The Glass Blob....

I don't remember a thing being built in Manchester in a long time that has caused so much controversy as the 'glass blob' thing that has blocked up the elegant curve of Library Walk between Central Library and the Town Hall Extension. It was a much loved and admired space in the city. It was a public right of way. The city council started building it in the teeth of intense public opinion that didn't want it being built, a £3.5 million extravagance by a council that is constantly bleating about austerity cuts. They didn't apply for permission to revoke the public right of way. It's been in and out of court and I'm still not sure where we are with it.

Well it opened last week. I have to say that inside it's not too bad. Outside it just looks wrong and has ruined a much loved space. It would make a fine cocktail bar in Spinningfields. It would look great there. From St Peter's Square it looks dark and forbidding, probably because of the silvered, funky ceiling inside. The pre build pictures promised a light filled structure that barely impacted on the buildings around it. That hasn't materialised.

It's actually an entrance because, apparently we have been confused as to how to get into Central Library through the massive, imposing, Corinthian columned portico that we have been forced to use since the building was built 70 odd years ago. We know the blob is an entrance because it says 'entrance' on the outside. Go in and there is nothing there but you can go through another set of doors that also say 'entrance.' So it's an entrance to another entrance but with no signs saying 'exit' so I'm expecting 100s of befuddled Mancunians to be trapped in there for days unable to work out how to leave. The council think we are too stupid to use the existing entrances to these buildings so have built this new one to clear things up for us.

I do like the view into St. Peter's Square though...