Yes I agree, the old architecture in the city centre is magnificent and it has been sympathetically restored. Maybe I should do a video on that? Many thanks for your comment.
@@AidanEyewitness yes, but if you do look up, you will start to notice all the dragons, gargoyles etc looking down on the people below. Not many people notice them.
Went to Leeds a few days ago to the First Direct arena after spending a few days in Manchester, and have to say that the city has a great feel to it with a lot of new developments and a skyline growing ever more impressive along with a lot of really ornate and grand old buildings. Would like to spend more time there in the future, but for now I'll sit back and enjoy this really informative video!
Thanks, that was exactly my impression when I first visited last year after a long while. The city has a good feel and it looks great. The older buildings are magnificent, though I mainly concentrate on new buildings and newer development. It's great to hear that all the work I put into this video was worthwhile.
Manchester is paying the price for having maybe 3 architectural practices designing nearly all the new buildings in the city centre. Add to that the fact that these practices are extremely lazy with their designs and you end up with the bland uninteresting city scape you see in Manchester today.
I'm sorry mate I have to strongly disagree. The 'modern' buildings in Leeds are beyond awful, they are literally one of 2 buildings: a giant white monolith and a giant brick monolith. They are both bland, disgusting, awful towers which makes the city look like a bleak mix between a dystopian future and the soviet union. Manchester on the other had, has absolutely gorgeous buildings, and every single building in Man has a distinct design, it is so full of colour and unique design. Leeds is the opposite, just a bland depressing city.
I've missed this city. It's actually transformed a lot from the last time I visited which was 2013 January. I only imagine what the skyline would look like by 2030.
Thanks very much for your comment. It has definitely changed. I will be following the course of the transformation, so please keep watching AidanEyewitness!
There is a definite resemblance though I hadn’t linked them as being by the same architect. I hope to do my first AidanEyewitness from London soon. Hopefully I can tap into a larger audience.
Hi new to the channel I’d love to see a video on the top 5 or top 10 fastest growing cities in the UK With information on projects and notable buildings in each city I think it would make for an interesting video
That’s a great suggestion thanks. I had a quick look and found fast-growing cities: Coventry and Milton Keynes.I’m planning to visit Coventry for a video on its post-war architectural reconstruction and links to Dresden. It’s always very good to receive requests as it gives me an insight into what people would like to see.
The British have a strange definition of a city. Older cities that have been economically swallowed by larger neighbours and are nothing more than commuter towns now still get categorised as separate, whilst also being incorporated into administrative areas of a neighbour. All very bizarre. To find what you're looking for, you really shouldn't ask a British person but an urban geographer, whom will give you very different numbers. The UK is the only country in the world not to categorise its cities by their total urban and economic footprint. Even British people will hate being absorbed into their neighbouring city next door despite having no independence or economy other than as a commuter town. Many cities were given statues in the UK that today would barely qualify due to most being nothing more than large towns that serve business district in the cities next door.
This was great Aidan... an interesting modern architectural tour of the city where I work. Those views from Broadcasting Tower are amazing. New buildings are cropping up on almost a monthly basis here... there are cranes everywhere. The latest major construction project is on the North side of Merrion Street - more student/executive tower developments. The interesting impact of these city centre student developments is that areas of Hyde Park and Headingley, where houses had been transformed into multiple occupancy dwellings, are slowly returning to family housing (albeit in an overpriced market due to exploitation from ruthless landlords/property developers). It will be fascinating to observe whether coherent communities will re-emerge in these areas. Thank you.
Thanks for your comment. Yes the views from Broadcasting Tower are good, though I'd love to be able to see the city centre. I intend to do an update on the new construction projects, similar to those I've done in Manchester and Liverpool. I have personal experience now with the housing market in Hyde Park and Headingly and I think you are absolutely right. It's great to receive positive feedback, especially from someone who works in Leeds. Many thanks.
Really enjoyed the video. You pointed out a number of things I wasn't aware of, like Converse Column. What a great idea! I was also captivated by the glass roof at Trinity Leeds and how it highlights the beautiful tower of Holy Trinity Church. We ate at a rooftop restaurant there that had lovely views over the development. I'm hoping you're going to do a part II, City of the Past, to highlight the incredible Victorian architecture there, like the stunning arcades in the Victoria Quarter shopping centre, the Kirkgate Market, and the Corn Exchange (from the beginning of your video).
Many thanks and sorry for the delay in replying. It’s always great to receive your comments. As for a City of the Past - caution needed with that title - the audience figures suggest many viewers are not so interested in the past and mainly in what’s new. If i could put an AidanEyewitness slant on it, it might work. I’ll keep it in mind! Thanks for the suggestion. :)
Never been to Leeds except probably through on a train but has some interesting architecture. I 'm somewhat doubtful any heartless robot has inspired a skyscraper but if it did probably not the moral leadership and icon the world needs right now considering the rather darleky nature of some parts of the world seem to have become right now!
Victoria Gate is an example of how modern architecture can be interesting and beautiful. I've visited it a couple of times and was particularly impressed by the John Lewis store and how the diamond shape is a thematic element that adds cohesion to the development. You've done an excellent job capturing it in the video.
Thanks, well I first noticed it after I’d got off the coach from Manchester. I saw it at night on my way back too. It is in a different league from the horrific shopping centres of the 1970s, of which there are many that blight the urban landscape of Britain. Often the question is ‘makeover or demolition?’. Interesting topic for a video. Typical topic of one of my favourite channels CityBeautiful.
@@32446 Thanks so much for flagging that up. The bookends were the two very attractive older red brick buildings at the eastern end of Eastgate. I can see from Wikipedia that the one on the south side, with Hoagy's pub, was demolished in 2014. The one on the north side is still there. There would have been the option of keeping that bookend. The new facade is visible on the southside of Victoria Gate and lit up by sun. That's what I featured in the video. The bookend on the northern side of Eastgate is still there. Hmm, shame. Many thanks for pointing this out. Here are some photos via Google search: www.google.com/search?q=leeds+eastgate+bookends
@@32446 when I take an interest in a development I always look at the Google Street View history, if it's available, with the hope that the buildings being built are replacing some ugly brutalist monstrosity from the second half of the 20th century. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case for Victoria Gate when I looked at things several years ago. I didn't know that these twin buildings were called the Bookends. I do think that they aren't the best of what 1920's architecture had to offer (my opinion) while Victoria Gate is one of the best examples of 21st Century architecture. Still, a shame since there are loads of buildings in Leeds that are much more deserving of demolition.
loved this video! I've just moved back to Leeds after my placement year and I find myself in a constant state of awe at the beauty of the architecture here :)
That is so great to hear. Not everybody appreciates the architecture in Leeds, especially the modern variety but it's nice to hear from someone who does! Many many thanks!
Another superb video with super photography and informative and descriptive dialogue. I love the old arcades in Leeds with their traditional architecture.
Many thanks, it's great to receive your positive appraisal. It gives me great encouragement to continue. The old arcades are superb and they have been excellently restored and updated. Unfortunately I didn't Include them as the focus was on modern architecture, but maybe I will feature them in another video.
Good video, picked out some interesting highlights of Leeds. It is a cool and forward looking city in my view, with a compact but impressive skyline which is growing rapidly. The main point to make is it is rapidly changing and growing, transforming into a really impressive looking big city over the next few years.
Really enjoyed Leeds 10 years ago. It needs a tram system. West Yorkshire does. My does Leeds look great these days. I do wish the BBC would do a city tour in the style of Coast. We just don't seem to value the urban realm. I really love these videos.
I was in Birmingham yesterday and saw they are extending their tram network through the city centre, it should be great. As for Leeds, I'm not sure - does the hilly terrain make a difference? Good idea, the BBC seem to make loads of natural history programmes but not many on architecture and cities.
@AidanEyewitness Yes that's right. They're extending into Eastside. I don't think it would be detrimental for Leeds and there's a lot of support I hear. The Bristol mayor says he will finalise plans for an underground system there in 2024. Interesting news. Look forward to your next video.
Oh really, I didn’t know that. Generally Leeds city centre seems to be in a good state of repair. A drone to fill in a pothole or repair a broken fence? Maybe one day! I’m debating whether to buy a drone and use it to capture aerial shots for AidanEyewitness. Many thanks for your comment.
Leeds got its name from an ancient forest called Leodis that once stood in its place, I don't believe it existed in the Viking age, places in Leeds like Morley did though. Wakefield was the seat of Viking power for the west riding. As the Vikings would have said "Jorvik vestr þriðjungur"
I went to Leeds once and ended up in a very heated argument with a showsec security guard from the First Direct Arena who was adamant that I was not allowed to take photographs of private buildings.
Well if you are standing on public space, such as a public road, then you are free to take a photograph of anything you can see, apart from a military or security installation, which should have warning signs on them. A few years ago, there was a fear that a rule like this could come into effect but it doesn''t seem to have happened.Many thanks for commenting and sorry for the long delay in replying!
That pale green Arena looks so out of place, even ugly. IT is a real carbuncle. Otherwise modern, forward looking Leeds is Britain's great secret. The city centre is visually stunning and do lively. One of Europe's great cities. Thank you for your comments.
Yes, I know what you mean about the arena looking different from the surrounding buildings, but personally I like it. I first noticed it on my first recent trip to Leeds after I'd lost my way in the city centre, drove past it and thought 'What's that!?!'. Yes, I agree, Leeds is great. Many thanks for your comment.
@@stephenhodgson3506 The lighting changes colour depending on the events. I wasn’t around to take any night shots so I used a photo from Wikipedia. Many thanks
Some things are a matter of taste, need to have a good look at the Arena from the main frontage, and lighting aside, it is a smart shaped and finished events building, far better than the plain rectangular box type arena found in some cities.
Internally, unlike other arenas its actually an amphitheatre, holds around 13,000 people, with supposedly no one ever more than 65M from the stage area. There are more plans for that whole area in the coming few years.
Oh dear, modern architects must have to build in obsolescence, there is no substance very little detail to enjoy on a human level and it is so boring, up up up they build because they can but it isn’t human shaped. Where is nature? Where is a tree? Just horrible sorry.
No need to apologise, everyone reacts to buildings differently and I know a lot of people who are not comfortable with the new, high-rise type of urban environment. It's good to have a variety of views and your message is clear! Many thanks for contributing!
London has the 50% of GDP of all UK, rest of Country, 56 milions of miserabile....Southless, italy is true rich, they have not most a national industry, only London...poors alcolist s
Leeds centre is beautiful, especially the old architecture which the modern developments compliment.
Yes I agree, the old architecture in the city centre is magnificent and it has been sympathetically restored. Maybe I should do a video on that? Many thanks for your comment.
@@AidanEyewitness yes, but if you do look up, you will start to notice all the dragons, gargoyles etc looking down on the people below. Not many people notice them.
@@lawn38 Okay I will keep that in mind!
Went to Leeds a few days ago to the First Direct arena after spending a few days in Manchester, and have to say that the city has a great feel to it with a lot of new developments and a skyline growing ever more impressive along with a lot of really ornate and grand old buildings. Would like to spend more time there in the future, but for now I'll sit back and enjoy this really informative video!
Thanks, that was exactly my impression when I first visited last year after a long while. The city has a good feel and it looks great. The older buildings are magnificent, though I mainly concentrate on new buildings and newer development. It's great to hear that all the work I put into this video was worthwhile.
Bulding of shit...demolishion?
Manchester could learn a lot from the planning and aesthetic of building a city I can tell you - well done Leeds 👏🏻👍🏻😉
Yes, I would tend to agree with you there! Many thanks!
Manchester is paying the price for having maybe 3 architectural practices designing nearly all the new buildings in the city centre. Add to that the fact that these practices are extremely lazy with their designs and you end up with the bland uninteresting city scape you see in Manchester today.
I'm sorry mate I have to strongly disagree. The 'modern' buildings in Leeds are beyond awful, they are literally one of 2 buildings: a giant white monolith and a giant brick monolith. They are both bland, disgusting, awful towers which makes the city look like a bleak mix between a dystopian future and the soviet union.
Manchester on the other had, has absolutely gorgeous buildings, and every single building in Man has a distinct design, it is so full of colour and unique design. Leeds is the opposite, just a bland depressing city.
@@samdaniels2yeah right 😂
@@jackthelad5366 Yeah right what?
I've missed this city. It's actually transformed a lot from the last time I visited which was 2013 January.
I only imagine what the skyline would look like by 2030.
Thanks very much for your comment. It has definitely changed. I will be following the course of the transformation, so please keep watching AidanEyewitness!
@@AidanEyewitness certainly looking forward
Great job calling out the similarity of Quarry House to the MI6 building. I'm sure very few people (including myself) have noticed it.
There is a definite resemblance though I hadn’t linked them as being by the same architect. I hope to do my first AidanEyewitness from London soon. Hopefully I can tap into a larger audience.
Hi new to the channel I’d love to see a video on the top 5 or top 10 fastest growing cities in the UK With information on projects and notable buildings in each city I think it would make for an interesting video
That’s a great suggestion thanks. I had a quick look and found fast-growing cities: Coventry and Milton Keynes.I’m planning to visit Coventry for a video on its post-war architectural reconstruction and links to Dresden. It’s always very good to receive requests as it gives me an insight into what people would like to see.
@@AidanEyewitness that would be brilliant
The British have a strange definition of a city. Older cities that have been economically swallowed by larger neighbours and are nothing more than commuter towns now still get categorised as separate, whilst also being incorporated into administrative areas of a neighbour. All very bizarre. To find what you're looking for, you really shouldn't ask a British person but an urban geographer, whom will give you very different numbers. The UK is the only country in the world not to categorise its cities by their total urban and economic footprint. Even British people will hate being absorbed into their neighbouring city next door despite having no independence or economy other than as a commuter town. Many cities were given statues in the UK that today would barely qualify due to most being nothing more than large towns that serve business district in the cities next door.
Captured the beauty of Leeds so well! Wonderful vid
Aw, thank you very much for your great comment! Sounds like you know Leeds well!
This was great Aidan... an interesting modern architectural tour of the city where I work. Those views from Broadcasting Tower are amazing. New buildings are cropping up on almost a monthly basis here... there are cranes everywhere. The latest major construction project is on the North side of Merrion Street - more student/executive tower developments. The interesting impact of these city centre student developments is that areas of Hyde Park and Headingley, where houses had been transformed into multiple occupancy dwellings, are slowly returning to family housing (albeit in an overpriced market due to exploitation from ruthless landlords/property developers). It will be fascinating to observe whether coherent communities will re-emerge in these areas.
Thank you.
Thanks for your comment. Yes the views from Broadcasting Tower are good, though I'd love to be able to see the city centre. I intend to do an update on the new construction projects, similar to those I've done in Manchester and Liverpool. I have personal experience now with the housing market in Hyde Park and Headingly and I think you are absolutely right. It's great to receive positive feedback, especially from someone who works in Leeds. Many thanks.
Really enjoyed the video. You pointed out a number of things I wasn't aware of, like Converse Column. What a great idea! I was also captivated by the glass roof at Trinity Leeds and how it highlights the beautiful tower of Holy Trinity Church. We ate at a rooftop restaurant there that had lovely views over the development. I'm hoping you're going to do a part II, City of the Past, to highlight the incredible Victorian architecture there, like the stunning arcades in the Victoria Quarter shopping centre, the Kirkgate Market, and the Corn Exchange (from the beginning of your video).
Many thanks and sorry for the delay in replying. It’s always great to receive your comments. As for a City of the Past - caution needed with that title - the audience figures suggest many viewers are not so interested in the past and mainly in what’s new. If i could put an AidanEyewitness slant on it, it might work. I’ll keep it in mind! Thanks for the suggestion. :)
Never been to Leeds except probably through on a train but has some interesting architecture. I 'm somewhat doubtful any heartless robot has inspired a skyscraper but if it did probably not the moral leadership and icon the world needs right now considering the rather darleky nature of some parts of the world seem to have become right now!
I don't know. Maybe the architects didn't realise their building was shaped like the BBC's famous heartless robot. That's something we may never know.
Victoria Gate is an example of how modern architecture can be interesting and beautiful. I've visited it a couple of times and was particularly impressed by the John Lewis store and how the diamond shape is a thematic element that adds cohesion to the development. You've done an excellent job capturing it in the video.
Thanks, well I first noticed it after I’d got off the coach from Manchester. I saw it at night on my way back too. It is in a different league from the horrific shopping centres of the 1970s, of which there are many that blight the urban landscape of Britain. Often the question is ‘makeover or demolition?’. Interesting topic for a video. Typical topic of one of my favourite channels CityBeautiful.
It’s a shame the bookends were destroyed in the process. They are unique and we’re due to be listed.
@@32446 Thanks so much for flagging that up. The bookends were the two very attractive older red brick buildings at the eastern end of Eastgate. I can see from Wikipedia that the one on the south side, with Hoagy's pub, was demolished in 2014. The one on the north side is still there. There would have been the option of keeping that bookend. The new facade is visible on the southside of Victoria Gate and lit up by sun. That's what I featured in the video. The bookend on the northern side of Eastgate is still there. Hmm, shame. Many thanks for pointing this out. Here are some photos via Google search: www.google.com/search?q=leeds+eastgate+bookends
@@32446 when I take an interest in a development I always look at the Google Street View history, if it's available, with the hope that the buildings being built are replacing some ugly brutalist monstrosity from the second half of the 20th century. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case for Victoria Gate when I looked at things several years ago. I didn't know that these twin buildings were called the Bookends. I do think that they aren't the best of what 1920's architecture had to offer (my opinion) while Victoria Gate is one of the best examples of 21st Century architecture. Still, a shame since there are loads of buildings in Leeds that are much more deserving of demolition.
loved this video! I've just moved back to Leeds after my placement year and I find myself in a constant state of awe at the beauty of the architecture here :)
That is so great to hear. Not everybody appreciates the architecture in Leeds, especially the modern variety but it's nice to hear from someone who does! Many many thanks!
Another superb video with super photography and informative and descriptive dialogue. I love the old arcades in Leeds with their traditional architecture.
Many thanks, it's great to receive your positive appraisal. It gives me great encouragement to continue. The old arcades are superb and they have been excellently restored and updated. Unfortunately I didn't Include them as the focus was on modern architecture, but maybe I will feature them in another video.
Lovely lively city
Yes, it certainly is. Many thanks for your comment!
Good video, picked out some interesting highlights of Leeds. It is a cool and forward looking city in my view, with a compact but impressive skyline which is growing rapidly. The main point to make is it is rapidly changing and growing, transforming into a really impressive looking big city over the next few years.
Exactly my thoughts. Very well summarised! Glad to receive the positive feedback!
Terribile
With the success of the Trinity I would love it if at some point in the future other parts of the city centre could be fitted with a glass roof.
That’s a great idea. There’s a glass roof over the courtyard of the British Museum in London. That works very nicely. Many thanks for your comment!
Really enjoyed Leeds 10 years ago. It needs a tram system. West Yorkshire does. My does Leeds look great these days. I do wish the BBC would do a city tour in the style of Coast. We just don't seem to value the urban realm.
I really love these videos.
I was in Birmingham yesterday and saw they are extending their tram network through the city centre, it should be great. As for Leeds, I'm not sure - does the hilly terrain make a difference? Good idea, the BBC seem to make loads of natural history programmes but not many on architecture and cities.
@AidanEyewitness Yes that's right. They're extending into Eastside. I don't think it would be detrimental for Leeds and there's a lot of support I hear. The Bristol mayor says he will finalise plans for an underground system there in 2024. Interesting news. Look forward to your next video.
@@JohnnyZenith It will be on construction projects in Manchester city centre and in Liverpool.
@@AidanEyewitness Great!
Great video from my home city 😀
Very glad to hear that! Many thanks for the positive feedback particularly as it is your home city!
Great video! Really enjoyed it
That’s great! Thanks so much for your comment!
The university of Leeds wanted to collaborate with the council to create the world's first self repairing city using robotics and drones
Oh really, I didn’t know that. Generally Leeds city centre seems to be in a good state of repair. A drone to fill in a pothole or repair a broken fence? Maybe one day! I’m debating whether to buy a drone and use it to capture aerial shots for AidanEyewitness. Many thanks for your comment.
Leeds got its name from an ancient forest called Leodis that once stood in its place, I don't believe it existed in the Viking age, places in Leeds like Morley did though. Wakefield was the seat of Viking power for the west riding. As the Vikings would have said "Jorvik vestr þriðjungur"
Thanks very much for the background information. Very interesting and nice to see a bit of, is it Old Norse?
Ah, Leeds. My favourite northern city (not including York of course)
Thanks! Yes, Leeds is a great city. York is quite different - smaller - but also great.
I went to Leeds once and ended up in a very heated argument with a showsec security guard from the First Direct Arena who was adamant that I was not allowed to take photographs of private buildings.
Well if you are standing on public space, such as a public road, then you are free to take a photograph of anything you can see, apart from a military or security installation, which should have warning signs on them. A few years ago, there was a fear that a rule like this could come into effect but it doesn''t seem to have happened.Many thanks for commenting and sorry for the long delay in replying!
@@AidanEyewitness 👍
Nice video,about time northan cities moved into the 21st century.
Many thanks for the positive feedback!
That pale green Arena looks so out of place, even ugly. IT is a real carbuncle. Otherwise modern, forward looking Leeds is Britain's great secret. The city centre is visually stunning and do lively. One of Europe's great cities. Thank you for your comments.
Yes, I know what you mean about the arena looking different from the surrounding buildings, but personally I like it. I first noticed it on my first recent trip to Leeds after I'd lost my way in the city centre, drove past it and thought 'What's that!?!'. Yes, I agree, Leeds is great. Many thanks for your comment.
You must have caught the Arena on a bad day. It regularly changes colour depending on events or the time of year.
@@stephenhodgson3506 The lighting changes colour depending on the events. I wasn’t around to take any night shots so I used a photo from Wikipedia. Many thanks
Some things are a matter of taste, need to have a good look at the Arena from the main frontage, and lighting aside, it is a smart shaped and finished events building, far better than the plain rectangular box type arena found in some cities.
Internally, unlike other arenas its actually an amphitheatre, holds around 13,000 people, with supposedly no one ever more than 65M from the stage area. There are more plans for that whole area in the coming few years.
Oh dear, modern architects must have to build in obsolescence, there is no substance very little detail to enjoy on a human level and it is so boring, up up up they build because they can but it isn’t human shaped. Where is nature? Where is a tree? Just horrible sorry.
No need to apologise, everyone reacts to buildings differently and I know a lot of people who are not comfortable with the new, high-rise type of urban environment. It's good to have a variety of views and your message is clear! Many thanks for contributing!
High buildings. Avoid!
Thanks for your comment!
In all seriousness you are scraping the barrel here, if you think those things make Leeds a city of the future then you’ve not travelled very far.
Actually, this negative and cynical comment is scraping the barrel. Please explain your opinion of the buildings rather than being disrespectful.
Very kitch
Thanks for your comment.
London has the 50% of GDP of all UK, rest of Country, 56 milions of miserabile....Southless, italy is true rich, they have not most a national industry, only London...poors alcolist s
London is impressive but in any country you have to visit the regions as well as the capital.
Ahaha😅,leeds now is also most orrible, se possible😅😅
:)