular and remarkable.
The stadium looks best when lit up, it's smooth curved surfaces and millenium dome-esque spikes looking beautiful in the ambient light.

broadcasting tower

Broadcasting tower is new to Leeds, and has caused quite a stir- it is entirely covered in Corten Steel, and therefore is rusty. This isn't an entirely new idea, and one of the world's most famous structures, the statue of liberty, suffers from a similar chemical problem, albeit unintentional in that case, but still, Leeds residents are shocked by the new building.
The architecturally literate are mostly of the opinion that these nay-sayers just aren't open to any even slightly eccentric concepts, but the view could also be held that it doesn't fit in. Personally, I have never felt Leeds to have anything even remotely like a consistent aesthetic, and it looks good to me. People have a ground in attitude that rust = bad, but as long as it is beautiful and doesn't cause any problems structurally or safetywise, I have no problem with unorthodox materials. The current slew of shiny glass buildings is pretty enough, but those that really stand out to me are those of intriguing colours and textures.
I wouldn't go so far as to say that anything that gets people talking about architecture is good- there have been a fair few abominations built in my time- but I see nothing wrong with Broadcasting tower. If every building in Leeds was something this unique and beautiful, this city would be much more pleasant to live in.

Beetham tower, Manchester

The Beetham tower in Manchester is a controversial subject for residents of the city. Many think it's imposing height is at odds with the low lying city, others say it's design bears no relation to the other buildings in the area, and it is ruining the area by ruling over it, an alien invader.
However, viewed in and of itself, the tower is an impressive object. Everyone seems to have a different reaction to it. Some are made anxious by the way the heavy top floors overhang the lower floors, it's lopsided bulk worryingly precarious seeming. Personally I think that it's simple yet remarkable shape is good design, and the wonder invoked when considering the engineering work involved in building such a structure solidly is a sign that the architect has done a very good job.
What is beautiful about it to me is the way that the huge flat panel it embodies reflects the Manchester skies, the bright blues to the stirring greys that I love dancing in a towering block of ice.
The placement of the building is something I have trouble justifying though, and it seems disrespectful to the buildings in it's shadow, the G-Mex centre and the Haçienda apartments neé nightclub, the former recognised as good historical design and the latter a source of revolutionary design.

Clarence Dock

Clarence Dock is in my opinion, Leeds' most beautiful area, modern architecture, wide open spaces and large expanses of calm water. Greenery would make it perfect, but I'll take what I can get in this city.
It's beauty is redoubled come the night, when bright lights reflect in the mirrored waters, and soft luminescence suffuses the buildings.
The focal point of the dock, when viewed from the riverside, is the Clarence Dock building, a curling matte white structure with the shape and texture of a beautiful seashell. The building is a tangible evocation of the airiness and freshness the area exudes, from the wide open pool to the wide open sky.
The architecture is incredibly varied, but in harmony, no building overpowering another, yet each pretty in it's own right, and emphasising the strong horizontal planes leading toward the main building.