Re: Re: A new Clarence Hotel re-development with destruction on Essex St., Temple Bar

I like the Essex Street East elevation and I think that it would act as an excellent addition to the area.

I am concerned with three issues; firstly the impacts of its overall scale on the Quays where the existing Clarence is already way out of kilter and mitigated only by the appearance of deco from the roof cladding which is I think not original?

Secondly the way the design neuters the qualities of the existing buildings; it reminds me of the Opus building in Edmund St in Birmingham where essentially a glass box was thrown on top of a similar mix of 19th and early 20th century buildings.

Thirdly the rendering is designed not to give a clear impression of the impacts of the scheme and this is not the first time that renderings of night time views have been used in this way. There needs to be some guidelines to police renderings as after the South King Street scheme (which I really like) and building beside City Hall (which I also like) it is clear that such renderings are at best not a true reflection of the design intention or at worst a smoke and mirrors exercise that may have the result of giving a completely understated impression.

On balance that a decision were made to lop off the upper floors and grant the remainder would be my hope.