THE Daily Echo recently featured a list of eight of Southampton’s ugliest buildings.
The disagreeable disasters from past and present included Wyndham Court, Faraday Tower, Nuffield Theatre, City Gateway Halls, Shirley Towers, Arundel Towers, the Dog and Duck and East Street shopping centre.
Dozens of you got in contact to tell us which other shocking structures you think should have made the list.
They include:
Solent Flour Mills
Solent Flour Mills were built on newly reclaimed land on Southampton docks in the 1930s.
The large building was used up until Hovis ceased milling operations there in 2018.
The 86-year-old building was designed by architect Sir Alfred Gedler and campaigners fought to save it before its demolition in 2020.
But not everyone loved the art deco structure.
TownRat said: “Gone now - thank goodness - but Solent Flour Mills was dreadful.
“Some people seemed to think it was some kind of unique, wonderful architecture. “My dear Mum worked there and told me when it was built, that everyone complained about how unsightly it was - and people continued to do so until it was finally pulled down.”
Read more: Southampton's ugliest buildings - would you agree? >>>
Westquay South
This final stage of Westquay’s construction progress has divided people since its opening. Some think it looks great, while others find its aesthetics jarring.
Originally named Watermark Westquay, work on the new £70 million extension began in January 2015.
Opened in stages, the development eventually brought with it myriad restaurants, a bowling alley, and a new multiplex cinema.
The first part was opened on December 8, 2016, and the last on February 10, 2017.
NoSewageInTheItchen9 said: “Considering how much it must have cost, West Quay Watermark is actually incredibly poorly designed both inside and out.
“Lots of dead space and very difficult to navigate from a user perspective, especially if you need to use the lifts.”
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Castle House
Castle House is a brutalist 13-storey tower block which is considered somewhat out of place in its ‘Old Town. surroundings.
Lansdowne Hill, on which it was built, was once the site of Lansdowne Castle - hence the name Castle House.
Although the castle was no doubt pleasing on the eye - some think Castle House is completely the opposite.
When originally under construction, the tower block was intended to contain private apartments. When the developers ran into financial problems, the council stepped in and purchased the building.
But, as with most brutalist buildings, it’s not the prettiest. Blue cladding added in the past couple of years certainly hasn’t helped.
Overline House
Overline House may not be at the top of everyone’s list as being offensive on the eye, but one reader clearly isn’t enamoured with it.
Parrotgone said:” I’ve no idea how people can complain that Wyndham Court is ugly. Try turning around and having a look at Overline House.
“Now which of the two looks as though it has been knocked up as cheaply as
possible with no thought to its outward appearance?”
Southampton Central Police Station
ForestPhotographer said: “The new police station? A giant stained rectangle.”
Southampton Central Police Station has had problems since it first opened back in 2011.
Soon after there were reports of leaks springing up around the building. The station has even had to shut because of flooding.
Not only that, but people seem to find it quite an ugly building.
Southy said: “It’s not the builder’s fault in this case, it’s the ground underneath, this was marsh land even in my lifetime.
“The only building that were there was the Car Auction and Heinz 57, two very lightweight buildings that sat on top with very shallow foundations.
“The new police station is a heavy building with deep foundations sitting on top of unstable ground and with the vibrations from the docks and dual carriageway it is moving all the time.
“The Oasis school along Romsey Road has the same problems and is why that one leaks a lot.”
West Quay Retail Park
The old hanger-style barns of West Quay retail park are not anything to look at - large sheds containing shops.
Parrotgone said: “If you want examples of bad architecture then there’s West Quay, the retail barns from Toys ‘R’ Us to Decathlon etc, and Leisure World. Or the cheap flats thrown up as in-fill as cheaply as possible.
“Some of the very worst buildings are those that people just seem to accept because they’re bog standard and there’s nothing about them architecturally that makes people think about them as architecture. They’re just accepted.”
SeaCity Museum
This one is destined to split opinions!
When it opened 11 years ago, many praised its design for keeping in style with the Civic Centre, while adding modern flare and an aesthetic relevant to the theme of ships and the sea.
But not everyone likes it. In fact, many clearly find it particularly ugly.
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